UK Govt's WMD 45-Minute Claim 'Not Supported'-FT

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040708/wl_nm/iraq_wmd_blair_dc&cid=574&ncid=1473

LONDON (Reuters) - The British government's claim Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) could unleash chemical and biological weapons within 45 minutes was inadequately supported by intelligence, the Financial Times said on Thursday an inquiry will conclude.


Citing people familiar with Lord Butler's report into intelligence which Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites) cited to justify war against Iraq (news - web sites), the newspaper said the intelligence to substantiate the claim was of insufficient qualify and intelligence gathered on Iraq was inadequate.


The FT added that Butler's report, to be published on July 14, also criticizes the credibility of the source of the 45-minute claim and the way the information was assessed.


Blair took Britain to war last year -- against the majority of public opinion -- on the basis of a now notorious dossier, released in September 2002, claiming Iraq was stockpiling weapons of mass destruction and that Saddam could have some weapons ready for use in 45 minutes.

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[acmavm]

1. Is this not EXACTLY what the BBC was telling everyone? I wonder if they

will take another look at a certain suspicious suicide?

[mom cat]

2. I do not think that the British public will let it go. Wasn't it just

yesterday that the former head of the BBC made comments in this vein?

[truthspeaker]

3. and Hutton reprimanded them for reporting the truth

[struggle4progress]

4. kick for the emperor's clothes

:kick: