Blair Braces for Iraq Intelligence Report

[maddezmom]

By ED JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer

LONDON - An inquiry into the quality of British intelligence has concluded that claims that Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s Iraq (news - web sites) could rapidly launch chemical or biological attacks were "poorly sourced and vague," a newspaper reported Friday.


Intelligence on the speed of such attacks was expected to be a key point in a potentially damaging report by retired civil service chief Lord Butler to be issued on Wednesday.


The statement that Iraq could launch on notice of just 45 minutes was made four times in an intelligence dossier published by Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites)'s government in September 2002, as it built its case for war in Iraq.


According to London's Evening Standard newspaper, Butler will conclude the 45-minute claim "should never have been published because it was poorly sourced and vague." The newspaper did not disclose the source of its story.

~snip~
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=535&ncid=535&e=8&u=/ap/20040709/ap_on_re_eu/britain_iraq_intelligence

[struggle4progress]

1. Wow! Amazing coincidence! US and UK simultaneously produce ...

reports explaining that their intelligence agencies suck.