Also see:
AOL/Microsoft-Hotmail Preventing Delivery of Truthout Communications •
Go to Original
Revealed: the First Draft of Dossier That Took Britain to War
By Nigel Morris
The Independent UK
Tuesday 19 February 2008
Fresh evidence that the Iraq weapons dossier was "sexed up" emerged
as the Government finally published the secret first draft of the document.
As expected, the earliest version of the document did not include the now notorious
claim that Saddam Hussein could launch weapons of mass destruction within 45
minutes of an order to do so.
The first draft made a series of lurid claims about the extent and danger of
the Iraqi president's weapons arsenal. But those were expressed in even stronger
terms by September 2002, when the official dossier on which Tony Blair based
the case for war was published.
Ministers had fought a three-year battle to stop the confidential initial draft
from being released, but last month lost an appeal against a ruling that it
should be disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act.
The paper, whose existence first emerged during the Hutton inquiry in 2003,
was written by John Williams, the former director of communications at the Foreign
Office. He warned that Saddam had come to power by "torture, rape and execution"
and concluded that Iraq presented a "uniquely dangerous threat to the world."
The Williams paper made a series of detailed claims about the Iraqi president's
stockpile of chemical and biological weapons.
But there was no reference to the 45-minute claim, although it warned that
Iraq was "developing as a priority longer-range missile systems capable
of targeting Nato (Greece and Turkey?)."
The final dossier, attributed to John Scarlett, who was then the chairman of
the Joint Intelligence Committee, made the bold assertion: "Iraq's military
forces are able to use chemical and biological weapons, with command, control
and logistical arrangements in place. The Iraqi military are able to deploy
these weapons within 45 minutes of a decision to do so."
In addition, language used in Mr Williams' assessment of the threat from Saddam
was toughened up several times by the publication of the final dossier.
Mr Williams also said that Iraq would "find it difficult to produce fissile
material [for nuclear weapons] while sanctions remain in place."
The Hutton inquiry into the death of the weapons expert Dr David Kelly heard
claims that evidence against Saddam was "sexed up" by Downing Street
by the time it was presented to the public.
Last night, Mr Williams told BBC Radio 4's PM programme: "The 45-minutes
claim was absolutely nothing whatever to do with me. It was news to me."
According to the Government, the Williams dossier was quickly set aside after
it was decided that Sir John should be made responsible for the document.
Last night, the opposition parties said the language used by Mr Williams, the
former political editor of the Daily Mirror, showed that ministers initially
turned to senior press officers to make eye-catching claims about the evils
of Saddam's regime. They renewed calls for a public inquiry into the build-up
to the conflict.
William Hague, the shadow Foreign Secretary, said: "This is yet further
evidence that spin doctors, not intelligence analysts, were leading from the
first in deciding what the British people were told about Iraq's weapons of
mass destruction."
Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman, said: "The Government
cannot continue to deny the major role that spin doctors played in creating
this dossier."
David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, said the Government had not released
the draft earlier because of concerns that officials could be deterred from
offering frank advice if they feared it could be made public.
How Language Was "Sexed Up"
Williams draft: "[Iraq] is developing as a priority longer-range missile
weapons capable of threatening Nato (Greece and Turkey?)."
Final version: "Iraq's military forces are able to use chemical and biological
weapons... The Iraqi military are able to deploy these weapons within 45 minutes
of a decision to do so."
Williams draft: "[Iraq] is testing the solid-propellant missile Ababil-100,
and is making efforts to extend its range."
Final version: "[Iraq has] started producing the solid-propellant Ababil-100,
and is making efforts to extend its range to at least 200km, which is beyond
the limit of 150km imposed by the UN."
Williams draft: "[Iraq] hasretained a dozen al-Hussein missiles, capable
of carrying a chemical or biological warhead..."
Final version: "[Iraq has] illegally retained up to 20 al-Hussein missiles,
with a range of 650km, capable of carrying chemical or biological warheads."
Williams draft: "[Iraq] is close to deploying its al-Samoud liquid propellant
missile..."
Final version: "[Iraq has] started deploying its al-Samoud liquid propellant
missile."
-------
Jump to today's Truthout Features:
(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. t r u t h o u t has no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of this article nor is t r u t h o u t endorsed or sponsored by the originator.)
"Go to Original" links are provided as a convenience to our readers and allow for verification of authenticity. However, as originating pages are often updated by their originating host sites, the versions posted on TO may not match the versions our readers view when clicking the "Go to Original" links.
Print This Story
E-mail This Story