BBC - you misled us
So, let me get this right. The BBC had sources that told them that British Government had ’sexed’ up the weapons of mass destruction 45 minutes readiness claim. Ok, so they are quite rightly getting told off and even their chairman has resigned saying that there is an honourable tradition in the UK that whoever is at the top of an organisation has to take the responsibility for their organisation failures . Okay.
So, the Blair government (and Bush and Howard) had sources that told them that Iraq had WMD. Not just a developing program of WMD but stockpiles of the nasty critters. So, does Blair remember the same honourable tradition?
Update This post says it much better.
January 29th, 2004 at 4:59 pm
Actually, I think the heads of the respective intelligence agencies would be the ones to get the boot. And perhaps they should.
Further, you’d have to lop off leadership in the U.N. and most of Western Europe as well, because *everybody* thought Iraq had stockpiles of WMD. Read David Kay’s testimony this week before Congress.
There are quantum levels of difference between the BBC’s shenanigans and the amount of agreement among the intelligence community about Iraq’s WMD capabilities.
January 29th, 2004 at 5:19 pm
The difference with most of western Europe of course was that they want to give the UN inspectors more time. Something that now President Bush wants.
It will be interesting if the politicans start to put real heat on the intelligence agencies. Some might fight back.. you know suggest that the politicians knew more than they are letting on. It will be facinating if it all comes out in time.
January 30th, 2004 at 1:33 pm
not deceitful… just stupid
I’ve been reading about Tony Blair and his WMD fiasco. Over at signposts Phil’s been posting here and here, and