We’re having an enquiry at the moment looking into the evidence that was presented as justification for the iraqi war. So far most minister have been distancing themselves from it. Robin Cook and Clare Short (the two ministers who resigned over this) have already given evidence in this enquiry. Clare Short said this report was a “series of half truths, exaggerations, reassurances that weren’t the case”
Today Jack Straw, the foreign secretary, gave evidence. Before the war, he was probably the minister who gave the most vocal support to the war save the prime minister himself. He has described the second dossier about WMD’s (now called the dodgy dossier by the british press) as a huge embarrasment.
Here is the story
From what he says here, he seems to be trying to confuse people even more. He admits that large parts of this dossier was copied from a student thesis found on the internet, and that the facts in the dossier hadn’t even been checked. He then goes on to say he had no doubts over the accuracy of anything in the September dossier. How can he have felt like this when the dossier was released when he has already admitted these facts weren’t checked?
He also disputes the fact the government have ever used the words imminent or immediate to describe the threat from Saddam. He claims that these words were invented by the governments critics. It is well documented that this dossier contained a claim the Saddam could attack the UK within 45 minutes. Is this not an imminent threat?
Overall, he seems to confess that the whole dossier was made up, but at the same time standing by everything in it. Is it only me who feels like my intelligence has been insulted?
Tomorrow, we’ve got Alastair Campbell giving evidence. He is the PMs press secretary, although most people believe he has a lot more power than that. He could have some interesting facts, although he is blairs top spin doctor, so I expect a lot more confusion.