Tony Blair's claim that Saddam Hussein posed a 'current and serious' threat to Britain is challenged by dramatic new allegations today that Britain's spy chiefs have retracted the intelligence on which it was based.
The supposed proof that the Iraqi dictator was still trying, even in the run-up to war, to produce chemical and biological weapons became crucial to the Prime Minister's case for urgent military action rather than waiting for inspectors to finish their task.
Yet, according to a senior intelligence source interviewed by BBC1's Panorama tonight, MI6 has since taken the rare step of withdrawing the intelligence assessment that underpinned the claim that Saddam had continued to produce WMD - an admission that it was fundamentally unreliable.
Matt's Chat
Looks like this change of heart occured after the war had started. So there really isn't anything new here...but I think it is important to highlight these kinds of stories when I see them to provide some balance (not that we have to, mind you).
Mark's Remarks
Seems like late quarterbacking, to me. I mean, it is easy to withdraw statements after you go you. However, this perhaps lends credence that world intelligence on the allied side needs some revamping, even the vaunted Brits as well. The fact of the matter is that a man who advocated the overthrow of the West, the use of suicide bombers, who had some WMD that he could have given to terrorists, that guy is now in jail and we have a new outpost of freedom in the Islamofascist frontier.
John Kerry Delenda Est!
