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Blair aide ordered Iraq dossier to be strengthened: Reports
London, Sept 24: A close aide of British Prime Minister Tony Blair ordered a last-minute redrafting of the government`s controversial dossier on Iraq to boost the case for war, an email made available to the inquiry into the suicide of British scientist David Kelly has revealed.
London, Sept 24: A close aide of British Prime Minister Tony Blair ordered a last-minute redrafting of the government's controversial dossier on Iraq to boost the case for war, an email made available to the inquiry into the suicide of British scientist David Kelly has revealed.
A key passage in the dossier was changed following an eleventh hour intervention by Blair's Chief-of-Staff Jonathan Powell, newspapers said today after seeing the email.
Powell warned on the eve of publication in September 2002 that wording in the dossier suggested Saddam Hussein would use his chemical and biological weapons (CBW) only if attacked. In an email to John Scarlett, chairman of the joint intelligence committee which brings together the heads of British intelligence services and which signed off the dossier, Powell said the passage was "a bit of a problem" as it could play into the hands of those opposed to war.
Powell emailed Scarlett on September 19 as the dossier was on its way to the printers and urged the passage to be rewritten. "It backs up the don Mcintyre (political columnist for the independent newspaper) argument that there is no CBW threat and we will only create one if we attack him. I think you should redraft the para."
Bureau Report
Powell warned on the eve of publication in September 2002 that wording in the dossier suggested Saddam Hussein would use his chemical and biological weapons (CBW) only if attacked. In an email to John Scarlett, chairman of the joint intelligence committee which brings together the heads of British intelligence services and which signed off the dossier, Powell said the passage was "a bit of a problem" as it could play into the hands of those opposed to war.
Powell emailed Scarlett on September 19 as the dossier was on its way to the printers and urged the passage to be rewritten. "It backs up the don Mcintyre (political columnist for the independent newspaper) argument that there is no CBW threat and we will only create one if we attack him. I think you should redraft the para."
Bureau Report