Blair 'Could Not Be Honest About Iraq War'

[cal04]

The head of MI6 told Prime Minister Tony Blair that the case for war against Iraq was being fixed by the Americans to suit the policy, a BBC documentary claims today. In a meeting chaired by Mr Blair in July 2003, Sir Richard Dearlove, head of the Secret Intelligence Service, is on record as saying “the facts and the intelligence” were being “fixed round the policy” by the Bush Administration, according to the programme.


The Panorama documentary claims Foreign Secretary Jack Straw questioned whether former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein posed a sufficient threat to justify invasion. Robin Cook MP also told the programme that Mr Blair was not frank with the British people. He said: “I think the real dishonesty of the government’s position is that Tony Blair could not be frank with the British people about the real reason why he believed Britain had to be part of an invasion, which was to prove to the United States President that we were his most reliable, most sound ally.

“His problem was, he could not be honest about that with either the British people or Labour MPs, hence the stress on disarmament.” Brian Jones, Defence Intelligence Staff (1987-2003), told the programme MI6 was tasked by the Government to extract as much information as possible from their limited sources in Iraq to build up an intelligence case.

He said: “I recollect that there was an appeal if you like for people to look and think very closely about the evidence that was available.” The former secretary of the Defence Notice Committee, Rear Admiral Nick Wilkinson told Panorama “..“...the government perhaps allowed the public to be misled as to the degree of certainty about weapons of mass destruction.” The programme entitled Iraq: Tony and the Truth will be screened tonight at 10.15pm on BBC1.

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4286378

[never cry wolf]

1. Sighhh, Yawnnnn...

Hey, I didn't see it on Fox, ok? Can't be true!

{/sarcasm}

[MsMagnificent]

3. Yep, you won't see that story printed in the US MSM

not on your life.

[rpannier]

20. Hey...who can be bothered by these kinds of reports

everyone is interested in important stuff like who got voted off the island and who got fired on trumps show.

[bpilgrim]

2. The Policy - We Stand Shoulder to Shoulder with the Gangsta-YANKS

so i wonder what our policy is?

kick their a$$, take their gas?

pfft... we can't even do that 'successfully' :puke:

Record oil price hits hard at pump
By Richard Webb
March 20, 2005

finish at a record close of 56.72 a barrel yesterday morning...
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2005/03/19/1111086061023.html?oneclick=true

peace

[Selteri]

4. and still it is a conspiracy to suspect the suicide

of the person who first cmae out saying he sexxed up the tapes...

[Barkley]

5. Can you Imagine PBS doing documentary entitled "Iraq: Bush and the Truth"?

We would never see something like this in America.

The British people are more informed about Iraq than Americans.

[Merlin]

8. Very good point.

We are captives of our own propaganda.

[daleo]

6. Conservatives in Canada use this reasoning too

They argue that we should also go along with BFEE illegality to "prove to the United States President that we were his most reliable, most sound ally". Fortunately, our P.M. has not fallen for this junior high playground bully mentality yet.

[CHIMO]

7. Is This A Lead In

To a mea culpa? We were told that Blair was the one who dissuaded Bush from going right in to Iraq after 9/11. Now all of a sudden after the invasion in July 2003 Blair was told
---------------
In a meeting chaired by Mr Blair in July 2003, Sir Richard Dearlove, head of the Secret Intelligence Service, is on record as saying “the facts and the intelligence” were being “fixed round the policy” by the Bush Administration, according to the programme.

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4286378

One must also consider how the BBC has changed since the inquisition took place.

There is an election coming up in May.

Looks a little like maybe we will see an I made an honest mistake?

[Merlin]

9. No way. Mum's the word for Tony. Ain't I don't mean Queen Mum.

He has everything to gain by continuing to play coy and everything to lose by an admission of error.

[WearyOne]

10. In a way..Blair is worse than Bush because he legitimised

and gave Bush credence when the rest of Europe cautioned against invading Iraq.

I don't know where Bush's brain is at but Tony Blair believes everything he did was right. He's more of a fanatic and the Bush's of the world could never do what they do with enablers like T.Blair.

[pab]

11. This is the entire point!!!

The job of Tony Blair in the Iraq War fiasco was that he was charged with giving the POTUS credibility. That is the point of the Special Relationship between the UK and US: To give credence to American Real Politic within Europe and vice-versa. Tony Blair did this so well after 9-11 that it was thought by Bush that he could do it again for the Iraq War. Blair performed as any lawyer would to: to make the Iraq War legal. But he failed because France/Russia/Germany/China fought against the final UN resolution in order to protect their own economic interests and infrastructure within the region - also because of generally pacifist and left wing electorates, and they were scared to challenge that as TB did. Probably because he has such a large (invincible?!) majority in parliament and support of the British public at the time.

If TB is anywhere to blame it is of upholding the Special Relationship over and above international legality. So as a result, yes, evidence had to be fixed (by somebody ) to make the war 'legal'. Because the moral message "That rogue states must not be allowed to harbour terrorists nor supply them with WMDs" (remember the rhetoric before the war?) was believed by TB over and above anything. As was spreading this message within the international community. (The UN) Unfortunately due to miss-management and right-wing hawkish policy, this message has failed to be the agenda, and because of the atrocities in Abu Graib and possibly Guantanamo simply undermining the moral crusade and 'message' of liberation, instead fueling the bitter insurgency.

[salin]

19. Not worse than bush - but as bad....

blair defenders alway forget tht back in the fall of 2002, when bush wanted the IRC, but started backing off HIS strong rhetoric just prior to the vote (and elections)... BLAIR takes up the lead in the media - HE, the waterboy, in August or so - reveals the "Iraq sought enriched, yellow cake uranium" info - first with one dossier (sexed up and now famous) then with a second dossier (the plagierized one from a master student thesis that was written based on saddam's strategy pre first gulf war). Along with the faux aluminum tubes "facts" - these were what tipped the scales for many americans - who prior to that time were against any us action without the UN - and many congressional represenatives (including my former congressman - who was against the vote until a briefing by the white house that he said was "horrifying" - he later turned and became outraged when he realized that they had been decieved - and as such he was targeted in the last election - and defeated)... this is what gave the "imminent danger" and "nukes" push that changed the story.

Blair strategically (timing) put it out there to help bush when bush couldn't do it. Just before the irc vote. He did more than legitimize bush's policy - he helped stage and sell it in the first place, helped the senate regain the majority.

[Moderator]

12. kick to combine

[NNN0LHI]

13. Intelligence chief told Blair that US “fixed” case for Iraq war: report

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/focusoniraq/2005/March/focusoniraq_March105.xml§ion=focusoniraq

LONDON - The head of Britain’s foreign intelligence agency told Prime Minister Tony Blair that the case for war in Iraq was being “fixed” by Washington to suit US policy, a BBC documentary will claim on Sunday.

Richard Dearlove, head of MI6, briefed Blair and a group of ministers on the United States’ determination to launch the invasion nine months before hostilities began in March 2003, the Sunday Times reported, citing the BBC programme, which is due to be aired later in the day.

After attending a briefing in Washington, he told the meeting that war was “inevitable”, according to the weekly newspaper.

“The facts and intelligence” were being “fixed round the policy” by US President George W. Bushs administration, Dearlove said.

The allegations against Blair just weeks before an expected general election are likely to reopen a feud between the government and the British broadcaster.

more

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MarianJack]

15. OOOOOPPPPPSSS!

Never Mind!

[MarianJack]

16. To Those of Us Who Don't Get Our News From...

...faux, Matt & Katie, cnn, msgop and their ilk, this is old news. It is, however, good to see that an honest media outlet will make this public.

Let's see if old tony gets his ass kicked out over it. After all, I'm not aware of BBV in England. Also, the tories aren't any better. They may even be (GASP) worse.

[emad]

21. MI6 chief told PM: Americans ‘fixed’ case for war: Sunday Times

Nick Fielding


SNIP:
When Dearlove briefed Blair on the first source, only days before he presented his dossier to parliament, the MI6 chief told him “the case is developmental and the source remains unproven”. Nonetheless, Blair told MPs two weeks later on September 24, 2002: “The intelligence picture they paint is one accumulated over the past four years. It is extensive, detailed and authoritative.”

and

“We stretched the legal argument to breaking point and the fact that we didn’t have that authority does set a dangerous precedent,” says Sir Stephen Wall, Blair’s former European affairs adviser.

....

"The evidence was vital in reducing parliamentary opposition to the decision to go to war. Only much later, after the fall of Saddam and the dawning realisation that Iraq possessed no WMD, was it revealed that the intelligence from both agents had been withdrawn.
However, Blair’s immediate problem of justifying the war against Iraq had been solved. He went on a diplomatic offensive to swing the United Nations behind a vote for war.

Panorama interviewed Adolfo Zinser, former Mexican ambassador to the UN, who recalls a briefing with MI6 as Britain was trying to shore up support in the security council for the second resolution on Iraq.

Zinser says: “I asked them, ‘Do you have full proof of the existence of these weapons, at any one of these particular sites that you are referring to?’ The MI6 officers told me, ‘No, we don’t’.” "

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-1533385_2,00.html

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[salin]

18. Then explain... why when on the hot seat (during the sexed up

dossier todo)... he went on tv... and seriously invoked GOD - that he knew that he was right, that there were weapons, that this was necessary, and that something to the effect that he felt at peace with God in his decision (eg had prayed on it, etc.) The point was it gave people the sense of deep sincerity of belief in what and why he had made these decisions. Now the sense of had to do it to show we were a good ally - seems pretty icky when going back to his words at the time.

[mom cat]

22. Looks like the BBC was not totally dismantled. Where is PBS?

[salin]

24. Didn't I read that a former high up CIA person

took over high up at either pbs or npr? Don't recall specifics - and wouldn't repeat it til verified - but I mention to see if anyone else can recall this or whether my mind just made up that tidbit of info.

[0007]

23. Honesty and Authenticity are out these day - Deceit & Infidelity are in

....and we measure these commodities by degrees and make justifications.

[Moderator]

25. kick to combine

[chlamor]

26. Blair Was Told U.S. Fixed Case For War: BBC

Blair was told US fixed case for war: BBC
March 21, 2005


The head of Britain's foreign intelligence agency told the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, that the case for war in Iraq was being "fixed" by Washington to suit United States policy, according to a new BBC documentary.

Nine months before hostilities began in March 2003, Richard Dearlove, head of MI6, briefed Mr Blair and a group of ministers on the US's determination to begin the invasion, says the program, which was due to be aired last night.

After attending a briefing in Washington, Mr Dearlove told the meeting that "the facts and intelligence" were being "fixed round the policy" by the Bush Administration.

The allegations against Mr Blair just weeks before an expected general election are likely to reopen a feud between the Government and the BBC. The two fell out last year over allegations by a BBC reporter that Britain "sexed up" the case for war.

The documentary argues that Mr Blair had signed up to follow President George Bush's plans for "regime change" in Iraq as early as April 2002.

http://smh.com.au/news/After-Saddam/Blair-was-told-US-fixed-case-for-war-BBC/2005/03/20/1111253887254.html

[saltpoint]

27. I want to like Tony Blair because he has an innate --

-- intelligence but am confronted with his not being smart enough to tell Bush to cram it over Iraq.

Why can't the world conform to my expectations?!?

[Laurab]

29. He seemed like a decent guy to me at one time, long ago

Apparently his intelligence is overrated. Anyone who can enable, in fact, encourage and assist, in starting and fighting a war in which hundreds of thousands of innocents are killed is not a decent guy. Knowing that the war was based on lies, which I'm sure he knew all along, means he too deserves a special place in hell.

It is unfortunate that many of shrub's friends, and allies (the few he has) are intelligent. The shrubass would be much less dangerous if they were all as dumb as he is.

[saltpoint]

30. I believe you are right about Blair's knowing in advance --

- that the Iraq war was based on bogus claims.

It makes it more painful for me to reject his intelligence, but as you say, that is how it is with Blair, and he has to be held accountable.

Nice post, Laurab. Thank you.

[peekaloo]

28. Well I'll be Schiavo'ed.

Imagine that! I can't wait for our media to go apeshit over this info.

*sarcasm*

[Hissyspit]

31. Better Headlined Article: "Blair Was Told U.S. Fixed Case for War"

Blair was told US fixed case for war: BBC
March 21, 2005

The head of Britain's foreign intelligence agency told the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, that the case for war in Iraq was being "fixed" by Washington to suit United States policy, according to a new BBC documentary.

Nine months before hostilities began in March 2003, Richard Dearlove, head of MI6, briefed Mr Blair and a group of ministers on the US's determination to begin the invasion, says the program, which was due to be aired last night.

After attending a briefing in Washington, Mr Dearlove told the meeting that "the facts and intelligence" were being "fixed round the policy" by the Bush Administration.

The allegations against Mr Blair just weeks before an expected general election are likely to reopen a feud between the Government and the BBC. The two fell out last year over allegations by a BBC reporter that Britain "sexed up" the case for war.

The documentary argues that Mr Blair had signed up to follow President George Bush's plans for "regime change" in Iraq as early as April 2002.

Robin Cook, the former foreign secretary who resigned as leader of the House of Commons over the war in Iraq, said that the threat of weapons of mass destruction was not Mr Blair's true reason for going to war.

"What was propelling the Prime Minister was a determination that he would be the closest ally to George Bush and they would prove to the United States Administration that Britain was their closest ally," Mr Cook tells the program.

"His problem is that George Bush's motivation was regime change. It was not disarmament. Tony Blair knew perfectly well what he was doing.

"His problem was that he could not be honest about that with either the British people or Labour MPs, hence the stress on disarmament."

In Iraq, the head of the police anti-corruption department in the northern city of Mosul was assassinated yesterday in the police building where he worked, government sources said. On Saturday insurgents killed a police officer in Kirkuk and later bombed his funeral, killing three other policemen.

One of those killed at the funeral was identified as a cousin of Jalal Talabani, a Kurdish leader who is expected to become Iraq's next president.

Outside Iraq, some of the millions of people who marched two years ago against the invasion returned to the streets at the weekend to protest against the continuing bloodshed.

News agencies said their numbers this time were significantly smaller - 45,000 in London, 15,000 in Istanbul, 4000 in Los Angeles and several thousand in New York - but their message was the same. Protesters left a cardboard coffin outside the US embassy in London, a black wreath in front of the consulate in Adana, Turkey, and outlines of bodies by the embassy in Athens.

Mr Bush used his weekly radio address to mark the second anniversary of the invasion. "We knew of Saddam Hussein's record of aggression and support for terror," he said. "We knew of his long history of pursuing, even using, weapons of mass destruction, and we know that September 11 requires our country to think differently.

"Now, because we acted, Iraq's government is no longer a threat to the world or its own people."

Reuters, The Washington Post

[Moderator]

32. kick to combine

[Barrett808]

33. US 'fixed' case for Iraq war to suit policy (MI6 to Blair)

Intelligence Chief Told Blair
US 'fixed' case for Iraq war to suit policy
AFP, London

The head of Britain's foreign intelligence agency told Prime Minister Tony Blair that the case for war in Iraq was being "fixed" by Washington to suit US policy, a BBC documentary claimed yesterday.

Richard Dearlove, head of MI6, briefed Blair and a group of ministers on the United States' determination to launch the invasion nine months before hostilities began in March 2003, the Sunday Times reported, citing the BBC programme, which was aired yesterday.

After attending a briefing in Washington, he told the meeting that war was "inevitable", according to the weekly newspaper.

"The facts and intelligence" were being "fixed round the policy" by US President George W. Bush's administration, Dearlove said.

The allegations against Blair just weeks before an expected general election are likely to reopen a feud between the government and the British broadcaster.

The two fell out last year over allegations by a BBC reporter that Britain "sexed up" the case for war.

The documentary argues that Blair had signed up to follow Bush's plans for regime change in Iraq as early as April 2002, The Sunday Times said.

Robin Cook, Britain's former foreign secretary who resigned as leader of the House of Commons over Iraq, claimed that the threat of weapons of mass destruction was not the prime minister's true reason for going to war.

"What was propelling the prime minister was a determination that he would be the closest ally to George Bush and they would prove to the United States administration that Britain was their closest ally," Cook tells the programme.

http://www.thedailystar.net/2005/03/21/d503211305116.htm

[Disturbed]

34. Ex-CIA Chief Tenet said...

"slam dunk" then sat behind Colon as lies were spewed. Does the majority
of Amerika give a damn about being lied into supporting an illegal invasion?

[DoYouEverWonder]

35. So does this mean that Tony lied

to the pope too?

Since he's supposedly a devout christian, you would think lying to the pope would be a pretty big sin? Might be big enough to send his wretched soul to hell, you would think?

[Catfight]

36. I wonder if Blair gets another term will the headline be, "Can 50

million people really be that dumb?"