PM (John Howard) admits weapons claims may have been wrong...

[rooboy]

Only about 2 weeks after everyone else, Johnny - nice going.

Prime Minister John Howard today said investigations could prove intelligence agencies were wrong about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. But he said it was wrong to suggest the intelligence was bogus, or that agencies made up material in their pre-war assessments on Iraq.

"History may, in the fullness of time, it might be demonstrated that the advice was inaccurate," Mr Howard told Perth radio 6PR.

But he said it was not certain the intelligence advice was wrong.

"Obviously, the evidence is not pointing in the other direction," he said.

The United States has set up an inquiry into America's pre-war intelligence and Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected to set up a similar inquiry into British intelligence.

Mr Howard said he would wait for the report of a parliamentary inquiry into Australia's intelligence in late February before making any decisions on extra inquiries.

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/02/03/1075570409402.html

[kalian]

1. Interesting, no?

It appears that both shrub and his poodle are now claiming that
the "intelligence" might have been wrong...

I think this is a setup, something scripted by the PNAC.

[kainah]

4. just keep pointing out

ALL KINDS of people had this bad intelligence. But * was the only one who went to war based on it. They're always trying to dodge the issue & we have to get a lot better at bringing them back to it.

[lastknowngood]

2. Understating the bleedin obvious.

n/t

[foreigncorrespondent]

3. Rooboy!

Of course it is two weeks late, he wanted his apology we all owed him first. ;)

[rooboy]

12. Yeah, I hope he's not holding his breath. n/t

[leesa]

5. Trying to cover all possible bases with that bizarre commentary

It certainly IS wrong to suggest that the intelligence was bogus. The intelligence said Saddam had disarmed. Appears they were quite right along with most of the rest of the world's population. Wonder what Australia does to traitors?

[Eureka]

6. "our" intelligence wasn't wrong, but "theirs" was :-)

"Australia's Defence Minister, Robert Hill, says there is no need for an independent inquiry here because Australia relied on intelligence from America and Britain."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1036995.htm

Phew, glad thats over, it wasn't our fault afterall, it was those other guys that tricked us into it!

[mrdmk]

7. Excuse me, but was John Howard censured

by his government. I will look to find out, there is something wrong here.

edit: censured

[Eureka]

8. Censured

Yes, he was censured by the Senate for lying about the justification for war. For some reason once that happened most people just forgot all about it and went on their merry way.

But you are on the right track, he was voted Most Valuable Liar by our upper house :-)

[mrdmk]

11. Thank you, to many words in the English language

And here is the link

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,7492989%255E2,00.html

[yellowcanine]

9. Wow - old bloke is a quick study, isn't he?

But he said it was not certain the intelligence advice was wrong.

"Obviously, the evidence is not pointing in the other direction," he said.

Real brave chap with the rhetoric, isn't he?
Try not to say anything rash that you might have to take back, Johnny.

[daleo]

10. Best be careful about this sort of thing

Or Australian Broadcasting Corp may have to join the BBC in apologizing to their country's leaders for starting the war.

[pink_poodle]

13. They never gave the inspectors time to finish their work because.........

they KNEW that there were no WMD's and wanted to rush into this war. It has backfired on them and they are not raking in the money like they had planned. Or at least a few are, but the American people are funding this whole venture. Now, it has all gone so wrong and the world is pointing fingers and the UK people will not rest until this is sorted out. Half of America does not even give a shit if it was a just war or not, but in the end, they are going to have to face the music for their actions.

[Matilda]

14. I'm so glad I didn't rush to send my apology to John Howard.

Looks like I mightn't need to after all.

[xchrom]

15. and the hits just keep on comin

blair, bush and now howard all blaming the faceless ''intelligence'' they received. all cowards -- not a one able to stand up and say they were responsible.