Intelligence will vindicate Iraq invasion, says Australian minister

[rodbarnett]

The decision by the US and its allies to invade Iraq on the grounds that it was developing weapons of mass destruction would be vindicated in time by intelligence, Alexander Downer, the Australian foreign minister, said yesterday.

Mr Downer said leftwing parties in Australia and beyond had been wrong to demand inquiries into pre-invasion intelligence on Iraq when investigations into the former regime's WMD capacity were incomplete.

Some of the evidence and public comments made by David Kay, the former US weapons inspector, had been overlooked or ignored by those in the media and elsewhere who were against the US-led invasion, he added.

In a speech to the Lowy Institute, a Sydney-based think-tank set up to foster fresh thinking in foreign policy, Mr Downer, one of the west's longest-serving foreign ministers, quoted Mr Kay as saying: "I think at the end of the inspection process, we'll paint a picture of an Iraq that was more dangerous than we even thought it was before the war."


<snip>

"Sceptics of the seriousness of the threat of pro-liferation have received a rude awakening in recent months," Mr Downer said.

The uncovering of the network established by Abdul Qadeer Khan, the Pakistani nuclear scientist, had provided a "compelling snapshot of the illicit trade in WMD - of rogue states, middlemen, subterfuge and deceit", he added. "We never have gained Khan's confession had it not been for the strong action of the US, UK and Australia."

http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1075982764778

comment : spin from "down under"

[GainesT1958]

1. Hasn't this guy gotten the memo yet?

Every other Aussie I know--including our DU mates from Down Under--sure has; this bloke sounds like Australia's version of Rip Van Winkle! :crazy:

B-)

[dennis4868]

4. he....

SOUNDS LIKE DICK CHENEY FOR CRYING OUT LOUD....

[Eureka]

5. This guy is such a looser no-one would've sent him the memo

Heaps of political cartoons, when drawing Alexander Downer, show him in fishnets and suspenders, he's just that sort of soft, pasty, run-to-mama type of guy. If anyone questions him he really looks like he's about to cry, it's great fun.

The Australian govt has been caught lying more than Bushco* have actually been lying. (Hard to believe, but these are experts and have been there much longer)

When spouting this sort of garbage, they seem to forget the senate censured the PM for lying about the intelligence. Really Alexander, once the senate votes that you lied, you lied.

[sadiesworld]

2. Right issue, wrong country?

[xchrom]

3. satire?

he was being amusing right?
no?!? oh my somebody needs to bring this poor deluded soul a glass of water and a nurse.

[hatrack]

6. "We'll paint a picture"?

Yeah, Alexander, I'm sure you will, and I'm sure it will be REALLY SCARY!!!!

[RFKHumphreyObama]

7. Ah yes, Alexander Downer

Back in his heyday as Leader of the Opposition, he was our equivalent to Dan Quayle

Good to see him massaging his self-inflated ego

[Media_Lies_Daily]

8. What a moron.