UN nuclear watchdog challenges Britain to reveal Niger intelligence

[struggle4progress]

16 July 2004
By Anne Penketh, Diplomatic Editor

The United Nations nuclear watchdog yesterday challenged the Government to share intelligence which it used to accuse Saddam Hussein of trying to buy uranium from two African countries for a nuclear bomb.

Lord Butler of Brockwell said the Government's claims were "well-founded," after admitting "significant controversy" surrounded the reliability of government statements about Iraqi attempts to buy uranium ore.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) determined in March 2003 that documents which allegedly "proved" an Iraqi attempt to buy uranium from Niger were forgeries. But the British government, the first to put the claims into the public domain in the September 2002 dossier, continued to insist it had separate sources which confirmed its statement.
<snip>

IAEA officials have expressed frustration that Lord Butler's team appeared more willing to share information with the press than with the UN body charged with investigating Iraq's nuclear programme.

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=541511

[struggle4progress]

1. The Butler report ...

... Section 6.4 "Uranium from Africa" (paragraphs 490-503 or pp 121 -125) repeats claims that British had intelligence indicating that Iraq had in 1999 visited Iraq and Congo to purchase uranium ore and that the CIA agreed; but notes that "the intelligence evidence was inconclusive" (para 500); and attempts to discredit the IAEA conclusion that the 1999 African visit was not for the purpose of acquiring uranium. Conclusions at (para 503) are rather weak and hardly any evidence is provided: the Committee says Iraqis went to Niger in 1999 ((comment deleted)), says there was evidence of effort to acquire uranium there (but provides none of this evidence), says Blair's government deserves praise for not claiming the Iraqis bought any uranium, and says that the forged documents are irrelevant.

Download Butler at http://www.butlerreview.org.uk/

<edit:> See also thread
Ex-Niger premier denies Iraq link
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=684373

[Tellurian]

2. Oh well, I know whos been here...

:hi: Joe!

hahaha!

GO JOE1 and Joe2!

[RebelYell]

3. The obvious question is

WHO FORGED THE DOCUMENT???

Forgery is a 1st degree felony.