Blair tried to protect Kelly, says Campbell

[QuietStorm]

2 hours ago

TONY Blair’s closest allies will this week cut Geoff Hoon adrift, blaming the Defence Secretary and a committee of MPs for forcing the public exposure of Dr David Kelly.

Alastair Campbell is expected to tell the inquiry into Kelly’s death that the Prime Minister wanted the weapons expert’s name kept secret, but that his identity was divulged following pressure from Hoon and the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC).

At the time, the ISC was conducting a behind-closed-doors inquiry into the BBC’s claims that Downing Street had "sexed-up" intelligence data to bolster the case for war against Saddam Hussein. Kelly was later exposed as the source of the story.

Scotland on Sunday has been told that the Defence Secretary has admitted to close colleagues that he is ready to "fall on his sword" and resign from the Cabinet over his role in the events leading up to Kelly’s apparent suicide.

http://www.scotlandonsunday.com/politics.cfm?id=902592003

[QuietStorm]

1. British Minister to take fall over Kelly's death: report

1 hour ago (same bend didn't want to open another post)

British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon has reportedly told colleagues he accepts he must "carry the can" for the death of a Government scientist at the centre of claims that London exaggerated the case for war on Iraq.

The Sunday Telegraph reports that Mr Hoon telephoned colleagues to tell them he expected to have to "fall on his sword" over the affair.

The suspected suicide of weapons expert David Kelly has triggered a major political crisis for Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Last week, a judicial inquiry into Dr Kelly's death heard that Mr Hoon had overruled his most senior civil servant's request the scientist be spared a public grilling by a parliamentary committee.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/justin/weekly/newsnat-17aug2003-34.htm

[QuietStorm]

2. the story is clearly breaking right now

32 minutes ago

British Defence Secretary takes onus for Kelly fiasco
http://www.ndtv.com/template/template.asp?template=usiraqconfrontation&slug=Hoon+takes+onus+for+Kelly+fiasco&id=12528&callid=0&category=National

Campbell to deny role in the naming of Kelly

Key Blair aide will blame Hoon and MoD

Kamal Ahmed, political editor
Sunday August 17, 2003
The Observer

Alastair Campbell is to say he played no part in the 'naming strategy' used to flush out Dr David Kelly's identity, laying the blame squarely with the Ministry of Defence and the Secretary of State, Geoff Hoon.

Tony Blair's Director of Strategy and Communications will say before the Hutton inquiry on Tuesday that he only saw the strategy once it had been agreed by Hoon and Sir Kevin Tebbit, Permanent Secretary at the MoD.

Ahead of what is set to be a 'make-or-break' week for the Government over Kelly's suicide, Jonathan Powell, Blair's Chief of Staff, will also say that he did not order the naming of Kelly, again arguing it was a matter for the MoD.

Although Powell was the first official in No 10 to be told of Kelly's role in claims that the Government 'sexed-up' intelligence to make a stronger case for war, Campbell was not informed until a number of days later.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,6903,1020560,00.html

Who Ran Late British Bioweapon Expert David Kelly?
http://www.debka.com/article.php?aid=539

Blair and the BBC Share the Dock in British Judicial Inquiry (newyorktimes)

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/17/international/worldspecial/17LOND.html?ex=1061697600&en=9d1a4a4554448c7b&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE

[QuietStorm]

3. Ulsterman poised to go before Kelly probe

snip

THE Ulsterman who allegedly described weapons expert David Kelly as a Walter Mitty-style fantasist is to give evidence next week to the inquiry investigating Dr Kelly's death.

Tom Kelly - no relation of the dead scientist - is scheduled to appear before the Hutton inquiry in London next Wednesday.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman allegedly made the slur against Dr Kelly during a discussion with a political journalist.

Tom Kelly, who formerly worked for the BBC and was also at one time an NIO spokesman, has remained a resident in Northern Ireland since being appointed to Tony Blair's press team two years ago.

Also due to give evidence next week was the Downing Street communications chief Alastair Campbell.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=434339

the mirror is kind of like the enquirer but why not since I seem to be here for this breaking story.

KELLY TAPE SENSATION
DOWNING Street was "desperate" for information to be released that would back its case for a strike on Iraq, David Kelly told a journalist.

The weapons expert then claimed it failed to stress in a Government dossier that the real threat posed by Iraq was what weapons it might have in the future "because that takes away the case for war".

In a damning tape that blew away Government denials of spin the Hutton inquiry heard Dr Kelly telling how No 10 seized on the disputed claim that Iraq could deploy weapons of mass destruction in 45 minutes.

He said: "They were desperate, pushing hard, for information which could be released. That was one that popped up and it was seized on. It was unfortunate that it was."

The respected scientist's obvious doubts are a devastating blow for No 10 which has been accused of "transforming" the dossier before its publication in September.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/content_objectid=13289921_method=full_siteid=50143_headline=-KELLY-TAPE-SENSATION--They-were-desperate---pushing-hard-for-information-which-could-be-released--45-minutes-name_page.html

The week ahead: Hoon expects to have to 'fall on his sword' over exposure of Dr Kelly

The Secretary of State for Defence, Geoff Hoon, has told colleagues he expects to have to "fall on his sword" over the death of the scientist David Kelly.

In telephone calls last week, Mr Hoon said he now accepted he would have to take responsibility for the affair after the Hutton inquiry into the scientist's death heard that he had overruled advice from his most senior civil servant to force Dr Kelly to face a public grilling before the Foreign Affairs Select Committee (FAC).

Mr Hoon has privately conceded his ministerial career is over. According to The Sunday Telegraph, a friend of the Defence Secretary said: "Geoff knows you don't come back from something like this."

Mr Hoon's decision to ignore the advice of Sir Kevin Tebbit, Permanent Secretary at the MoD, and put Dr Kelly before the FAC for "presentational" reasons was one of the key disclosures in the Hutton inquiry's first week. This week, Downing Street's involvement in the dossier that formed the case for war and its role in the events leading to Dr Kelly's death will come under intense scrutiny.

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=434474

I'm a fucking lunatic I figure there are those out there that want as many sources as they can get their hands on so since I happened to catch it on the break I thought I would oblige those that are junkies about this.

there is tons more here is the googles

http://news.google.com/news?q=kelly&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wn

[TahitiNut]

7. "Ulsterman poised to go before Kelly probe" (display-friendly)

snip

THE Ulsterman who allegedly described weapons expert David Kelly as a Walter Mitty-style fantasist is to give evidence next week to the inquiry investigating Dr Kelly's death.

Tom Kelly - no relation of the dead scientist - is scheduled to appear before the Hutton inquiry in London next Wednesday.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman allegedly made the slur against Dr Kelly during a discussion with a political journalist.

Tom Kelly, who formerly worked for the BBC and was also at one time an NIO spokesman, has remained a resident in Northern Ireland since being appointed to Tony Blair's press team two years ago.

Also due to give evidence next week was the Downing Street communications chief Alastair Campbell.

(more)

the mirror is kind of like the enquirer but why not since I seem to be here for this breaking story.

KELLY TAPE SENSATION
DOWNING Street was "desperate" for information to be released that would back its case for a strike on Iraq, David Kelly told a journalist.

The weapons expert then claimed it failed to stress in a Government dossier that the real threat posed by Iraq was what weapons it might have in the future "because that takes away the case for war".

In a damning tape that blew away Government denials of spin the Hutton inquiry heard Dr Kelly telling how No 10 seized on the disputed claim that Iraq could deploy weapons of mass destruction in 45 minutes.

He said: "They were desperate, pushing hard, for information which could be released. That was one that popped up and it was seized on. It was unfortunate that it was."

The respected scientist's obvious doubts are a devastating blow for No 10 which has been accused of "transforming" the dossier before its publication in September.

(more)

The week ahead: Hoon expects to have to 'fall on his sword' over exposure of Dr Kelly

The Secretary of State for Defence, Geoff Hoon, has told colleagues he expects to have to "fall on his sword" over the death of the scientist David Kelly.

In telephone calls last week, Mr Hoon said he now accepted he would have to take responsibility for the affair after the Hutton inquiry into the scientist's death heard that he had overruled advice from his most senior civil servant to force Dr Kelly to face a public grilling before the Foreign Affairs Select Committee (FAC).

Mr Hoon has privately conceded his ministerial career is over. According to The Sunday Telegraph, a friend of the Defence Secretary said: "Geoff knows you don't come back from something like this."

Mr Hoon's decision to ignore the advice of Sir Kevin Tebbit, Permanent Secretary at the MoD, and put Dr Kelly before the FAC for "presentational" reasons was one of the key disclosures in the Hutton inquiry's first week. This week, Downing Street's involvement in the dossier that formed the case for war and its role in the events leading to Dr Kelly's death will come under intense scrutiny.

(more)

I'm a fucking lunatic I figure there are those out there that want as many sources as they can get their hands on so since I happened to catch it on the break I thought I would oblige those that are junkies about this.

there is tons more here is the googles

(more)

[DrBB]

4. So, does Hoon's move cauterize the wound?

Will Hoon falling on his sword be enough to seal off this whole thing, or will the ramifications keep spreading? Can you put it in a nutshell for us?

Thanks for all the links, b.t.w.

[Capt_Nemo]

5. So Geoff Goon takes the hit for his masters' cock up

Well good riddance, that bushie buttlicker was as despicable
as his boss.

[susu369]

8. LOL - Geoff Goon

*eom*

[Capt_Nemo]

11. Since he became UK's poster boy for Missile Defense

I started calling him that.
I think it fits his character.

[dArKeR]

6. Let me slit your wrist it will protect you from putting me in jail and

losing my job.


http://darkerxdarker.tripod.com/

[AP]

9. Why would the government want to kill Kelly AFTER he testified.

And how does it make sense that they wanted his name released, but they didn't want him to talk.

Despite the alarmist headlines, Kelly's testimony and the testimony everyone has given has been very consistent with Labour's theory of the BBC's motivations from Day One. Blair never would have pursued this issue with such a high profile (back before anyone knew Kelly's identity) unless they knew what they were going to find.

I'm all for making the situation for politicians I don't like, but there comes a point when you have to confront logic. It's one thing to say, "I think the forces of evil had this guy killed." It'z another to present a coherent argument which incorproates the facts we know (eg, that Kelly's testimony helped the gov't, etc.)

[samsingh]

10. some small part

of me would like to believe that Blair is not total scum. But at this point who knows?