Not one 'killer fact' in Iraq dossier

Not one 'killer fact' in Iraq dossier
by Rick Rozoff Tuesday September 24, 2002 at 03:46 PM

NO Proof Of Iraq Threat; Will British Territory Be Used For Nuclear Offensive? -[T]he long awaited report, based on MI6 evidence, contains NO proof that Saddam poses a specific threat to world peace. -"The issue is whether British territory is to be used for an initial nuclear offensive."

NOT ONE 'KILLER FACT' IN IRAQ DOSSIER
By James Hardy, Political Editor

TONY Blair today reveals a dossier to justif y war on Iraq - but there is not one "killer fact" proving Saddam Hussein is an immediate threat.

Mr Blair presented the 50-page document at a tense two-hour Cabinet meeting last night in an attempt to bolster support on the eve of its release to MPs.

No 10 said it would "nail the lie" Saddam has no weapons of mass destruction. It is expected to detail the tyrant's chemical and bio-weapons and warn that Iraq could develop nuclear weapons within 90 days if it can obtain the necessary uranium.

But the long awaited report, based on MI6 evidence, contains NO proof that Saddam poses a specific threat to world peace.

A Whitehall source said: "It tries to provide a basis on which decisions can be taken.

"It says to the best of our knowledge what Saddam has got and what his intentions are. It does not try to produce a killer fact. If we had that fact, such as Saddam could deliver a dozen nuclear bombs, it would already be too late.

"There is no specific threat we are aware of to the UK or anyone else. It is more a generic threat."

Mr Blair faces a rough ride from Labour backbenchers during today's emergency Commons debate on Iraq. But there will not be a vote on military action.

A new draft UN resolution aimed at forcing Saddam to comply with "intrusive" weapons inspections is now expected within days rather than weeks. Last night President Bush again said the UN must authorise the use of military force, declaring: "I want to see strong resolutions.

"We will not allow the world's worst leaders to threaten us with the world's worst weapons."

Mr Blair faced down his Cabinet critics yesterday with a demand for unity and loyalty.

He told them: "The issue of Iraq and weapons of mass destruction is real, serious and has grown worse in the last four years.

"The dossier draws on the latest intelligence. There is no doubt that despite sanctions, denials and UN resolutions, Saddam is continuing with his WMD programme.

"We are not talking about historic leftovers but a continuing programme. The truth is the policy of containment has not worked. He has to be stopped. It is right to deal with it through the UN, but it must be dealt with.

"Saddam has moved on inspections because of pressure. We have to keep the pressure on."

The comments were aimed at "doves" like International Development Secretary Clare Short and Robin Cook.

Both have publicly warned against starting a war without full UN backing. Commons leader Mr Cook has further angered No 10 by repeatedly demanding a Commons vote to authorise any military action.

As armed police patrolled outside, tensions burst into the open with a rebuke to doubters from Home Secretary David

Blunkett. He said later: "All of us understand the fears. We have those conflicting inside our heads.

"It is important that we share those thoughts privately and we accept collective responsibility.

"This is something to do with all of us. We'll share our views and worries and come out united."

Before the meeting Mr Blair held private talks with Ms Short, Chancellor Gordon Brown, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and Deputy Premier John Prescott.

Ms Short said after the Cabinet session: "We had a good discussion. We all agreed."

Mr Straw said later the dossier showed Saddam was a "mounting challenge" to the world.

He said the Government hoped to see the issue resolved peacefully.

But he added: "Force may have to be used to enforce the will of the international community," Mr Blair's official spokesman insisted the Government was taking the search for a diplomatic solution seriously. He said: "We're going down the UN route because Saddam is in breach of his UN obligations.

"We're seeking a new resolution which makes it crystal clear what his obligations are.

"But as the Prime Minister has made clear, the issue is do we sit back knowing Saddam has these weapons of mass destruction and cross our fingers? Or do we deal with it?

"The UN has to be a means of dealing with this issue. It is not a means of endless prevarication."

However, the absence of hard evidence of Saddam's intentions is bound to stiffen Labour resistance to military action.

Today's Commons debate will face Mr Blair with the sternest test of his Premiership.

Many Labour backbenchers are furious at what they see as his slavish backing for President Bush. Left wingers are determined to force a vote to underline their opposition to military action.

As criticism mounted, Father of the Commons Tam Dalyell claimed US "bunker-buster" nuclear bombs were deployed on the British island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

He has written to Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon to demand details of the alleged move.

Mr Dalyell said: "It is a question of using nuclear weapons targeting Saddam's bunkers.

"The issue is whether British territory is to be used for an initial nuclear offensive."

The MoD refused to comment.

- SOARING oil prices because of war fears will up petrol costs, experts said yesterday. In the US and London, prices hit highs of about £20 a barrel.

Website: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/page.cfm?objectid=12224299&method=full&siteid=50143

groups.yahoo.com/group/targets-news/

found on indymedia.co.uk
by guido Tuesday September 24, 2002 at 04:27 PM

Deconstructing the "Dossier"
by Doubting Thomas 10:54am Tue Sep 24 '02

On a day when stock markets in the US and UK are at 6 year lows and global economic instability threatens the positions of Bush and Blair, what could be more convenient than to call for war...

Deconstructing the "Dossier"

On the morning of 24 September 2002 I downloaded Tony Blair's "Dossier" on Iraq. Unfortunately, detailed references to the sources from which the information in the "Dossier" was are not provided. Mr Blair obviously doesn't want the citizens of the UK to be well informed on the background of this propaganda material.

I've therefore had to deconstruct the "Dossier" and rebuild the list of sources for myself... Equipped only with a computer and Internet connection I've been able to locate sources for all the "information" contained in Chapter 2.

As you can see, this shows quite clearly that the "Dossier" is a collection of existing material, much of it old, whose sole purpose is to put the case for war against Iraq. This document is supposed to be the product of the "Joint Intelligence Committee". However, as the sources show, it could just as well have been the product of a student with Internet access.

On a day when stock markets in the US and UK are at 6 year lows and global economic instability threatens the positions of Bush and Blair, what could be more convenient than to call for war...

"Doubting Thomas"
24 September 2002

The following list shows publicly-available sources for the information contained in Chapter 2 of the "Dossier":

p. 11, Item 1
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/iraq/cw/program.htm
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/iraq/facility/fallujah_1.htm

p. 11, Item 2
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/iraq/facility/salman_pak.htm
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/salman-pak-east.htm

p. 12, Item 3
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/iraq/bw/program.htm
http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,5118032%255E21302,00.html
http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/speeches/2002/020917_fa_iraq_wmd.html

p. 13, Item 4
http://www.msnbc.com/news/763194.asp

p. 13, Item 5
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/iraq/nuke/program.htm
http://www.iraqwatch.org/wmd/nuclear.html

p. 14, Box
http://faculty.ncwc.edu/toconnor/392/spy/USmilitarysecrets.htm

p. 14, Item 7
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/iraq/missile/badr-2000.htm
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/iraq/missile/scud.htm
http://www.cia.gov/nic/pubs/other_products/Unclassifiedballisticmissilefinal.pdf

p. 14, Item 8
http://www.hrw.org/research/iraq.html

p. 15, Item 9
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/8/18/81805.shtml

p. 15, Box
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2001/candidates/candidates/6/66346.stm
http://usinfo.state.gov/regional/nea/iraq/press/0710chem.htm