Straw defends UK dossier uranium claims

Press Association ^ | July 12, 2003 | Press Association

[ejdrapes]

Straw defends dossier uranium claims

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has defended the Government's decision to include in its first Iraqi dossier claims that Saddam Hussein tried to get uranium from Africa.

CIA director George Tenet has apologised for allowing President George Bush to refer to the alleged trade between Iraq and Niger in his most recent state of the union address, after it emerged that evidence for the claim was based on forged documentation.

Mr Straw acknowledged that the CIA did express reservations about the use of the claim in the British Government's September dossier. But he insisted that it was based on what British officials regarded as reliable intelligence that had not been shared with the US.

In a letter to Donald Anderson, chairman of the Commons foreign affairs select committee, Mr Straw said: "I am writing to deal with two points relating to the statement in the Government's September Iraq dossier that 'Iraq has sought the supply of significant quantities of uranium from Africa'.

"First, press reporting has claimed that this statement is contradicted by the report of a US envoy, Ambassador Joseph Wilson, who visited Niger in early 2002 to investigate the subject on behalf of the CIA. I want to make clear that neither I nor, to the best of my knowledge, any UK officials were aware of Ambassador Wilson's visit until reference first appeared in the press, shortly before your hearings last month. In response to our questions, the US authorities have confirmed that Ambassador Wilson's report was not shared with the UK.

"We have now seen a detailed account of Ambassador Wilson's report. It does indeed describe the denials of Niger government officials in early 2002 that a contract had been concluded for the sale of yellowcake to Iraq. But, as CNN have reported, Ambassador Wilson's report also noted that in 1999 an Iraqi delegation sought the expansion of trade links with Niger - and that former Niger government officials believed that this was in connection with the procurement of yellowcake.

"Uranium is Niger's main export. In other words, this element of Ambassador Wilson's report supports the statement in the Government's dossier.

"Second, the media have reported that the CIA expressed reservations to us about this element of the September dossier. This is correct.

"However, the US comment was unsupported by explanation and UK officials were confident that the dossier's statement was based on reliable intelligence, which we had not shared with the US (for good reasons, which I have given your committee in private session). A judgment was therefore made to retain it.

"Finally, may I underline that the JIC's (Joint Intelligence Committee) assessment of Iraq's efforts to reconstitute its nuclear programme did not rest on the attempted acquisition of yellowcake alone. The Government's dossier catalogued a range of other procurement activities, and referred to intelligence that scientists had been recalled to the programme in 1998. You will be aware of the recent discovery of technical documentation and centrifuge parts - necessary for the enrichment of uranium - buried at the home of an Iraqi nuclear scientist in Baghdad."

[MizSterious]

From your keyboard to God's own eyes--I'd love to see a "big news event"--the sooner the better!

[MizSterious]

You're right: it never has been a lie, and President Bush didn't even have to seek the meaning of "is," not once. With all the lying the past admin did, it's just plain amazing to see their sudden concern for the truth. The dems wouldn't know the truth if it bit them on their rear ends.

[hoosiermama]

Sounds like those concerned about "truth" (the adults) have finally had enough of the children's childish ways.

ALways look to see what the dems are accusing people of doing; it's a hint on what they are trying to do.

I hope the Brits "sock it to em"

[Carolinamom]

I can't wait for that joint press conference Blair and Bush will be having next week. I hope/suspect that they will have some really blockbuster news. Anybody know the dates?

[alloysteel]

Many decisions made in intelligence assessments are based on incomplete information, or badly understood transmissions, interpreted by analysts who operate as much on hunch and intuition as solid deduction. But sometimes, the incomplete or erroneous information, in combination with the analyst's "lucky" guess, comes up with what may be very nearly termed the real state of affairs. The intelligence reported tends to point to an attempt by Saddam Hussein to purchase refined uranium from an African source. Nowhere is there made any assertion that the sale was consummated. But Saddam might have bought some, perhaps in sufficient quantity to produce nuclear weapons. Bush didn't want to take the chance on the latter possibility.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

Friends of the CLINTONS =

TONY BLAIR
GEORGE TENET

smack in the middle of URANIUM-GATE

[hoosiermama]

Bush didn't want to take the chance on the latter possibility.

Yes, Better to error on the side of national security than national disaster!

And you know who would be the first to complain if they had discovered it had been mentioned and "they hadn't been told".

[Ben Hecks]

"I have just realized why the information was withheld: the Senate Intelligence Committee and the House Intelligence Committee, both of which have suspect Rats on them and which would leak information like a sieve."

Even worse, someone on either of the committees could pass the information on to the bad guys under the table which could compromise methods and sources without letting the information itself become public.

[Miss Marple]

Correct, and I have a couple of candidates for that suspicion, looking at who is on the Committees.

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks for the ping !

Churchill's speech of yesteryear.

Tony Blair: The price of my conviction

Excerpt:

But there are also consequences of 'stop the war'. There will be no march for the victims of Saddam, no protests about the thousands of children that die needlessly every year under his rule, no righteous anger over the torture chambers which if he is left in power, will remain in being.

I rejoice that we live in a country where peaceful protest is a natural part of our democratic process. But I ask the marchers to understand this.

I do not seek unpopularity as a badge of honour. But sometimes it is the price of leadership and the cost of conviction.

If there are 500,000 on the [Stop the War] march, that is still less than the number of people whose deaths Saddam has been responsible for. If there are one million, that is still less than the number of people who died in the wars he started.

So if the result of peace is Saddam staying in power, not disarmed, then I tell you there are consequences paid in blood for that decision too. But these victims will never be seen, never feature on our TV screens or inspire millions to take to the streets. But they will exist none the less.

President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair of England walk out to address the media in Cross Hall at the White House Nov. 7. "We've got no better friend in the world than Great Britain," said the President during his remarks. White House photo by Paul Morse.

[PhiKapMom]

Just like the Armed Services Committee where Rumsfeld is now briefing certain members. Hillary Clinton sits on Armed Services and Edwards sits on Intelligence.

Turn on Fox -- Senator Warner is about to take on Snow about this very topic! They just went to a break!

[PhiKapMom]

Try Armed Services with Hillary Clinton on the Committee -- That to me is the biggest travesty of all!

[PhiKapMom]

Snow: Serious breach by CIA in not warning the President about this.

Warner: Have been involved in this Nation's government for over 30 years. 2nd term on Senate Intelligence. Tenet a man of integrity and straight forward. The buck stops on his desk. Not the bigger picture -- this Nation is at war -- we have men and women all over at harms risk. This time for our Nation to stand behind the President, Vice Present, and the men and women in uniform.

[PhiKapMom]

Snow -- Did anyone pressure the CIA?

Warner: I do not know of any facts which give rise to any conclusion that anyone in the Administration manipulated that informatin. Warner is furious.

Snow: Idiot -- wants info on WMDs

Warner: Your question relates to WMDs -- we all presumed that once we secured the military operation we would find them -- will will continue to look. Conclusively says to me that there is not doubt Saddam at WMDs and was bulding an infrastructure to build more!

Snow -- Moron Alert! His condenscending and arrogant attitude made Warner cut him.

Warner: We are doing everything night and day to solve the mystery of WMDs. We need to assess the valuable information from the Iraqi's. The Iraqi people are welcoming out troops. People from other countries like Iran are some of the ones flooding into Iraq to attack our troops.

Snow: Idiot question about Iran!

Warner: Highly classified and cannot discuss! Talking about Iranian people seeing a neighboring state in Freedom!
Iran will burst forth for Freedom.

Snow: About NATO in Iraq!

Warner: Bring in NATO in Iraq

[hoosiermama]

A bit off topic, but I just started reading OFF WITH THEIR HEADS by Dick Morris.

Boy does he spell out the "problems" of the NYT. Tells it like it is,( and I'm only on page 30!)

*****Rating!

[PhiKapMom]

I have to get that book -- thanks for the reminder!

[rwfromkansas]

We need to send this sucker off to the media...

Maybe somebody will cover it. Maybe.

[maestro]

Keep (socialist/Ba'athist) NATO out of Iraq!!

It too would be a 'threat' to Israel!!!

Kosher Sense!!

[hoosiermama]

Yes and it needs to be moved to breaking news or headline news so other Freeper see it.

Ej, I think you have to request the upgrade, ask PHIKAPMOM or Miss Marple.

[cyncooper]

Miss Marple, I also think that President Bush was personally assured by Tony Blair that they were very confident of their intelligence.

I just heard Wendell Goler report from Africa that privately WH aides say they still think the uranium story is in fact true, but our own intelligence does possess the documentation that would bring it to a level, yet, that would warrant the inclusion in a presidential speech. Exactly as we all pieced together amidst the rampant mischaracterizations in the media yesterday.

And note how Straw includes reference to the buried centrifuge parts in this letter.