Dr. David Kelly
Posted on 07/19/2003 8:29:48 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
Tony Blair was under unprecedented pressure last night as the suicide of Dr David Kelly, the weapons expert, plunged his Government into its gravest crisis.
The Prime Minister, clearly shaken, reacted with shock to accusations that he had "blood on his hands" over the death of Dr Kelly, who police yesterday revealed had slashed his left wrist and bled to death, possibly after taking a large dose of painkillers.
In a dramatic development last night, the Ministry of Defence admitted that it had privately given Dr Kelly's name to three newspapers on July 9. This contradicted earlier claims by Geoff Hoon, the Defence Secretary, that there had been no such breach of confidentiality.
A former Labour minister called for Mr Blair to resign, as the mystery of Dr Kelly's death deepened, with the revelation that he sent friends emails hours before his death, talking of being haunted by "many dark actors playing games". Dr Kelly's claim, sent to Judith Miller, a New York Times reporter, is certain to be key evidence in the judicial inquiry into the affair - announced by Mr Blair - to be chaired by Lord Hutton, a law lord.
Dr Kelly said he felt that ministers and government officials were responsible for exposing him to the unprecedented public scrutiny which his family and friends believe led to his suicide.
Ms Miller said the email she received gave no indication that Dr Kelly, 59, was depressed. In another email he sent on Thursday, the day of his death, about three hours before he left his home in Oxfordshire to go for a walk, the scientist responded to Professor Alastair Hay, a friend who had expressed the hope that he was dealing with the pressure.
Dr Kelly wrote to him: "Many thanks for your support. Hopefully it will soon pass and I can get to Baghdad and get on with the real job."
Prof Hay, an environmental toxicologist at Leeds University, said yesterday: "I find it extraordinary that David was identified by the MoD. He was being used as a scapegoat."
Dr Kelly's family spoke for the first time about his suicide, saying he had been placed under "intolerable pressure". Two days before his death, he was questioned forcefully by the Commons foreign affairs select committee over whether he was the source for a BBC report alleging that a dossier on Saddam Hussein's bio-chemical capabilities had been "sexed up" by the Government.
Dr Kelly allegedly felt betrayed that his name had been leaked to the press, it was reported last night.
In an interview with The Sunday Times on July 9, the day before his name appeared in several papers, Dr Kelly said that he had been assured by the MoD that "the whole thing would be confidential". But he had just received a phone call warning him that his identity would be in the following day's papers. He added: "I feel as though I have been through the wringer."
Last night, Pam Teare, the MoD's director of news, admitted that far from protecting Dr Kelly's identity, she had confirmed his name to reporters who rang her on July 9.
"As we have said all along we didn't release the name but we made it clear to media callers and to Dr Kelly that if someone put the right name to us we would be obliged to confirm it - end of story."
Ms Teare conceded that, the day before, press officers had provided journalists with information that would help them identify Dr Kelly.
The latest developments will fuel speculation over whether Alastair Campbell, the Prime Minister's director of communications, or Mr Hoon had forced Dr Kelly's name into the public arena against his wishes.
At his appearance before the committee last week, a clearly anxious Dr Kelly denied being the main source for Andrew Gilligan, the defence correspondent of Radio 4's Today programme.
After his death, his wife Janice told friends that the pressure of the hearings had led him to believe that this was "not the kind of world he wanted to live in". Dr Kelly's death has placed the Government under growing pressure. Mr Campbell has told friends, however, that he had no intention of resigning, saying: "I don't believe I have done anything wrong."
Last night, Glenda Jackson, a former Labour transport minister, said that Dr Kelly had been treated "shamefully" by the Government and added that Mr Blair should step down. "The Prime Minister should really be reconsidering his position," she said. "I don't see how the Government is going to be able to function adequately. This is going to be hanging over the Government for the whole period of the judicial inquiry."
Mr Blair, who was in Tokyo yesterday as part of his Far East tour, said the inquiry prevented him answering questions about Dr Kelly's death. In a voice apparently cracking with emotion, Mr Blair spoke of his "deep sorrow" at events.
Asked whether Dr Kelly's death was on his conscience, he said: "What is important now is some due process. The reason for having an inquiry is so that the facts can be established. I don't think it is right for ourselves or anybody else to make a judgment until we have the facts."
Iain Duncan Smith, the Tory leader, demanded the recall of Parliament. He wants the judicial inquiry widened to include government handling of intelligence before the Iraq war.
At the BBC, a senior editor said: "We were in a war of spin and that poor guy got ripped apart in the middle. So, yes, we had a role. But we do not believe we could have handled things differently."
The corporation will clarify Dr Kelly's role as a source for Mr Gilligan - possibly as early as today. Richard Sambrook, the BBC's head of news, is believed to have authorised the move.
Peter Mandelson, the Labour MP for Hartlepool and a close confidant of Mr Blair, pointed a finger of blame at the BBC over Dr Kelly's death.
"It was the BBC's obsession with [Mr Campbell] that led more than anything to the breakdown in relations between the Government and Britain's principal public service broadcaster, with the result we have seen," he said.
yitbos
Sorry folks, I know that Ian Duncan Smith is a "conservative" but the guy's lack of principles makes me sick. No wonder the socialists have taken over Britain.
Dr. David Kelly
So appropriate and yet so ironic.
That sounds eerily similar to what Vince Foster said in the suicide note that was written for him.
Which reminds me....just what the hell did David Bonior, Jim McDermott and Saddam Hussein talk about the last time they met?
Like Richard Helms?
Miss Marple: And I wouldn't be surprised if the same person was behind both notes.How right you are. This seeming suicide is so simple. Obviously Hillary did it. Same m-o as with Foster. She was having an affair with Kelly. Killed him. Called her lesbian lover, Janet Reno. They wrapped him up in a carpet and drug him out to where he was found. Then, just like Traficant said, Hil and Jan did a wanton lesbo dance celebrating their kill with the lesbo Chinese who are blackmailing them. Why can't anyone see the obvious?
What a great insult! And at the same time a compliment I hope they deserve.
It is to the benefit of some parties that President Bush be discredited. By taking down Blair through this scandal, a far more leftist Labor party MP would become Prime Minister, and would distance himself from President Bush.
Without the UK, we would have a hard time moving forward with the war on terror.
Now, who would benefit? Obviously Iran and North Korea. Domestically, certain people are most interested in their party regaining the White House, most especially the two who were recent occupants.
Members of the press will regret their decision to reveal the name of someone who had been a source for the media.
They will find it more difficult, now, to get people to share information with them.
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