BBC says it has a tape of Dr Kelly criticising Number 10

Independent.co.uk ^ | 23 July 2003 | Danielle Demetriou

[Hal1950]

The BBC says it has a tape recording of David Kelly voicing serious concerns over the role of Downing Street in the disputed Iraq dossier.

The corporation is planning to submit the tape as evidence during the inquiry into the death of the weapons expert. Susan Watts, the science editor of Newsnight, recorded her conversations with Dr Kelly, parts of which were later broadcast anonymously as a "source", using the voice of an actor.

The report, which was broadcast on 2 June, suggested Downing Street had been "desperate" to find information to justify its stance on a war against Iraq. Referring to the claim Iraq could launch weapons of mass destruction within 45 minutes, the source said: "It was a statement that was made and it just got out of all proportion, They were desperate for information, they were pushing hard for information which could be released. That was one that popped up and it was seized on and it's unfortunate that it was.

"That's why there's an argument between intelligence services and the Cabinet Office and Number 10, because they picked up on it and ... you can't pull it back."

The BBC will submit the tape to the inquiry led by Lord Hutton. The corporation is also expected to argue Ms Watts and Andrew Gilligan, the Today reporter, checked their quotes with Dr Kelly before broadcast.

Last night, a BBC spokesman commented: "We do have a tape but it's only a small part of our evidence for the inquiry. We don't want to go into too much detail of our evidence before the inquiry starts."

[AntiGuv]

Oooh.. How inconvenient...

[Brilliant]

All they are showing is that this guy was a nutcase. He criticizes Blair, then he denies that he did it, then he commits suicide. What's the point?

[Prodigal Son]

Exactly. I don't see how the BBC can come out of this with their reputation intact.

[CyberAnt]

John Gibson (The Big Story) crucified the BBC guy - called him a liar and said he was lying when he said Blair and Bush lied. It was hysterical! John hardly raised his voice - but he never let the guy off the hook! It was terrific.

And .. the BBC weasel had this terrible smirk on his face the whole time - typical liberal arrogance!

[GranpaVet]

They could if they can prove their sources. I don't know what to make of this yet. Am still waiting for the full story to merege. Too soon to tell.

[Timesink]

BBC Has Tape of Dead Scientist Briefing - Sources

Wed July 23, 2003 07:24 AM ET

LONDON (Reuters) - The BBC has a tape of talks between one of its reporters and the weapons expert who was apparently driven to suicide by a row over the government's case for war in Iraq, BBC sources said on Wednesday.

The tape records a conversation between reporter Susan Watts and Dr David Kelly, who was found dead last week after he was named as the BBC's source for stories alleging the government exaggerated its case for war against Iraq.

A BBC spokeswoman refused to confirm or deny reports of the tape. The BBC, Prime Minister Tony Blair, and many of his top ministers and advisers have come under fierce attack in the row over Kelly's death.

Kelly, a government scientist and weapons expert, was found dead in woods near his home last Friday. He had bled to death from a slashed wrist.

He had been forced into the media spotlight after telling his Defense Ministry bosses he may have been the source behind a BBC report which claimed Blair's government had exaggerated intelligence about banned Iraqi weapons to make a case for war.

The BBC, which had consistently refused to name its source, only confirmed Kelly as the source on Sunday, after the scientist's death.

The tape is likely to form a key part of evidence presented to Lord Hutton, the man asked by Blair to conduct an inquiry into events leading up to Kelly's death.

Susan Watts, science editor for the BBC's Newsnight program, used Kelly as her source for reports on June 2 and June 4 which claimed the government had exaggerated the threat posed by Iraq to justify going to war.

Watts quoted the source as saying the government was "obsessed with finding intelligence on immediate Iraqi threats."

"They were desperate for information, they were pushing hard for information which could be released," she quoted the source as saying.

[Timesink]

This is the nascent Mainstream Media Shenanigans ping list. Please freepmail me to be added or dropped.
Please note this will likely become a high-volume list.
Also feel free to ping me if you come across a thread you would think worthy of the ping list. I can't catch them all!

[Xenalyte]

Susan Watts, the science editor of Newsnight, recorded her conversations with Dr Kelly, parts of which were later broadcast anonymously as a "source", using the voice of an actor.

Can someone explain to me how, if Watts and Kelly were the voices recorded, an actor got involved?

[Timesink]

Can someone explain to me how, if Watts and Kelly were the voices recorded, an actor got involved?

I think, but don't recall for certain (which is why I ping the BritishFriends list in hopes of getting a straight answer) that this is a relatively common "device" used in British radio news; if the person's own voice is too wimpy, they'll get someone else to "better enunciate" the same words. (With the exact same intonation, I'm sure. </sarcasm>)

[Timesink]

Feh, left a line out as usual. They also, I think, will use an actor instead of digitally distorting the voice (as we would here in the US) of someone who's talking when he's not supposed to. (And David Kelly was breaking the law by speaking to the BBC at all; that is without question.)

[Xenalyte]

Thanks, dude! That makes sense, in a weird British sort of way.

[mewzilla]

Let's see, a big media conglomerate suddenly comes up with an exculpatory audio tape? ROTFLMAO!

[mewzilla]

Last night, a BBC spokesman commented: "We do have a tape but it's only a small part of our evidence for the inquiry. We don't want to go into too much detail of our evidence before the inquiry starts."

Beeb-speak translation: We're waiting for the ink to dry.

[OldFriend]

They have a tape but we can't hear it yet. Just trust them!!!!!!!!

[maestro]

David (U.N.) Kelly made no enemies.

/sarcasm

[cyncooper]

As I suspected all along....It was the only thing that made sense that would lead Dr. Kelly to suicide.

[cyncooper]

All they are showing is that this guy was a nutcase. He criticizes Blair, then he denies that he did it, then he commits suicide. What's the point?

The point is the BBC, like our own media, wants to take down their "pro-war" leader and they'll try to do it by hook or by crook.

The point is that because of the collusion of Kelly and the BBC the idea that Blair should step down was being bandied about. Incredibly, after Kelly died Blair is asked if HE has blood on his hands, when, as I correctly pointed out, Kelly had betrayed Blair. This last question to Blair illustrates the intent behind the media reports.

And President Bush is/was getting the same treatment over this uranium thing. Still is in some quarters (Chris Matthews should be institutionalized at this point, so over the top is he).

[cyncooper]

Can someone explain to me how, if Watts and Kelly were the voices recorded, an actor got involved?

Whent Watts aired excerpts of talks with her source she had an actor dub in Kelly's voice in order to protect Kelly, as his voice would be recognized.

[cyncooper]

I told you Kelly was in fact saying the things the BBC reported. Most likely the BBC even "sexed" that up, too, but his participation in the betrayal of his government would be the only thing that explained why he would be suicidal.