Spy chief reveals '20 minute' warning

icNewcastle ^ | August 26 2003

[knighthawk]

The security chief responsible for the Government's controversial dossier on Iraq has described how intelligence indicated that Saddam could deploy weapons of mass destruction in just 20 minutes.

John Scarlett, chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, was giving evidence to the Hutton Inquiry into the death of Government scientist Dr David Kelly.

He described to Lord Hutton how the dossier published last September and used by the Government to make the case for war on Iraq was drawn up. Before it was published, new intelligence came to light suggesting Iraq could deploy the weapons within a maximum of 45 minutes but on average closer to 20 minutes.

That information came from a single source, Mr Scarlett said.

Explaining why the 45-minute claim was inserted in the dossier, Mr Scarlett said: "In this particular case, it was judged straightaway that the intelligence was consistent with established judgments on Iraq's experience and capability in the use of chemical and biological munitions."

The JIC met to discuss the draft of the dossier on September 4 and noted that "important new intelligence was coming in which was relevant to the subject", Mr Scarlett said.

Referring to the classified intelligence, the inquiry was read a section saying: "Iraq has probably dispersed its special weapons including chemical and biological weapons.

"Intelligence also indicated that from forward deployed storage sites, chemical and biological munitions could be with military units and ready for firing within 45 minutes."

Pointing out the importance of the information, he said: "It brought an additional detail because it gave a particular time, gave some precision."

Mr Scarlett said it was incorporated into the draft assessment and added: "This was certainly the first time that this was included in any JIC document."

[knighthawk]

Ping

[witnesstothefall]

I'll see your 45 minute warning and raise you 20 minutes. Great fun, this British witch hunt.

[Go Gordon]

I'll see your 45 minute warning and raise you 20 minutes.

Okay, I'm all in. BTW, the texas style poker championship final round is on ESPN tonight.

[irish guard]

At the end of the day, I think we are going to find out that the Iraqis did indeed have WMDs adn that they were contained in artillery shells. The only reason they didn't end up using them was that the guy who was supposed to give the order either died, got scared or never hung around.