[okie01]

"...so someone simply decides it cannot be shared because the French are withholding permission. Where's the substance?"

Italian intelligence, the reported source of the forged documents, has asserted that they got them from the French.

Ever since the forgery has become known, the speculative source has been France. They had opportunity. And they had motive -- to cover their continued game of footsie with Saddam...and to embarrass the USA.

It's not "substance". But it seems a well-founded guess...

[AntiGuv]

Italian intelligence, the reported source of the forged documents, has asserted that they got them from the French.

If so, then why would the French permit the Italians to share the intelligence with the British, but permit neither to share the intelligence with the Americans?