Sunday, August 01, 2004

"Sexing up" the WMD reports

John Scarett, who was at the time the head of Britain's Joint Intelligence Committee, which advises the Prime Minister on intelligence matters, allegedly tried to get Britain's secret intelligence service MI6 to include false information about WMD in Iraq.

Respected investigative journalist Tom Mangold – a friend of UK weapons inspector David Kelly, who killed himself last year after being exposed as the source of stories casting doubt on Government claims about Iraqi WMD – said that he had been informed that ISG officials were “stunned and dismayed” by the request.

He quoted the unnamed ISG insider as saying: “Inclusion of Scarlett’s nuggets would have been grossly manipulative of the truth. In fact, let’s face it, he wanted us to include lies.

“This was a blatant attempt by the highly influential and respected British intelligence chief to insert material into our report which we knew for a hard fact was totally untrue.
  Scotsman article

Apparently, it was good enough for a promotion, though. Mr. Scarlett is the new head of MI6.

...but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.

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