Iraqi authorities are more than a little "peeved" at finding out that they may well have been sold a British sourced bomb detector that in fact doesn't detect bombs.
The Iraqi government has formed a commission to investigate the ADE651, known as the "magic wand".
Iraq has spent $85M on the "magic wand".
Britain banned the export of the device (manufactured by the British-based ATSC Company) last week, after tests showed that it was not suitable for bomb detection.
The British police also arrested ATSC Director Jim McCormick, on suspicion of fraud by misrepresentation.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Chilcot Does A Volte Face
Sir John Chilcot, had said that he would not call Gordon Brown to the inquiry into the Iraq war ahead of the general election, in order to avoid its hearings becoming caught up in party politics.
However, Brown has since written to Sir John advising him that he is prepared to attend pre election (if called next month).
Bowing to the inevitable, Sir John has asked Brown to attend in the next month and said that he had invited Gordon Brown to give evidence to the Iraq inquiry "as a matter of fairness".
Aside from blowing the schedule of the inquiry out of the water, this volte face (in the face of political pressure) also severely damages the credibility and authority of the inquiry.
However, Brown has since written to Sir John advising him that he is prepared to attend pre election (if called next month).
Bowing to the inevitable, Sir John has asked Brown to attend in the next month and said that he had invited Gordon Brown to give evidence to the Iraq inquiry "as a matter of fairness".
Aside from blowing the schedule of the inquiry out of the water, this volte face (in the face of political pressure) also severely damages the credibility and authority of the inquiry.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Asking For Trouble
Sir David Omand, Blair's former security co-ordinator, told the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq war that claiming Iraq had weapons of mass destruction which could be used within 45 minutes in a dossier was "asking for trouble".
He also stated that Blair and the government were warned that the proposed course of action in Iraq could draw "large numbers" to Islamic extremism.
So many people in government, at the time that these decisions were being made, seemed to know that the case for war was flawed.
Yet they still went ahead with it!
In other news, Gordon Brown has said that he will appear before the Chilcot Inquiry anytime they want him.
Let them take him at his word, and call him before the election.
He also stated that Blair and the government were warned that the proposed course of action in Iraq could draw "large numbers" to Islamic extremism.
So many people in government, at the time that these decisions were being made, seemed to know that the case for war was flawed.
Yet they still went ahead with it!
In other news, Gordon Brown has said that he will appear before the Chilcot Inquiry anytime they want him.
Let them take him at his word, and call him before the election.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
The Truth Will Out
Geoff Hoon, ex defence minister and "expert" on regime change (both in Iraq and the Labour Party), has appeared before the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq war.
He lost no opportunity in putting the boot into Gordon Brown, by noting that he had cut the budget for helicopters in 2003.
He also stated that the post invasion US planning was chaotic, indeed he admitted that he knew that before the war actually started.
He also noted that planning in the UK had started too late, and had written to Tony Blair complaining that no one had been identified to succeed Saddam Hussein.
Such a "pity" for the people of Iraq, and the troops who are dying out there, that these concerns were not made public at the time.
He lost no opportunity in putting the boot into Gordon Brown, by noting that he had cut the budget for helicopters in 2003.
He also stated that the post invasion US planning was chaotic, indeed he admitted that he knew that before the war actually started.
He also noted that planning in the UK had started too late, and had written to Tony Blair complaining that no one had been identified to succeed Saddam Hussein.
Such a "pity" for the people of Iraq, and the troops who are dying out there, that these concerns were not made public at the time.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Blair Got It Wrong
Jonathan Powell, Tony Blair's aide during his time in office, told the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq war that Blair's assumption that Saddam Hussein had WMD was (in the cruel light of reality) wrong.
Blair went to war based on a long-standing "assumption" that Saddam Hussein still possessed weapons of mass destruction, because he had used them in the past.
Blair was once described at school as being lazy when it came to details. True to form when deciding to go to war, rather than use up to date detailed intelligence, he based is decision on past assumptions.
Powell told the inquiry that intelligence on Saddam's WMD was not the pivotal factor in the decision to go to war in Iraq.
Powell is quoted in the Telegraph telling the inquiry:
"Iraq didn't have weapons of mass destruction. We were wrong. The intelligence was wrong.
When our forces went in, we were absolutely amazed to discover there weren't any weapons of mass destruction."
When asked if he had any concerns about the intelligence not being up to date, Powell said:
"We had an assumption, and we had that assumption because Saddam Hussein had lied about using WMD and he had lied about getting rid of them. We had bombed Iraq in 1998 on that basis and it would have taken some quite strong evidence to suggest he had got rid of them.
We didn't really have any doubts about it and I don't think other people had any doubts about it."
Beware leaders who rush to war without doubts, they will lead themselves and their people to destruction.
Blair went to war based on a long-standing "assumption" that Saddam Hussein still possessed weapons of mass destruction, because he had used them in the past.
Blair was once described at school as being lazy when it came to details. True to form when deciding to go to war, rather than use up to date detailed intelligence, he based is decision on past assumptions.
Powell told the inquiry that intelligence on Saddam's WMD was not the pivotal factor in the decision to go to war in Iraq.
Powell is quoted in the Telegraph telling the inquiry:
"Iraq didn't have weapons of mass destruction. We were wrong. The intelligence was wrong.
When our forces went in, we were absolutely amazed to discover there weren't any weapons of mass destruction."
When asked if he had any concerns about the intelligence not being up to date, Powell said:
"We had an assumption, and we had that assumption because Saddam Hussein had lied about using WMD and he had lied about getting rid of them. We had bombed Iraq in 1998 on that basis and it would have taken some quite strong evidence to suggest he had got rid of them.
We didn't really have any doubts about it and I don't think other people had any doubts about it."
Beware leaders who rush to war without doubts, they will lead themselves and their people to destruction.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Justice
In Iraq it has been announced that "Chemical Ali" will be executed in a few days, for ordering the gassing of 5,000 Kurds in the Iraqi town of Halabja. Ali Hassan al-Majid will die by hanging.
Meanwhile in the UK, Tony Blair can expect a less "final" outcome from his forthcoming appearance before the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq war.
A public ballot will be held today for people wanting seats (60 are available) to watch Blair when he appears later his month/February.
Meanwhile in the UK, Tony Blair can expect a less "final" outcome from his forthcoming appearance before the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq war.
A public ballot will be held today for people wanting seats (60 are available) to watch Blair when he appears later his month/February.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Legal Advice Changed
Lord Turnbull, who was Cabinet secretary in the run up to the Iraq war, told the Chilcot Inquiry into the war that there were important differences between the final legal opinion Lord Goldsmith (the then Attorney General) presented to the Cabinet and an earlier version he gave privately to Tony Blair.
"It was not, in my view, a summary of what had been produced 10 days earlier. It was materially different in some respects because of the passage of time.
Certain things had changed."
Why such large changes over such a short period of time?
"It was not, in my view, a summary of what had been produced 10 days earlier. It was materially different in some respects because of the passage of time.
Certain things had changed."
Why such large changes over such a short period of time?
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Campbell Finds God
Alastair Campbell claims on his blog today that he found a passage from the Bible to be useful, wrt preparing him to face the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq war yesterday.
Doubtless God, were he/she to exist, would be pleased to have helped out!
Given the fact that Campbell has spent his working life in/with/using the media, he doesn't seem to like the media very much.
Signs of self loathing perhaps?
Doubtless God, were he/she to exist, would be pleased to have helped out!
Given the fact that Campbell has spent his working life in/with/using the media, he doesn't seem to like the media very much.
Signs of self loathing perhaps?
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
We Are Absolutely With You
Alastair Campbell (Tony Blair's ex spin doctor) is facing the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq war.
He has told the inquiry that Blair wrote to the US president in 2002, assuring him of Britain's support. According to Campbell the essence of the message was:
"We share the analysis.
We share the concern.
We are absolutely with you in making sure that Saddam Hussein faces up to his obligations, and that Iraq is disarmed.
If that can't be done diplomatically, and it has to done militarily, we would definitely be there.
That is the tenor of his communications with the president."
He also denied claims made by Sir Christopher Meyer, Britain's then ambassador to the US, about Blair's meeting with George Bush at Crawford in April 2002.
"If you are saying to me 'Do I agree with Christopher Meyer's analysis that at Crawford the Prime Minister shifted his position from one of containment and disarmament through the UN to one of regime change?'
I don't.
I don't accept this analysis that at Crawford there was a fundamental shift in approach and policy by the Prime Minister."
For good measure he also made sure that Gordon Brown could not wriggle free of responsibility, by noting that Blair talked to Brown a lot about Iraq.
He has told the inquiry that Blair wrote to the US president in 2002, assuring him of Britain's support. According to Campbell the essence of the message was:
"We share the analysis.
We share the concern.
We are absolutely with you in making sure that Saddam Hussein faces up to his obligations, and that Iraq is disarmed.
If that can't be done diplomatically, and it has to done militarily, we would definitely be there.
That is the tenor of his communications with the president."
He also denied claims made by Sir Christopher Meyer, Britain's then ambassador to the US, about Blair's meeting with George Bush at Crawford in April 2002.
"If you are saying to me 'Do I agree with Christopher Meyer's analysis that at Crawford the Prime Minister shifted his position from one of containment and disarmament through the UN to one of regime change?'
I don't.
I don't accept this analysis that at Crawford there was a fundamental shift in approach and policy by the Prime Minister."
For good measure he also made sure that Gordon Brown could not wriggle free of responsibility, by noting that Blair talked to Brown a lot about Iraq.
Monday, January 11, 2010
The Sexed Up Dossier
Claims that Alastair Campbell, Blair's spin doctor, sexed up the Iraq dossier have resurfaced.
The Guardian claims that the dossier was changed, on the instructions of Alastair Campbell, to fit with claims from the US administration that were known to be false.
The pre-invasion dossier's worst-case estimate of how long it would take Iraq to acquire a nuclear weapon was shortened in response to a George Bush speech, from two years to one.
Campbell will appear before the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq war tomorrow. Given his skills at handling an aggressive media, and the softness of the Chiclot panel, it is likely he will easily get through it unscathed.
The Guardian claims that the dossier was changed, on the instructions of Alastair Campbell, to fit with claims from the US administration that were known to be false.
The pre-invasion dossier's worst-case estimate of how long it would take Iraq to acquire a nuclear weapon was shortened in response to a George Bush speech, from two years to one.
Campbell will appear before the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq war tomorrow. Given his skills at handling an aggressive media, and the softness of the Chiclot panel, it is likely he will easily get through it unscathed.
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