BBC chairman resigns after Lord Hutton Report

[Luxembourger]

it s now on Tv haven t found yet a link as it just comes in as breaking news

[Ian H]

Here we go:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3434661.stm

literally two minutes old.

[He219]

Key points:


It comes after Lord Hutton said the suggestion in BBC reports that the government "sexed up" its dossier on Iraq's weapons with unreliable intelligence was "unfounded".

And he criticised "defective" BBC editorial processes over defence correspondent Andrew Gilligan's broadcasts of the claims on the Today programme.

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20040128/t/r2798436296.jpg

Prime Minister Tony Blair said the report showed "the allegation that I or anybody else lied to the House or deliberately misled the country by falsifying intelligence of weapons of mass destruction is itself the real lie".

"I simply ask that those that have made it and repeated it over all these months now withdraw it fully, openly and clearly," he said.

Argyll?
;)

[cut]

what did Argyll say?

[Royal]

Prime Minister Tony Blair said the report showed "the allegation that I or anybody else lied to the House or deliberately misled the country by falsifying intelligence of weapons of mass destruction is itself the real lie".

"I simply ask that those that have made it and repeated it over all these months now withdraw it fully, openly and clearly," he said.

Argyll?
;)

I take it that you are asking Argyll to withdraw his criticisms of Blair and co. I very much doubt that he will, and I certainly won't.

Blair has been exonerated to a large extent because (other than John Scarlett's evidence) Hutton had no access to the inner workings of the JIC. He therefore only has Scarlett's word as to what happened. Scarlett is very likely to be appointed the next DG of the SIS, by guess who? Tony Blair. Although the chairman of the JIC has always been a political appointment, it has never before been a career stepping stone - rather a final job before retirement.

Yes the BBC overegged the story, but so did the JIC. I have never, ever seen single source intelligence given the credence that the 45 minute claim was given.

Blair, Hoon, Campbell and co have been exonerated by Hutton. The British armed forces are well aware that they are lying, posturing scum not fit to lace the boots of day one recruits.

[marktigger]

Cut also bear in mind that no Law Lords enqirey has ever criticized an Incumbent government.

[He219]

Blair, Hoon, Campbell and co have been exonerated by Hutton. The British armed forces are well aware that they are lying, posturing scum not fit to lace the boots of day one recruits.

That can be said of ALL politicians - even Churchill. Criticism is everyone's right, but slander is another matter. You are faulting Tony Blair for excercising his convictions - that Saddam Hussein was an immediate threat - especially to those pilots patroling 'No-Fly' zones.

It is far to soon to find fault in the rational to go to war to remove Saddam Hussein - without having proof of what exactly happened to his WMD program - a requirement for Saddam under GW1 peace accords.

I certainly do not like Clinton, but he is to be respected - as should your Prime Minister. I realize that I can not change your convictions - but one should certainly afford Tony Blair his convictions. I'm curious to Argyll's opinion. That is all.

:D

[Royal]

That can be sid for ALL politicians - even Churchill.

Agreed ;)


Criticism is everyone's right, but slander is another matter. You are faulting Tony Blair for excercising his convictions - that Saddam Hussein was an immediate threat - especially to those pilots patroling 'No-Fly' zones.

I'm well aware of the situation in the 'No Fly Zones'. The coalition was well able to contain the AAA threat, as can be seen from Ops such as Desert Fox.


I certainly do not like Clinton, but he is to be respected - as should your Prime Minister.

I've said this before on this site. Respect is not given as of right with a rank or appointment. It is earned.

[cut]

on the international stage Blair has earned my respect, back home however he is nothing but the most damage limiting option.

[Argyll]

here it comes!
I think it was pretty inevitable that Blair would be exonerated,and that the MOD escaped severe criticism,but somebody should shoulder the blame for the treatment of a respected scientist,and the leaking of his name....however the fact that TB has again said he did not mislead the public over the claims is false......of course he did,as did Hoon,somebody somewhere in Whitehall,and the DOD was responsible for the inclusion of WMD's being ready in 45 mins.....despite having NOTHING to substantiate it,no secondary resource,also remember this was a Cabinet who used a students thesis for an Intelligence brief !Accountability satrts at the TOP when troops are commited to war.
If I was in a court of law and I distorted the truth that would make me guilty of perjury......which is exactly what Hoon and Blair are Guilty of.
The Hutton Inquiry was to deal with the death of Dr Kelly,not the Intelligence itself.....there are now calls for an inquiry into why this intelligence was used,despite coming from a single source which lacked credability!

Also this Claim of 45 mins was made less than a week before the missiles started to rain down in Baghdad,he did not have time to move anything out of the theatre without it being noticed during this time!
Again there was a TV interview with a so called Republican Guard Officer who made the claims that the front line RG units had been given "Special munitions" to use when ordered......again the Government used this source to add weight to a move to war.....and again it was not substantiated,and it was proved to be totally misleading as there were no battlefield ready WMD's found.......This saga is definately not over HE219

Do not be surprised if there is a cabinet reshuffle within the next 2-3 weeks which see's Hoon moved or replaced........as it stands the Government still has a lot of answers to come up with before the public are entirely satisfied that the commitment of British Troops was justified!

[oldsoak]

Are we sure that the 45 minute rule wasnt bandied about as valid intel to the troops as part of an NBC brief ? ;)

[marktigger]

yes and neither was large chunks of our NBC kit

[oldsoak]

Fair one. I've somehow got it in my head somewhere that we were told that. Oh well, got it wrong.