PM’s aide urged last minute rethink on September dossier
Lord Hutton’s judicial inquiry established yesterday that elements of the September dossier were omitted to bolster the case for war against Saddam Hussein’s regime.
In Court 73, John Scarlett, the head of the Joint Intelligence Committee JIC, before Hutton for a second time, admitted that a clause stating the fallen Iraqi dictator would only use chemical and biological weapons ‘if attacked’ and ‘if he believes his regime is under threat’ had been left out of the controversial intelligence report.
Jonathan Powell, the PM’s chief-of-staff, sent an email at 15:45 GMT on September 19, 2002, a good 45 minutes after the deadline for comments on the final draft of the dossier had elapsed.
The inquiry heard that Mr Powell had told Mr Scarlett that the clause lent weight to the argument that there was no was credible weapons threat without US-led forces prompting retaliatory action by launching a pre-emptive attack.
The e-mail was also sent to Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair’s former director of communications.
Mr Powell wrote: ‘I think the statement on pg 19 that `Saddam is prepared to use chemical and biological weapons if he believes is regime is under threat’ is a bit of a problem.
‘It backs up the Don McIntyre (Independent political columnist) argument that there is no CBW threat and we will only create one if we attack him. I think you should redraft the para.’
The redrafted dossier published on September 24 stated: ‘As part of Iraq’s military planning, Saddam is willing to use chemical and biological weapons.’
Mr Scarlett admitted before Hutton that Mr Powell’s email had ‘prompted’ him to have a second look at the issue.
But Mr Scarlett said there was nothing ‘inappropriate’ about the drafting recommendations he received from No 10.
Mr Scarlett said the dossier was under the direct control of the intelligence services and No 10’s intervention was only ‘presentational.’
