Scarlett gives No 10 some breathing space
The chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, John Scarlett, yesterday contended that intelligence reports existed before the Iraq war stating Saddam Hussein could launch chemical or biological weapons within 20 minutes.
The former MI6 chief’s report to Lord Hutton’s judicial inquiry would appear to leave Mr Blair and his aides in the clear.
The BBC’s defence correspondent Andrew Gilligan claimed that the PM’s director of communications Alastair Darling “sexed up” the September intelligence dossier on Iraq to bolster the case for war against Saddam Hussein’s regime.
Mr Scarlett said it was “completely untrue'” that the PM’s aides inserted the 45-minute claim into the dossier, knowing it was false.
It was claimed previously that Downing Street deliberately introduced the claim that weapons could be launched “in 45 minutes.”
Mr Scarlett did say Mr Campbell had made “requests” over “tightening up” the dossier’s wording, including a suggestion to strengthen the 45-minute claim.
Lord Hutton’s judicial inquiry was set after the apparent suicide of Dr David Kelly, the Iraqi weapons inspector and “source” of the BBC story that the 45-minute claim was unfounded and politically inspired.
But yesterday’s revelation suggested 20 minutes was “the average.”
However, this did not apply to long range missiles capable of attacking Iraq’s neighbours in the Middle East, such as Israel, Mr Scarlett said.
The 20-minute claim referred to “battlefield mortar shells or small-calibre weaponry.”
But the 20-minute claim was part of classified information intended only for the scrutiny of security chiefs.
Mr Scarlett said the 45-minute claim was derived from a single “established and reliable” source.
Although the claim was uncorroborated it came from a senior Iraq military official with access to such information.
Mr Blair will testify to the inquiry on Thursday, following Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon’s appearance on Wednesday.
