Wednesday, July 14, 2004
The selection trail (Guardian)
The Senate investigation of pre-war intelligence repeated the mistakes it was designed to address, reports Julian Borger
Picture this scene. It is February 4 2003, the evening before Colin Powell, the secretary of state, is due to appear before the United Nations to make Washington's case for war in Iraq.
One of the aces up his sleeve is a claim that Saddam Hussein has developed new mobile biological warfare laboratories. Vivid graphics have been produced to illustrate the fearsome (and as it turns out, entirely imaginary) threat. It is to be one of the most dramatic moments at a turning point in history.
But, back in his darkened office, a military intelligence officer is growing increasingly anxious. He personally knows the principal source of the mobile laboratory story, an Iraqi defector codenamed Curve Ball. In fact, as far as this officer is aware, he is the only senior American official to have met him and he came away from that meeting with serious doubts. For one thing, Curve Ball appeared to be an alcoholic.
more
The Senate investigation of pre-war intelligence repeated the mistakes it was designed to address, reports Julian Borger
Picture this scene. It is February 4 2003, the evening before Colin Powell, the secretary of state, is due to appear before the United Nations to make Washington's case for war in Iraq.
One of the aces up his sleeve is a claim that Saddam Hussein has developed new mobile biological warfare laboratories. Vivid graphics have been produced to illustrate the fearsome (and as it turns out, entirely imaginary) threat. It is to be one of the most dramatic moments at a turning point in history.
But, back in his darkened office, a military intelligence officer is growing increasingly anxious. He personally knows the principal source of the mobile laboratory story, an Iraqi defector codenamed Curve Ball. In fact, as far as this officer is aware, he is the only senior American official to have met him and he came away from that meeting with serious doubts. For one thing, Curve Ball appeared to be an alcoholic.
more
Comments:
Post a Comment
