The road to war in Iraq: Bush, Blair, intelligence failures and the lying game

From dud intelligence to dire warnings, the failures of the infamous dossier making the case for war are examined by World Affairs Editor Kim Sengupta

Sunday 19 March 2023 12:43 GMT
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<p>‘Saddam has existing and active military plans for the use of chemical and biological weapons, which could be activated within 45 minutes,’ said Blair </p>

‘Saddam has existing and active military plans for the use of chemical and biological weapons, which could be activated within 45 minutes,’ said Blair

We were being sold Apocalypse Now. Saddam Hussein had a secret chemical and biological weapons programme. He was within months of testing a nuclear device. The threat was clear, present and imminent.

Iraq’s dictator, we were told, was intent on using his weapons of mass destruction. His forces were able to deploy them “within 45 minutes of an order to do so” using “an extensive range of artillery shells, free-fall bombs, sprayers and ballistic missiles”. British lives were at stake with military bases in Cyprus within range.

The prime minister, Tony Blair, spelt this out succinctly: “Saddam has existing and active military plans for the use of chemical and biological weapons, which could be activated within 45 minutes and he is actively trying to acquire nuclear weapons capability.” In another speech, he went into granular and scary details: “The biological agents we believe Iraq can produce include anthrax, botulinum toxin, aflatoxin and ricin. All eventually result in excruciatingly painful death.”

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