"The First Casualty of War"

Secret Emails Show Iraq Dossier Was 'Sexed Up'
By Nigel Morris, Deputy Political Editor;  Friday, 13 March 2009; 

The Independent (UK)

Intelligence chiefs criticised 'iffy drafting' of key document

Excerpt:  Secret Whitehall emails released yesterday provide damning new evidence that the notorious dossier making the case for invading Iraq was "sexed up".  They disclose that the intelligence services were sceptical over the "iffy drafting" of government claims that Saddam Hussein could mount a missile strike on his neighbours within 45 minutes of ordering an attack.

 
Officials privately mocked assertions that the Iraqi president was covertly trying to develop a nuclear capability and wisecracked that perhaps he had recruited "Dr Frankenstein" to his supposed crack team of nuclear scientists.

 
The release of a series of confidential memos and emails, following a protracted Freedom of Information battle, reignited the controversy over accusations that Tony Blair's government "spun" Britain into war.

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