As former Number Ten spin doctor Alastair Campbell prepares to face the Iraq Inquiry tomorrow, new evidence from a Freedom of Information release has revealed how the notorious “dodgy dossier” on Iraq’s weapons of mass desctruction was “sexed up”.
The Guardian reports that changes were made to strengthen the dossier in response to new claims made about Iraq’s nuclear capabilities by US president George Bush.
The 2002 dossier infamously claimed that Saddam Hussein could launch chemicals weapons within 45 minutes of issuing an order to do so prompting headlines around the world. No WMD were ever found in Iraq.
Andrew Gilligan’s reporting of allegations from a senior source, later outed as weapons advisor Doctor David Kelly, that the dossier had been “sexed up” led to a major row between the Government and the BBC which eventuall led to the resignations of Gilligan and BBC director general Greg Dyke after the Hutton Report.
Campbell is due to take questions before the inquiry from 10am tomorrrow (Tuesday) until 1pm. And he is likely to face new questions about his role in the production of the dossier on Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction.
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