Blair delays release of secret Saddam dossier
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Tony Blair has postponed publication of an intelligence dossier on Saddam Hussein in the face of growing opposition to a strike on Iraq from Labour backbenchers.
Downing Street sources said last night that an intelligence file said to contain evidence that Iraq was building weapons of mass destruction would not be published before the Prime Minister travels to Texas for talks with President George Bush this week.
The six-page file, assembled by the Cabinet Office, is understood not to contain the "killer fact" to support military action against Iraq.
M16, the foreign intelligence service, is understood to doubt that Iraq was directly linked to al-Qa'ida and the 11 September hijackers.
The dossier, circulated in Whitehall last week, indicated that President Saddam was making fresh attempts to build biological weapons and long-range missiles, but it did not contain detailed evidence of a link with Osama bin Laden.
The British intelligence service is said to differ from the CIA, which believes that there is a link between Iraq and al- Qa'ida and that President Saddam was behind the 11 September attacks.
Mohammed Atta, lead hijacker in the World Trade Centre attacks, is believed by some CIA figures to have met an Iraqi intelligence official before the attacks.
Downing Street had previously indicated that the evidence would be released before the talks between Mr Blair and Mr Bush.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments