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.A report into Australian intelligence failings in the lead-up to the Iraq war has cleared the government of interfering with intelligence assessments to boost its case for joining the US-led invasion, Prime Minister John Howard said today.
The report by former Australian diplomat and spy master Philip Flood found "there was no evidence of politicisation of the assessments on Iraq, either overt of perceived," said Mr Howard.
That ruling is a major boost for Mr Howard ahead of elections expected in September or October.
He sent 2,000 troops to back the US and British military in the invasion and still has nearly 900 military personnel in the region.
The report - similar to the recent Butler report in Britain - was to be made public later today.
According to a statement released by Mr Howard, Mr Flood found a need for greater transparency and accountability in the Australian intelligence community.
He recommended the prime minister's major adviser on intelligence analysis, the Office of National Assessments, have its annual budget almost doubled to 25 million Australian dollars (£9.7 million) a year.
Mr Howard said he would implement all Mr Flood's recommendations except one, that ANO change its name.
"Mr Flood found that the Australian intelligence community is performing well and is a potent capability for the government," Mr Howard said in a statement.
Mr Howard ordered the Flood inquiry in March on the recommendation of a parliamentary committee that looked at Australian intelligence agencies leading up to the Iraq war.
The parliamentary report concluded there were unlikely to have been large stocks of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq before the war.
It also found the government had not misrepresented Australian intelligence to bolster the case for war.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments