Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/307/12646
From The Socialist newspaper, 5 July 2003
Words Of Mass Distraction
A LOT is at stake for Blair's government. MPs are trying to get it to admit that the dossiers it produced on "weapons of mass destruction" to justify war on Iraq were lies, exaggerations and anything they could download from the internet!
Jane James
Blair sent in spin man Alistair Campbell to shoulder the blame for producing the dossiers. When questioned, Foreign Secretary Straw was quick to agree that dossier number two was a load of rubbish, even if that left Campbell to swim alone. Campbell in turn tried to offload the blame onto the BBC for announcing the dossier as a fraud.
While this government bickers about who's to blame, six soldiers were killed in Iraq last week with the prospect of more deaths and injuries of both British troops and Iraqi people, as opposition to the occupation and anger at the state of Iraq grows (see page 9).
More and more evidence now backs the argument that the first war dossier, from September 2002, contained information some of which was forged, much was not backed up by intelligence and all was blatantly used to convince MPs to vote for war.
Blair was told by intelligence in May 2002 - four months before the dossier was produced - that Iraq was hiding its weapons. That would make it near impossible for them to bring together the necessary parts and material in a few weeks, let alone 45 minutes as Blair claimed.
There should be a genuine inquiry made up of workers and community representatives to reveal how corrupt this government is. Most of all, we need to campaign even more vigorously for an alternative party that represents and is accountable to working people.
Why not click here to join the Socialist Party, or click here to donate to the Socialist Party.
In The Socialist 5 July 2003:
Bosses Get £Millions: Workers Get Sacked
Fuel price rises provoke general strike in Nigeria
LGBT rights: 'Family values' fears produce confused equality measures
Socialism 2003: Enjoyable And Inspiring
"There's A Woman Out There Asking Questions!"
Rail Union's Historic Rule Change
Glad to be groovy at TGWU conference
Building A Mass Alternative To New Labour
Israel/Palestine: What's Behind The 'Ceasefire'?
SATs conference: End These Nightmare Tests
Iraq: Who's Winning The War Of Occupation?
Northern Ireland; Has The Peace Process Permanently Stalled?
Home | The Socialist 5 July 2003 | Join the Socialist Party
Join us today!
Printable version
email to friend
