Britain Admits Falsehood Threat "45 Minutes Iraqi Chemical Weapons"

U.S. troops in the Iraq invasion 
of 2003, the country's national 
monuments visible tear down the 
1001 nights.

LONDON - A few days before the outbreak of the Iraq war, it was the British government had been informed and knew that Saddam Hussein's troops may not have the ability to attack with chemical weapons, according to a former British officials as an investigation into the Iraq war.

William Ehrman, who was then serving as director of international security at the office of the British foreign secretary, on Monday (15/10) yesterday said that British intelligence had to get The information about the absence of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction before sebuan to Iraq - led by George W. Bush.

"We have information that there are no chemical weapons and biological (in Iraq)., And Iraq may not have the tools to hurl," Ehrman said in a hearing in London.

"Iraq may not have warheads capable of spreading chemical substances effectively," said Ehrman.

However, Ehrman said that the information had no effect on the war. He described a series of briefing intelligence about weapons of mass destruction between 2000 and 2002 as a meeting of the "sporadic".

Al Jazeera's correspondent in London, Jonah Hull, said the investigations so far reveal "How difficult it is to make an estimate about the threat of Iraq, a few years before the war."

He added that two witnesses stated that there was no clear intelligence about what is happening in the country following the departure of the UN weapons inspectors from Iraq in 1998.

"In general, many people believe that he (Saddam) no longer has a nuclear capability, but there are still concerns about chemical and biological weapons," he added.

A summary of information about the war in 2003, said that Saddam could "launch weapons of mass destruction", which is interpreted by officials as chemical weapons within 45 minutes.

Tim Dowse, a former British foreign ministry official, said he was not surprised to hear the 45-minute estimate. "Because it still seems in line (with forecasts at that time)."

Claims 45 minutes led to political turmoil in the UK, after the BBC alleged that the intelligence contained claims had been arranged in such a way to strengthen support for waging war.

Hurricane heightened when David Kelly, a government weapons expert, committed suicide amid claims stating that he is a person, the informant BBC news, it makes government investigations.

On the second day of the Iraq war inquiry, the five-member panel will also discuss about Libya and Iran, who became Britain's main security concerns before launching the invasion of Iraq.

"In terms of nuclear and missiles, I think Iran, North Korea and Libya may be much more alarming when compared to Iraq." Ehrman said.

Dowse said that Iraq "is not at the top of the list (the country) is a British concern."

"I think in terms of concern in 2001. Libya and Iran should be placed on top of Iraq," he said.

Dowse said that they did find "evidence of contacts between Iraqi officials and members of Al-Qaeda in the late 1990s." However, the contact is sporadic and only performed occasionally. "Not at all look like a relationship between the Iraqi government and al-Qaeda.

"After the events of 9/11, we concluded that Iraq actually stepped back. They do not want to be associated with al-Qaeda. They are not natural allies."

The investigation, led by John Chilcot, a former official, discussed the justification for the war, how well the equipment to the military and foreign policy lessons for the future.

The former senior British officials of the foreign ministry and defense on Tuesday revealed a summary of British policy towards Baghdad in early 2000.

The hearing is expected to reach its peak when Tony Blair, the former British prime minister, get a "turn" to talk before or after the new year.

Source:  BBC News

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