Jack Straw


45-MINUTE CLAIM WITHDRAWN

The Government has withdrawn another key plank of the intelligence used to justify the war on Iraq.

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw formally admitted the infamous 45-minute claim was wrong.


At issue was whether Saddam Hussein had chemical and biological weapons capable of deployment within 45 minutes.

But Mr Straw again defended the decision to invade - insisting the attack on Saddam was right, even with hindsight.

In a Commons statement, Mr Straw said a further line of intelligence on Iraqi production of biological agents before the war had also been withdrawn by MI6.

This means the Secret Intelligence Service has now withdrawn three of its main pre-war lines of intelligence - because they turned out to be wrong.

"The building blocks of the Government's case for military action are crumbling before our eyes," Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Sir Menzies Campbell said.

"The withdrawal of the 45 minute claim drives a horse and cart through Government credibility."

The Government sought to deflect criticism by releasing correspondence showing former UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix endorsing its Iraq weapons dossier.

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they will have to lie louder


Umpa-Lumpa Doodle-dee-ellaigh
his name is Nollaig O collig...
Nogail O Celoggs...
Cellig O Noggin...
oh fuck it.

doob-a-dee-do!


(c) nolife