Britain: Hutton Inquiry hears damning evidence against government

[Euphen]

Britain: Hutton Inquiry hears damning evidence against government
By Julie Hyland
16 August 2003

A surreal atmosphere has surrounded the first week of Lord Hutton’s judicial inquiry into the death of Dr. David Kelly, the government scientist found dead just days after he was “outed” as the source of reports that the government had manipulated intelligence material to justify its plans for war against Iraq.

The grotesque contradiction between the evidence submitted to the inquiry and the way in which it is being presented by the government and media--seizing upon the denunciation by BBC reporter Susan Watts of her employer and others--is aimed at burying the extremely damaging revelations that have emerged.

Opening testimonies from journalist Andrew Gilligan and other sources, including material submitted by Watts herself, has clearly shown that there was widespread unease within the intelligence services at the government’s fraudulent presentation of its material in the run up to war.

The rush by much of the media to denounce the BBC and vindicate Blair underscores the highly political character of the inquiry, which is itself the product of a raging conflict within Britain’s ruling elite and its state apparatus.

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http://wsws.org/articles/2003/aug2003/kell-a16.shtml

[NYC]

1. This is a significant paragraph:

Opening testimonies from journalist Andrew Gilligan and other sources, including material submitted by Watts herself, has clearly shown that there was widespread unease within the intelligence services at the government’s fraudulent presentation of its material in the run up to war.



Welcome to DU, Euphen. :hi: