http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,6735095%255E421,00.html
PM's Iraq claims 'reek of dishonesty'
July 11, 2003
CLAIMS yesterday that a key intelligence agency withheld from the
government American doubts about Iraq's nuclear aspirations reeked of
dishonesty, former intelligence officer Andrew Wilkie said today.
The Office of National Assessments (ONA) yesterday revealed it knew
American agencies in January had doubts over claims Iraq had sought to
buy uranium from Africa but did not pass the information on to Prime
Minister John Howard.
Mr Wilkie, who resigned from ONA earlier this year in protest at the
government's pro-war stance, today said the story appeared to be
either a monumental blunder or dishonest.
"There is something wrong with this whole story, it reeks of
dishonesty, it reeks of children overboard, the fact that the prime
minister is claiming he was unaware," he said.
"I just find that story unbelievable.
"This was either a terrible act of dishonesty or it was a monumental
blunder, a blunder so serious that it calls into question our whole
intelligence relationship with the US and Australia's intelligence
processes."
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The Iraq intelligence scandal spreads its tentacles across the world.
Harry
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