Breaking News: BBC Source for WMD Dossier 'Sexing Up' found dead...

[Dowding]

Mini-D - you don't understand plain English. I've stated three times that I don't think murder was involved. I stated it at the top of the thread when someone else suggested it. I don't know how else I can express that it.

Funkedup - 'Sexing up' isn't my choice of words - that was a direct quote, so blame them not me.

[Dowding]

As is their want Tee hee

Try: won't... or is that the American version?

Thanks for the tip, but you'll find I'm closer to the correct word. I believe it is wont.

[Replicant]

Originally posted by Dowding
What classified stuff? He alledgedly said that dossier was over-exaggerated, unsubstanciated wishful thinking used to sway a public into supporting a war - he didn't reveal any state secrets.

Unless the 'fact' that the dossier was trash is covered by the Official Secrets Act. And that has implications all on its own.

The Official Secrets Act does cover divulging any such information gained by their appointment to any unauthorised person without previous official sanction by the MOD.  

So, it depends what caveat was carried by the dossier.  If it carried a Restricted or higher classification and he is commenting whether it was accurate or not then he is in breach of the Official Secrets Act because: a) he has taken advantage of his position to see sensitive material, and b) he is not authorised to discuss/comment on the material without prior permission of the MOD or Chief of Public Relations.

However had the dossier been made officially public then he is not liable for prosecution, although disciplinary action maybe taken.  This of course is also dependant on whether he is a crown employee and whether he's signed the Official Secrets Act!

I haven't really been following this case so I can't comment on what I've read.  I do know that I wouldn't trust Alistair Campbell or the BBC for that matter.

[Dowding]

The dossier was not classified or restricted. It was a 12 year old plagerized thesis by a PHd student without due credit to him. Somewhere along the line of 'editing' (read alledged embellishment) the 45 minute claim was added. Campbell insists the draft he saw did not have the 45 minute WMD readiness claim, so it wasn't sanctioned by him. This is disputed.

Neither the BBC nor the journalist who broke the 'sexed up dossier' story have revealed their source despite massive governmental pressure. With no breakthrough in sight, 9 days ago, the government revealed Dr. Kelly as the source as ammunition in the fight with the BBC. He was put in front of a select committee and grilled like some criminal. This worldwide reknowned scientist, a world authority on Iraqi WMD and loyal servant to Britain was humiliated.

And now the guy is dead, either through stress or by his own hand.

I've had enough of Blair and his gang. I think I'll make grandfather turn in his grave and vote conservative for the next election.

[Replicant]

When Blair first came into power I honestly must confess to admiring him.  But now seeing how he works and how he belittles everyone and doesn't take any notice of the British public has made me despise him.  He's a complete egomaniac and he will not stop until he's happy with what he wants to do (and not the publics wishes).

The sad thing is that there's not one party I feel that I can identify with.  I've always voted Independant at the elections because they normally have local issues at heart.  I hate the Tories (mostly because of our local MP) but like you I maybe tempted to vote Tory just to get Blair out.

[devious]

IIRC, also a word document surfaced from british intelligence, still having earlier revisions in it (that`s what you get for using M$ in the intelligence business), the article was somewhere on http://www.heise.de

Other than that, it`s a suspicious train of events... I guess he had a heart attack from all the stress, or committed suicide because of placing his country/administration in a bad light... . . .   .   .   .   .

Edit: found the article