Monday, July 07, 2003

More doubts about WMD emerge "Based on my experience with the administration in the months leading up to the war, I have little choice but to conclude that some of the intelligence related to Iraq's nuclear weapons programme was twisted to exaggerate the Iraqi threat," Mr Wilson told NBC's "Meet the Press" programme. Joseph Wilson in recent BBC news report. Joseph Wilson - US ambassador to Gabon between 1992-95 - was asked by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to check reports that Niger sold Baghdad processed uranium that could be used to make nuclear weapons in the 1990s. Read Joseph Wilson's July 6 letter to the NY Times. 9:53:30 PM    comment []

What is he thinking? Duncan Hunter, Republican congressman from San Diego and Chariman of the House Armed Services Committee is, according to the San Jose Mercury, the "force behind" the provisions in the 2004 Defense Authorization legislation that will force the Pentagon to purchase only products with 65% or more US made content. This is virtually impossible for high-tech items, the very stuff that gives the US military such a potent advantage. Our allies, such as the UK, that have worked closely with the US and contributed technology as well as funding could potentially be eliminated as suppliers. Neither the Pentagon nor the White House support these provisions. What we need today is more cooperation and the recognition that we can all prosper together. 9:33:10 PM    comment []