Britain Says U.S. Withheld Information, Stands Behind Iraq Uranium Charge

[NNN0LHI]

This is the beginning of the end.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGATXZ4Y1ID.html

LONDON (AP) - Britain snapped back at its close ally the United States on Saturday after the White House cited it as the source of questionable information that President Bush used to bolster the case for war against Iraq in his State of the Union speech.

Prime Minister Tony Blair's office insisted he still believes the disputed charge that Iraq sought uranium in Africa was true, saying Britain has reliable information it cannot share with Washington because it comes from foreign intelligence sources.

For the past week, the White House has faced a storm of criticism after it disavowed the accusation that Saddam Hussein's regime sought to buy uranium from Niger for a nuclear weapons program. The CIA said it had had doubts about the British claim.

In a letter made public Saturday, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the CIA had expressed doubts to Britain about the uranium charge but did not specify what they were. Britain did not know until recently that the agency sent an envoy to Niger who investigated the claims and discounted them, he added.

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[janx]

1. I find it very difficult to believe that

during this whole mess, our only real ally in this revolting caper would not share such intelligence, or that the U.S. would refuse to do so. This is ridiculous. Weapons of Mass Destruction were the reason for the war, as presented to the whole world.

[warrior1]

2. they take us for fools. nt

.

[shanti]

4. and many are

which is why they got away with this nonsense.

[bigtime]

3. oh, secret evidence

yes, I'm all convinced now. feh!

[VaLabor]

5. gosh-darnit!

They always come up with the secret evidence that they can't tell us about.

Shucks.

[snippy]

13. Just like the location of the WMD that we could not provide to the UN

weapons inspectors because doing so would endanger our sources in Iraq.

[Cocoa]

6. Come on, Tony, play along, we'll give you a medal.

Tony: I don't want your dumb medal anyway!

[lkinsale]

7. "I knew it! No ,YOU knew it! No, I didn't know it! Yes you did!" ...

"Did too! Did not! Yes, you did! No, I didn't! I did, but I can't show you!"

This is the basis of our war with Iraq, it would seem.

[lkinsale]

8. And another thing!

Just why CAN'T he show this evidence? What difference does it make now? Pretty durn suspicious to me.

[janx]

14. Something just occurred to me!

My goodness, Blair probably got some intel from one of the countries Chimpy&Co. pissed off before we did the "go-it-alone" into Iraq!!

Whether it's credible or reliable intelligence doesn't even matter because he can't reveal the source. I'll bet that's what is going on.

Chimpy diplomacy is so bad it's incredible.

[VaLabor]

9. With apologies to Mr. Fleischer

I think it's time those who claim that certain assertions are now false but based those assertions on the assertions of others who still claim them to be true prove how those assertions can be false while those assertions remain to be true according to the sources upon which those assertions were made in the first place.

[lkinsale]

10. One more reason to DEMAND a blue-ribbon investigation

Democratic Party Petition

Moveon.org

Sign both. It's clear the guys at the top are totally screwed-up when it comes to the most important matters of national security. Bush, Blair and Tenet look like the Three Stooges.

[Neutrino]

11. The world is flat, the world is flat. I know in my heart that it is!

Wonder who came up with the strategy they all use now.
"That's my story and ahm stickin to it"! The handlers in
Washington gave Bush a line and he just recites it like
a Sock Puppit-- "some people just want to re-write History".
Condi Rice uses it again and again, and Bush
says it over and over until it is ludicrously funny.

Stonewall would be proud!

[On the Road]

12. If Blair is Still Standing Behind the Story,

there is actually the possibility that he knows something. Saddam used to have a nuclear program before 1991, and it very possible he tried to, or actually did, buy uranium from Africa at some point.

Which makes it all the more ironic that a crude forgery would be cited as one of the key pieces of intelligence to base the war on.