Gung-ho Howard lets spooks take the rap (not dean)

[hedgetrimmer]

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/07/12/1057979649821.html

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July 13 2003
The Sun-Herald




Despite the claims from the Government that no one cares, the public wants to know who knew what about Iraq and its arms, Michelle Grattan writes.


Either our public servants dealing with intelligence matters need some serious lessons in how to read a report, or they've taken to heart the message of "children overboard".

That was, you'll remember, that politicians won't thank you for telling them what they don't want to hear.

We have an extraordinary situation.

Three top agencies responsible for intelligence, foreign policy and defence assessment - the Office of National Assessments (ONA), the Foreign Affairs Department and the Defence Intelligence Organisation - have admitted they were aware the US State Department doubted claims that Iraq had sought uranium from Africa for a nuclear program. Yet all say they didn't tell their political bosses.

For a man apparently seriously and embarrassingly dudded by his experts, John Howard appears extraordinarily forbearing. You have to wonder why.

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