Demands grow for inquiry into the case for war as Hutton is accused ....

[Emillereid]

Demands grow for inquiry into the case for war as Hutton is accused of a 'whitewash'


<snip>

However, Lord Hutton failed to settle the crucial question of whether Mr Blair took Britain to war in Iraq on a false prospectus. After he ruled that the intelligence on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction was beyond his terms of reference, the Tories and Liberal Democrats renewed their demands for an independent inquiry into the build-up to war.

<snip>
But he went on to challenge key elements of Lord Hutton's findings, asking: "Is it clearly possible to reconcile Lord Hutton's bald conclusions on the production of the September 2002 dossier with the balance of evidence that was presented to him during his own inquiry?"



He also asked: "Are his conclusions on restricting the use of unverifiable sources in British journalism based on sound law and, if applied, would they constitute a threat to the freedom of the press in this country?" Mr Davies's comments reflected anger at the BBC at Lord Hutton's surprisingly strong criticism. One BBC insider described it as "an old man's report that is simply wrong".

<snip>


Austin Mitchell, the Labour MP for Great Grimsby, said: "It is a whitewash, basically. The danger is that it is so one-sided a report that it is going to lose credibility. People just aren't going to believe it."...
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=485689

More news from the UK:

Now Dyke quits after Blair turns screw on BBC

Acting chairman offers unreserved apology 'for our errors'
The Hutton Report claimed its second BBC scalp today when director general Greg Dyke resigned, hours after Tony Blair's spokesman demanded a fresh apology after the Hutton report.

Mr Dyke quit a day after Gavyn Davies stood down as chairman of the BBC governors.

Speaking on the steps of Broadcasting House, Mr Dyke said: "With the departure of Gavyn and myself and the apology I issued on behalf of the BBC yesterday I hope that a line can drawn under this whole episode." ...
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=485749



Half Britons say Hutton was "whitewash"
Thu 29 January, 2004 13:18


LONDON (Reuters) - Half of Britons believe the Hutton inquiry into the death of Iraq weapons expert David Kelly was a whitewash, according to a newspaper poll.

The NOP survey for the London Evening Standard said 49 percent agreed with the question "do you agree or disagree that the report was a whitewash".

<snip>ar.

Seven out of 10 of those polled said there should be an independent inquiry into the reasons the government gave for the war.

A third said they were now less likely to vote for Blair, compared to three percent who said it was more likely.

Fifty-six percent said it was unfair the BBC received most of the blame, against 35 percent who said it was fair....


http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=448608§ion=news&fromEmail=true

What a story! It's heartening to see that the people are seeing through the sham report. Those in the UK -- what's the possibility that an independent commission will be set up to look into the real reasons the UK went to war?

[montanacowboy]

1. What I don't get is

why is the BBC folding like a tent, slinking with their tails between their legs, apologizing to the Poodle? WTF?

[bobbieinok]

2. I don't get it either

...

[Screaming Lord Byron]

3. Because they are a publically funded broadcaster.

Who's signing the cheques? Government officials.
Yeah, I know there's a licence fee, but that doesn't cover too much.

[The Stranger]

4. I've never seen anyone so often threatened with being sacked

as Tony Blair. Every few months there are more reports of how threre are going to be hearings and investigations, or he'll be toppled by a revolt in his own party. But time and fucking time again, he keeps holding on to power, after using U.S. lies to get his country to go to war.

[fizzana]

5. Like it or not, he's the British version of Clinton.

Somehow he survives everything thrown at him.

[xchrom]

6. the british version of bush

is more accurate.
republicans in this country wouldn't have stood for the outrageous lies, theft, and murder if it were done by a democrat.
i'll give it to the repukes they know to go after a nail with a hammer.

[roguevalley]

7. How can he absolve Blair of saying "45 minutes to nuke us" when I

*HEARD* him say it in a speech?!?

Please, Britain, kick his ass. Please.