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Blair sought to create justification for war { May 1 2005 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://news.ft.com/cms/s/f0afeb12-ba3f-11d9-a27b-00000e2511c8.html http://news.ft.com/cms/s/f0afeb12-ba3f-11d9-a27b-00000e2511c8.html Blair fights fresh allegations over Iraq By FT Reporters Published: May 1 2005 14:07 | Last updated: May 1 2005 14:07 Tony Blair on Sunday found himself fending off a fresh assault on his decision to go to war in Iraq following an apparent leaked memo which suggests the prime minister was seeking means of justifying military action eight months prior to the conflict. In the July 2002 memo by former Downing Street foreign policy aide Matthew Rycroft published in the Sunday Times, Jack Straw, foreign secretary is quoted as saying that US president George Bush had made up his mind to go to war, though the timing had not yet been decided. However, Mr Straw states the case for war is “thin“ as Saddam was not threatening his neighbours and his WMD threat was less than that of Libya, North Korea or Iran. “We should work up a plan for an ultimatum to Saddam to allow back in the UN weapons inspectors,“ the foreign secretary is quoted as saying. “This would help with the legal justification for the use of force.“ The memo detailed a meeting chairmed by the prime minister and attended by Mr Straw, defence secretary Geoff Hoon and Lord Goldsmith, the attorney general. But on the BBC's Breakfast with Frost Mr Blair denied any decision had been taken to attack Iraq. “You have got to discuss everything as you go along, but the point is that after that meeting we decided to go back to the UN and give him a last chance,“ the prime minister told the programme. “If the UN resolution had been adhered to by Saddam that would have been the end of it, despite the fact it was the most appalling regime.“ Mr Blair also claimed that the reason the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats were focusing on Iraq was that they had “nothing serious to say“ about the issues facing Britain.

Administration manufactured manipulated intelligence Blair sought to create justification for war { May 1 2005 } Bolton harrassed intimidated cia analyst { April 13 2005 } Bolton shaped intelligence on policy { April 18 2005 } Bolton third attempt to fire analyst not cooperating { April 15 2005 } Bush terror advisor says intel can prove anything { May 23 2007 } Cheney calls cia brief clearing iraq crap { September 11 2001 } Cheney role pretext war Cheneys fight with the cia over iraq { October 20 2005 } Cia agent says wmd evidence ignored Cia official says false intel was used to justify war { February 10 2006 } Cia official says iraqi data was distorted { February 11 2006 } Cia pressured by cheney iraq evidence { June 5 2003 } Depiction of threat outgrew supporting evidence { August 10 2003 } Emails show bolton twisting intelligence { May 11 2005 } Expert said pressed distort evidence { June 25 2003 } Harsh interrogation techniques hinder good information { January 16 2007 } Intelligence was being shaped to support invasion { May 22 2005 } Secret report shows bush war plan before resolution { September 3 2003 } Files Listed: 19

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