Bush to order investigation of intelligence failures

WASHINGTON – President George W Bush said he will order an independent investigation into intelligence failures in Iraq but will first consult with former chief weapons inspector David Kay.

Trying to quiet mounting election-year criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike, the White House had indicated earlier that Bush would name an independent, bipartisan inquiry into the Iraq problem and gaps in other areas, such as secretive regimes like Iran and North Korea and stateless groups such as terrorists. Bush yesterday defended his decision to go to war on intelligence that Kay now says was erroneous.Kay has concluded that Iraq did not possess weapons of mass destruction.”I want all the facts.We do know that Saddam Hussein had the intent and capabilities to cause great harm, we know he was a danger . He slaughtered thousands of people,” the president said.Bush said the commission would “analyse where we stand, what we can do better as we fight this war against terror”.He said he would sit down with Kay soon to get a briefing.Kay threw the administration’s rationale for war in Iraq in doubt with his determination that Saddam did not have the weapons of mass destruction that the United States had insisted he possessed.Kay told Congress last week that “it turns out we were all wrong, probably” about the Iraqi threat.The president did not set a timetable for the investigation to report its findings, and he sidestepped a question about whether the country was owed an explanation before the November elections.Bush’s decision to go to an outside commission comes amid assertions that America’s credibility is being undermined by uncertainty over flawed intelligence used as a basis for invading Iraq.He initially reacted coolly to setting up such a body, then decided during the weekend to go forward.By establishing the commission himself, Bush will have greater control over its membership and mandate.A senior White House official discussing the situation on grounds of anonymity said the body would be patterned after the Warren Commission, which conducted a 10-month investigation that concluded in 1964 that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in killing President John F. Kennedy.In appointing the members, Bush will draw heavily fIrom experts familiar with problems in intelligence, the White House official said, describing them as “distinguished citizens who have served their country in the past”.Senator Jon Corzine, whose measure to set up a similar bipartisan commission to investigate pre-war intelligence was defeated in the Senate last July, said any investigative panel must be able to probe the collection and analysis of intelligence as well as the use of the information, “including whether there was any misrepresentation or exaggeration of the intelligence”.”We must not lose sight of the big picture,” Corzine said in a statement Sunday.”Americans are fighting and dying in Iraq because of what the administration told us about the intelligence”. – Nampa-APBush yesterday defended his decision to go to war on intelligence that Kay now says was erroneous. Kay has concluded that Iraq did not possess weapons of mass destruction. “I want all the facts. We do know that Saddam Hussein had the intent and capabilities to cause great harm, we know he was a danger . He slaughtered thousands of people,” the president said. Bush said the commission would “analyse where we stand, what we can do better as we fight this war against terror”. He said he would sit down with Kay soon to get a briefing. Kay threw the administration’s rationale for war in Iraq in doubt with his determination that Saddam did not have the weapons of mass destruction that the United States had insisted he possessed. Kay told Congress last week that “it turns out we were all wrong, probably” about the Iraqi threat. The president did not set a timetable for the investigation to report its findings, and he sidestepped a question about whether the country was owed an explanation before the November elections. Bush’s decision to go to an outside commission comes amid assertions that America’s credibility is being undermined by uncertainty over flawed intelligence used as a basis for invading Iraq. He initially reacted coolly to setting up such a body, then decided during the weekend to go forward. By establishing the commission himself, Bush will have greater control over its membership and mandate. A senior White House official discussing the situation on grounds of anonymity said the body would be patterned after the Warren Commission, which conducted a 10-month investigation that concluded in 1964 that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in killing President John F. Kennedy. In appointing the members, Bush will draw heavily fIrom experts familiar with problems in intelligence, the White House official said, describing them as “distinguished citizens who have served their country in the past”. Senator Jon Corzine, whose measure to set up a similar bipartisan commission to investigate pre-war intelligence was defeated in the Senate last July, said any investigative panel must be able to probe the collection and analysis of intelligence as well as the use of the information, “including whether there was any misrepresentation or exaggeration of the intelligence”. “We must not lose sight of the big picture,” Corzine said in a statement Sunday. “Americans are fighting and dying in Iraq because of what the administration told us about the intelligence”. – Nampa-AP