NewsMine — war-on-terror — iraq — pretext — british — Viewing Item

British government attacks bbc { June 26 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://asia.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=2998598 http://asia.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=2998598 British Government Takes Gloves Off in BBC Battle Thu June 26, 2003 09:03 PM ET By Katherine Baldwin LONDON (Reuters) - The British government, locked in a battle with the BBC over a claim officials doctored intelligence on Iraq, challenged the state broadcaster on Thursday to answer questions on its reporting standards. Alastair Campbell, Prime Minister Tony Blair's communications supremo, has been accused by the British Broadcasting Corporation of "sexing up" a dossier on Iraq's weapons that helped build the case for war. But Campbell, who in turn has accused the BBC of biased reporting on Iraq and of slandering his name, gave the BBC until the end of Thursday to respond to more than a dozen questions about the allegation and its general working practices. Blair's office has weighed in on Campbell's side but refuses to say what action it will take if the BBC fails, in its words, to "set the record straight." "A highly damaging allegation was made that went right to the heart of the integrity of the government on a very important issue," Blair's spokesman said on Thursday. The spat -- by no means the first between British governments and the state broadcaster -- erupted after the BBC, citing an anonymous intelligence source, said Campbell had pressed the security services to include a claim in a September dossier that Iraq's weapons could be deployed within 45 minutes. Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction were the main Anglo-American justification for war but the failure to discover such arms has damaged the British government's credibility. An indignant Campbell on Wednesday accused the BBC of lying and demanded an apology. The BBC had accused him of inducing Blair to lie to parliament over the premise for war, Campbell said. But the corporation denied leveling such a weighty charge and is standing by its report and its anonymous source. "Does the BBC still stand by the allegation that both we and the intelligence agencies knew the 45-minute claim to be wrong?" Campbell asked in his letter. "Why did BBC journalists not check the story with us before broadcast? Is this now normal BBC practice?" he went on. Blair's spokesman denied the exchange was about "petty maneuvering." Earlier, at a press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Blair did not offer the BBC a question, a highly rare occurrence. British governments and opposition parties have often blamed the BBC for being biased against them.

Bcc slammed intelligence claim Blair accused of exaggerating { May 30 2003 } Blair accused of purposely overstating iraq threat { December 15 2006 } Blair aide debated iraq threat { August 18 2003 } Blair ignored cia warnings { July 13 2003 } Blair linked god to iraq war decision { March 5 2006 } Blair planned iraq invasion nine months before invasion { May 1 2005 } Blair testify government sexed up dossier { August 24 2003 } Blair urged to defend war Blair will unearth evidence { May 31 2003 } Britain had to make illegal war legal { June 12 2005 } Britain spied on kofi annan British experts protested iraq dossier { September 4 2003 } British government attacks bbc { June 26 2003 } Brits security not a concern before iraq invasion { December 15 2006 } Bush blair tried to provoke saddam into war { March 27 2006 } Bush discusses operation iraqi liberation with blair Cheney fought against blair multilateral strategy { January 25 2004 } Cia fooled by british intelligence { July 14 2003 } Conern iraq nuclear Days after 911 bush blair talked iraq { April 4 2004 } Intelligence chief dossier exaggerated case for war Panel clears blair Third bbc official out bawks at lord hutton report Files Listed: 24

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