NewsMine — war-on-terror — iraq — pretext — david-kelly — Viewing Item

Blair aide campbell to expose kelly Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=aNRbn0fkm0DA&refer=europe http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=aNRbn0fkm0DA&refer=europe Blair Aide Campbell Tells Inquiry He Wanted to Expose Scientist Aug. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Alastair Campbell, U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair's communications chief, today said he wanted to publicly identify weapons expert David Kelly as the source of news reports that officials exaggerated the case for war in Iraq. Campbell was speaking in London at a judicial inquiry into Kelly's death. Kelly died last month from a slit wrist, after he was identified by newspapers and then questioned by a panel of lawmakers in a televised session. Kelly had been identified July 6 by his bosses in the Ministry of Defence as the person most likely to have provided the British Broadcasting Corp. with information for the news reports. The government disputes the BBC reports and a BBC editor has said they were flawed. Government spokesmen didn't identify Kelly at first, agreeing only to verify his role in the BBC stories if his name was put to them by journalists. Lord Hutton, the judge running the inquiry, asked Campbell if he'd wanted to put Kelly's name ``into the public arena'' so the scientist would dispute the BBC reports and help the government's case. ``That is the position I believe should have been adopted. It would have been a good thing,'' Campbell replied. Instead, Blair ruled that Kelly shouldn't be identified, Campbell said. Hutton is investigating how Kelly's name became public, and will later this week question newspaper journalists who revealed his identity in July 10 editions. Kelly testified to the lawmakers July 15. His body was found by police in Oxfordshire, southern England, July 18. Pressure on Kelly Kelly's colleagues last week told the inquiry that being publicly identified had put pressure on the scientist in the days before his death. Hutton asked Campbell if he thought that identifying Kelly would ``subject the individual to very great pressure.'' Campbell replied: ``I accept that.'' Still, he said, it was ``inevitable'' that Kelly's name would get into the public domain. ``It would have come out, because these things do,'' Campbell said. Campbell said he hadn't been involved in the ministry's handling of Kelly's identity, because Blair had told him not to get involved in the matter. ``I was instructed by the prime minister to stay a little bit distant from this,'' Campbell said. Hutton yesterday heard that two of Blair's spokesmen who helped form the Ministry of Defence media strategy of verifying Kelly's name, which led to the July 10 newspaper reports. Poll Results An ICM poll today said that 68 percent of voters think the government treated Kelly unfairly. Only 6 percent thought the government is more trustworthy than the BBC. The survey was conducted from Friday through Sunday, after Hutton last week heard that Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon ordered that Kelly should answer lawmakers' questions, overruling advice from his officials that public testimony would increase the strain on the scientist. Jonathan Powell, Blair's chief of staff, yesterday told the inquiry that Blair wanted Kelly to go before the lawmakers' committee. Sir Kevin Tebbit, the top civil servant at the defense ministry, was ``constantly emphasizing'' the government's ``duty of care'' to Kelly, Campbell told the inquiry. Last Updated: August 19, 2003 12:10 EDT

Bbc reveals it has key tape Bbc says scientist source { July 20 2003 } Blair aide campbell to expose kelly Blair appears before inquiry into kelly death { August 28 2003 } Blair in crisis Blair rocked by whistle blower death Blair to testify kelly case Blair wants apology from bbc Body found british weapons advisor British defence to destroy media plan Crucial questions kelly death David kelly testimony { July 15 2003 } David kelly [jpg] Eight hours before kelly body found Electric pads suggest recent test Electrodes on chest unusual { August 1 2003 } Inquest to resolve kelly suicude riddle Kelly could not have died from suicide paramedics claim Kelly death details Kelly evidence iraq dirty bomb { August 4 2003 } Kelly inquest is shut closed { March 16 2004 } Kelly mysterious electro pads { August 1 2003 } Kelly said his life was in danger { August 21 2003 } Kelly was key Medics cast doubt on kelly suicide verdict Medics raise kelly death doubts { December 12 2004 } Murder of david kelly ftw 1 Murder of david kelly ftw 2 Murder spoils blairs plans { July 19 2003 } New questions over death of david kelly { June 2006 } Off the cutt remark sent the bbc reeling { January 31 2004 } Paramedics challenge lord hutton over kelly death Russian colleague doubts kelly committed suicide Scientist bled from slashed wrist Scientist inquiry could topple senior figures Scientists death fuels british intelligence row { July 20 2003 } Three doctors dispute kellys death Top judge clashes with ministers { December 14 2004 } Warned dark actors playing games Wide says suicide Wmd authority turns up dead Wmd scientist dead { July 18 2003 } Files Listed: 42

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