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Bush did not 'shift' Blair's view Campbell defends Iraq war dossier
(about 1 hour later)
Tony Blair did not change his policy on Iraq following a meeting with President Bush in April 2002, his former spokesman Alastair Campbell has said. Tony Blair's ex-spokesman Alastair Campbell has said he "defends every single word" of the 2002 dossier on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.
Giving evidence to the Iraq inquiry, Mr Campbell said it was wrong to say that Mr Blair signed up to regime change in "a fundamental shift" in policy. Mr Campbell told the UK's Iraq war inquiry the dossier could have been "clearer" but did not "misrepresent" the threat from Saddam's weapons.
He said Mr Blair made it clear the UK wanted to disarm Iraq through the UN. During a three hour session he also denied claims Mr Blair "shifted" to back regime change after a US summit.
During three hours of questioning, he is being asked about his involvement in the build-up to war in March 2003. He said Mr Blair had hoped to disarm Iraq via the UN right up to the war.
Countdown to warCountdown to war
He is the most prominent figure to appear before the inquiry, which is looking at UK policy before and after the 2003 war. Mr Campbell is the most prominent figure to appear before the inquiry so far, which is looking at UK policy before and after the 2003 war.
Mr Campbell, No 10 director of communications between 1997 and 2003, played a key role in the drawing up of the government's dossier on Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction. As No 10 director of communications between 1997 and 2003, he played a key role in the drawing up of the government's September 2002 dossier on Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction.
Inquiry chairman Sir John Chilcot said he was seeking answers from Mr Campbell about the "presentation of the case" for military action in Iraq.Inquiry chairman Sir John Chilcot said he was seeking answers from Mr Campbell about the "presentation of the case" for military action in Iraq.
CAMPBELL FACTS An ex-journalist, Alastair Campbell was Tony Blair's press secretary between 1994 and 2003 and No 10 director of communications from 1997 to 2003. Live: Campbell before inquiryCAMPBELL FACTS An ex-journalist, Alastair Campbell was Tony Blair's press secretary between 1994 and 2003 and No 10 director of communications from 1997 to 2003. Live: Campbell before inquiry
Mr Campbell said claims that Mr Blair "tightened" his stance on regime change on Iraq following a meeting with President Bush at his Crawford ranch - made by former UK ambassador to the US Sir Christopher Meyer- were not "accurate". Mr Campbell, who has given evidence to three previous inquiries on Iraq, said claims that Mr Blair "tightened" his stance on regime change on Iraq following a meeting with President Bush at his Crawford ranch - made by former UK ambassador to the US Sir Christopher Meyer- were not "accurate".
He said Sir Christopher - when he appeared before the inquiry last month - had given a "wrong portrayal" of the meeting and UK policy was still focused on disarming Iraq and getting it to abide by UN resolutions.He said Sir Christopher - when he appeared before the inquiry last month - had given a "wrong portrayal" of the meeting and UK policy was still focused on disarming Iraq and getting it to abide by UN resolutions.
"I do not really accept this analysis that there was a fundamental shift of approach and policy by the prime minister," he said."I do not really accept this analysis that there was a fundamental shift of approach and policy by the prime minister," he said.
Mr Campbell said Mr Blair did not think Saddam Hussein should be confronted simply because President Bush "wanted" to confront him.Mr Campbell said Mr Blair did not think Saddam Hussein should be confronted simply because President Bush "wanted" to confront him.
AT THE INQUIRY BBC World Affairs correspondent Peter Biles Alastair Campbell forced his way through a scrum of photographers and TV cameramen when he arrived an hour ahead of his scheduled appearance time at the Iraq Inquiry.AT THE INQUIRY BBC World Affairs correspondent Peter Biles Alastair Campbell forced his way through a scrum of photographers and TV cameramen when he arrived an hour ahead of his scheduled appearance time at the Iraq Inquiry.
The former Downing Street spin-doctor had already removed his jacket as he was escorted into the QEII Conference Centre, perhaps an early sign that he was ready for business. Members of the public had been queuing outside from as early as 7am.The former Downing Street spin-doctor had already removed his jacket as he was escorted into the QEII Conference Centre, perhaps an early sign that he was ready for business. Members of the public had been queuing outside from as early as 7am.
The session got off to a prickly start when committee member, Sir Roderic Lyne asked Mr Campbell if he would have done "anything" for Tony Blair. "Well if he'd asked me to jump off a building, I wouldn't", replied Campbell. There was a gentle rebuke from Sir Roderic who asked Campbell to be serious.The session got off to a prickly start when committee member, Sir Roderic Lyne asked Mr Campbell if he would have done "anything" for Tony Blair. "Well if he'd asked me to jump off a building, I wouldn't", replied Campbell. There was a gentle rebuke from Sir Roderic who asked Campbell to be serious.
What we have heard so far amounts to a staunch defence of Tony Blair's premiership. It is also confirmation that Alastair Campbell's influence and importance inside Downing Street was without precedent for a Communications Director.What we have heard so far amounts to a staunch defence of Tony Blair's premiership. It is also confirmation that Alastair Campbell's influence and importance inside Downing Street was without precedent for a Communications Director.
Mr Blair "genuinely believed" that Iraq's flouting of UN resolutions and pursuit of weapons of mass destruction needed to be dealt with.Mr Blair "genuinely believed" that Iraq's flouting of UN resolutions and pursuit of weapons of mass destruction needed to be dealt with.
But he said Mr Blair was clear that military action to disarm Iraq - and UK backing for such a move - should be regarded as a last resort once the diplomatic process failed. But he said Mr Blair was clear that military action against Iraq should be regarded as a last resort if the diplomatic process failed and war only became inevitable when efforts to get a second UN resolution collapsed.
This only became inevitable when efforts to get a second UN resolution collapsed at the start of 2003, he added. "You seem to be wanting me to say that Tony Blair signed up to saying, regardless of the facts and WMD, we are going to get rid of this guy," he said. "It was not like this."
"You seem to be wanting me to say that Tony Blair signed up to saying, regardless of the facts and WMD, we are going to get rid of this guy, he said. "It was not like this."
Asked about weapons of mass destruction, he said their alleged existence became such a "central issue" because of the sense of the "serious and credible threat" they posed to stability in the region.Asked about weapons of mass destruction, he said their alleged existence became such a "central issue" because of the sense of the "serious and credible threat" they posed to stability in the region.
"Tony Blair had a fundamental view about this," he said. "About there being a real threat, the context for which was completely changed by 11 September.""Tony Blair had a fundamental view about this," he said. "About there being a real threat, the context for which was completely changed by 11 September."
However, he said Mr Blair still hoped that the issue could be "peacefully resolved" right up to the eve of war.However, he said Mr Blair still hoped that the issue could be "peacefully resolved" right up to the eve of war.
The BBC's Deputy Political Editor James Landale said Mr Campbell was mounting a staunch defence of Mr Blair and the decisions he took in the run-up to war.The BBC's Deputy Political Editor James Landale said Mr Campbell was mounting a staunch defence of Mr Blair and the decisions he took in the run-up to war.
'Close relationship''Close relationship'
Asked about his relationship with Mr Blair, Mr Campbell said it was "very close" but added that he was just one of a "circle" of key figures at No 10 during the period, including other Cabinet ministers, foreign policy advisers and intelligence chiefs. Asked about his relationship with Mr Blair, Mr Campbell said it was "very close" and he said he attended key meetings with intelligence chiefs in the run-up to war because Mr Blair "wanted me to be there".
Asked why he attended key meetings with intelligence chiefs in the run-up to war, he said this was because Mr Blair "wanted me to be there". On the September 2002 dossier, Mr Campbell insisted it was not designed to present the "case for war" but to highlight why Mr Blair was increasingly "concerned" about the threat posed by Iraq.
Mr Campbell, who has given evidence to three previous inquiries on Iraq, was, played a key role in the drawing up of the government's dossier on Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction, which included the claim they could be used within 45 minutes of an order being given. I don't believe the dossier in any sense misrepresented the position Alastair Campbell
Published six months before the conflict, it included a foreword by Mr Blair in which he wrote that he believed the intelligence had established beyond doubt that Saddam Hussein had continued to produce chemical and biological weapons. Describing it as a "solid piece of work" and a "cautious" assessment, he said the dossier was "owned" by the Joint Intelligence Committee and, at no stage, did No 10 try to "beef up or over-ride" its judgements.
"I don't believe the dossier in any sense misrepresented the position."
The dossier included a foreword by Mr Blair in which he wrote that he believed the intelligence had established "beyond doubt" that Saddam Hussein had continued to produce chemical and biological weapons.
Sir John Scarlett, chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, told the inquiry last month that the foreword was "overtly political" and "quite separate" from the rest of the dossier.
Mr Campbell, who drafted the first version of the foreword - ultimately approved by Mr Blair - said no-one in the intelligence community challenged this statement despite being free to do so.
The foreword, he added, had never suggested Saddam Hussein "was able to do something terrible to the British mainland".
HAVE YOUR SAYWatching Campbell dealing with this enquiry is just awe-inspiringRob, Lichfield Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAYWatching Campbell dealing with this enquiry is just awe-inspiringRob, Lichfield Send us your comments
Sir John Scarlett, head of the Joint Intelligence Committee at the time, told the inquiry last month that the foreword written by Downing Street was "overtly political" and was "quite separate" from the dossier itself. On the 45-minute claim, which was retracted after the war, he said the dossier "obviously" could have been clearer about it referring to battlefield munitions.
But he insisted that Mr Blair had put forward a balanced argument in the House of Commons on the issue and the 45-minute claim was only given "iconic" status by the press.
"We did not see it or plan our communications around that particular point," he said.
Questions about Mr Campbell's role in drawing up the dossier were at the centre of a post-invasion row with the BBC which culminated in the death of the government weapons expert Dr David Kelly and the subsequent Hutton inquiry.Questions about Mr Campbell's role in drawing up the dossier were at the centre of a post-invasion row with the BBC which culminated in the death of the government weapons expert Dr David Kelly and the subsequent Hutton inquiry.
Mr Campbell, a former political editor of the Daily Mirror, was Mr Blair's press secretary from 1994 to 2003. Former Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon and former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw will give evidence to the inquiry next week with Mr Blair expected to appear at a later date.
It has also been announced that former Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon and former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw will give evidence next week. Mr Blair is expected to appear at a later date.
His successor as prime minister, Gordon Brown, will not give evidence until after the general election, expected to take place in May. The Iraq Inquiry's final report is due to be published by early next year.His successor as prime minister, Gordon Brown, will not give evidence until after the general election, expected to take place in May. The Iraq Inquiry's final report is due to be published by early next year.