|
|
|
Update: 6 July 2004
Shortly after David Kelly's death, British Prime Minister Tony Blair published a dossier of intelligence about Iraq, including an Iraqi weapons "of mass destruction" program which is "active, detailed and growing," Blair said in 2002. In July 2004, Tony Blair told Parliment that weapons of mass destruction will not be found in Iraq. "I have to accept that we have not found them, and that we may not find them," Blair told lawmakers. The White House commented on Blair's remarks: The search for weapons in Iraq continue, and it is known that "Saddam Hussein's regime continued to have the intent and capability," said Scott McClellan. Blair did not address Kelly's death or that Kelly originally stated Iraq did not have weapons of mass destruction. |
Step back. Look at the whole picture. The search for weapons of mass destruction, by the United States of America and the British Parliament continue. One of the top British weapons inspectors, Kelly, became openly critical of his government's mishandling of intelligence supporting the United State's invasion of Iraq. Parliament says Kelly lied, the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) says they scooped the truth.
Controversy around George W Bush's White House administration on weapons in Iraq have increasingly bubbled to the surface of local news in the States; however, upon the death of Kelly, Britain's Parliament blames the BBC for exaggerating Kelly's remarks, which Kelly says Tony Blair's government exaggerated reports of weapons in Iraq along with the United States. Suicide is the official cause of Kelly's death. The White House is relaxing momentarily, while the world press hounds the British, for a change.
Depending upon your definition of death; mine finds Kelly murdered. Such a statement is easily taken out of context, so I will explain. Someone who does not die of natural causes, has died either accidentally or at the hands of another human being, is murder. An accidental death is falling from a tree and breaking your neck. Dying at the hands of another person or persons includes a range of motives and actions. Kelly became a victim of his circumstances and thus was killed as a result of those circumstances. He did not die of natural causes.
| Hans Blix says the United States misrepresented United Nations weapons reports. |
In late May 2003 the BBC reported that a top British Intelligence official admitted the British Government falsified evidence in order to invade Iraq alongside the United States. Upon Kelly's death, the BBC admits that Kelly was the official quoted in May. If the BBC has fault in this case, it would be their definition of Kelly as a "high ranking official," for he was not. Nonetheless, they did report what Kelly claimed. Did Kelly lie? The investigation, headed by the British Government will sort out the details. Will the final analysis be truthful? Or as least as truthful as the continued search for weapons in Iraq?
Upon his retirement, Hans Blix says the United States misrepresented United Nations weapons reports. The United States placed unjust pressure upon him and his inspections team to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, which Blix says no evidence of weapons exists. Blix vanished from the scene for retirement after the Iraq inspections fiasco.
Kelly experienced depression, says his wife, as a result of pressure on him from British officials to stand along side Britain and White House claims of weapons in Iraq, a request Kelly refused. Britain's Parliament interrogated Kelly on his claims of "no" weapons in Iraq, after Tony Blair sided with George W Bush's contrary claim.
Why would Kelly not have walked into retirement like Blix? Kelly could have faded-off into the sunset with his wife, and left the Iraq weapons caper to the two governments wishing to justify their cause in a world opinion increasingly apathetic to weapons in Iraq. Opinion no longer supports Tony Blair or the White House; however, it isn't important either, says the voting public. Voters wish to resume the regularly scheduled program.
| The search for weapons in Iraq will now, if only temporarily, fade to the investigation surrounding Kelly's death |
Kelly was not the type of man, according to family and friends, who would fade-out willingly, depressed or not. Whether Kelly sliced his own wrists, or whether the deed was provided by a British Government Mafia, Kelly is dead neither by natural causes nor by accident.
The stakes are high for the White House and Tony Blair to find weapons in Iraq. Kofi Annan, secretary general of the United Nations has requested of the United States an immediate timeline to withdrawal from Iraq. The White House so far plans to ignore the request. If weapons existed in Iraq the almighty and powerful White House would have located them upon invasion of Iraq.
Unlike the media in the U.K., media in the United States remains fearful of the White House, so printing statements which reflect poorly upon the White House or Bush are rare off the "Op-Ed" pages. The New York Times reserves the Op-Ed section to battle the White House -- stories in the newspaper do not, because The Times will not challenge this Bush administration.
The search for weapons in Iraq will now, if only temporarily, fade to the investigation surrounding Kelly's death.
Perhaps Bush and Blair are completing their full circle of reasoning. The initial claim against Iraq was "terrorist camps," (Sept 01); it changed to "regime change," (March 02); and then changed to "weapons of mass destruction," (Nov 02.)
The mission changes with seasons. Perhaps the last step for Bush and Blair is to turn their attention to a new tact. Sidestepping Iraq, with the coverage of Kelly's murder, places media hounds on the path of a new juicy story. Meanwhile the "powers that be," (Parliament and the White House) buy time to gather new strength, and perhaps find the weapons they claim exist.
But look no further -- we've found a weapon. It was a razor blade used to cut Kelly's wrists. Another weapon will likely be to discredit Kelly's unpatriotic stance against Parliament.