The Virtual Stoa

There’s some excellent stuff appearing on Chris Lightfoot’s blog. Here’s a Hutton-related snippet from yesterday’s post:

Let’s start with semantics. Chapter 6 paragraph 220 of the Hutton Report states: (emphasis mine)

The term “sexed-up” is a slang expression, the meaning of which lacks clarity in the context of a discussion of the dossier. It is capable of two different meanings. It could mean that the dossier was embellished with items of intelligence known or believed to be false or unreliable to make the case against Saddam Hussein stronger, or it could mean that whilst the intelligence contained in the dossier was believed to be reliable, the dossier was drafted in such a way as to make the case against Saddam Hussein as strong as the intelligence contained in it permitted. If the term is used in this latter sense then, because of the drafting suggestions made by 10 Downing Street for the purpose of making a strong case against Saddam Hussein, it could be said that the Government “sexed-up” the dossier. However, having regard to the other allegations contained in Mr Gilligan’s broadcasts of 29 May I consider that those who heard the broadcasts would have understood the allegation of “sexing-up” to be used in the first sense which I have described, namely that the Government ordered that the dossier be embellished with false or unreliable items of intelligence.

(It’s worth pointing out that Hutton here means “intelligence which was known at the time to be unreliable or false”, since it’s clear that much of the intelligence was in fact unreliable and false.)

I cannot remember how I interpreted the term “sexed up” at the time of Gilligan’s reports, but a brief search of the newspaper archives suggests that it was not, in fact, generally interpreted as Hutton suggests. For instance, The Mirror seems to have been the first paper to publish an editorial on the subject, on 30th May 2003, the day after Andrew Gilligan’s broadcasts on the Today programme. It read, (emphasis mine):

Voice Of The Daily Mirror: Spinner’s pitch.

THERE is a terrible ring of truth about the allegation that 10 Downing Street ordered a dossier on Iraq to be “sexed up”.

Even though the claim by an intelligence officer has been denied, it sounds like the sort of thing No 10 would say.

Note the subtlety. They aren’t asking for lies. Just for the dossier to be more headline-grabbing.

And grab the headlines it did, with the stark charge that Saddam could mobilise weapons of mass destruction in 45 minutes.

As Chris concludes, “This is not compatible with Hutton’s claim that, at the time it was broadcast, the term ’sexed up’ was understood to mean ‘embellished with known incorrect information.’”

“Crispin Shriek” may spell political end for Henry V, over at Ishbadiddle.

Amnesty International isn’t too keen on David Blunkett’s latest thoughts:

Amnesty International is extremely concerned at the Home Secretary’s suggestions for new measures to “combat terrorism”. If implemented, these measures would dispense with justice, the rule of law and human rights in the UK.”Instead of further undermining the rule of law and human rights, the UK authorities should start to pay attention to the concerns currently being expressed by people and organizations from many different walks of life.”

“Eminent religious leaders and members of the legal profession in the UK have repeatedly criticized the serious human rights violations that have taken place in the context of the UK authorities’ response to the 11 September 2001 attacks.”

“These measures have already created a small-scale Guantanamo Bay in the UK by allowing the continuing detention of 14 foreign nationals without charge or trial.”

“Any plans to extend these measures to UK citizens must be resisted.”

Amnesty International has consistently called for:

The UK government to repeal Part 4 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (ATCSA), which allows for indefinite detention without charge or trial

Individuals held under the Act to either be charged and tried in proceedings that meet international fair trial standards, or to be released.The Newton Committee, the Committee of Privy Counsellors, who had been charged with reviewing the ATCSA, has already recommended the urgent repeal of the ATCSA powers allowing non-UK nationals to be detained potentially indefinitely. It is therefore particularly disconcerting that the Home Secretary is reportedly suggesting the introduction of wider internment-like measures.

The Blunkett-o-Matic, for those who haven’t yet stumbled across it, is here.

Rudolf Hilferding, socialist economist and politician: born in Vienna, 10 August 1877; died in a Nazi prison, 2 February 1941.

You are Pope St. Pius X. You’d rather be right than newfangled.