On 18th July, one of the UK's top Weapons experts was found dead in a field
some miles from his home.
Dr David Kelly, advisor to the MOD on the status of Iraq's fabled Weapons of
Mass Destruction had apparently committed suicide as a result of the
pressure laid upon him by the House of Commons investigation into the
content of a Dossier which stated that Iraq could launch their Mass
Destruction Weapons within 45 minutes. Dr Kelly allegedly suggested to
journalists that this timeframe was inaccurate, but was included in the
Dossier at the express insistence of top ranking Government officials in
order to further the arguments in favour of an invasion of Iraq.
The implications of this are manifold and reach to the very highest echelons
of the British Government.
As a result of the shattering death of Dr Kelly, the Rt Hon Lord Brian
Hutton convened a wide ranging inquiriy into the circumstances surrounding
his death. The inquiry is well underway and witnesses called or to be called
include Secretary of State for Defence Geoff Hoon, Prime Minister's Director
of Communications Alastair Campbell and Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Geoff Hoon will be giving evidence this Wednesday, Tony Blair will give
evidence the following day.
Although it is widely assumed that Geoff Hoon will be made scapegoat as a
result of the inquiry, it would do the government untold good if Campbell
were found to be the master manipulator in the affair.
Watch the inquiry unfold on the Hutton Inquiry Web Site
