Sharkansky is all over the AP’s coverage of the Butler Report. Here’s an actual quote:
…even now it is premature to reach conclusions about Iraq?s prohibited weapons. But from the evidence which has been found and de-briefing of Iraqi personnel it appears that prior to the war the Iraqi regime:
a. Had the strategic intention of resuming the pursuit of prohibited weapons programmes, including if possible its nuclear weapons programme, when United Nations inspection regimes were relaxed and sanctions were eroded or lifted.
b. In support of that goal, was carrying out illicit research and development, and procurement, activities.
c. Was developing ballistic missiles with a range longer than permitted under relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
d. Did not, however, have significant – if any – stocks of chemical or biological weapons in a state fit for deployment, or developed plans for using them.
Blair got a strong vote of confidence from an interesting source:
Blair received some supportive words Wednesday from former U.S. President Bill Clinton, who said Britons needed to remember that “it was very difficult in the aftermath of 9/11 for any world leader not to act on his intelligence.”
“And the British intelligence, whatever Lord Butler says about it, was clearly even more forward-leading than the American intelligence in believing that Saddam was trying to get nuclear materials, in believing that Saddam had some kind of relationship with al-Qaida,” Clinton told British Broadcasting Corp. radio.
See the report here and the AP’s spin here.