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Aus WMD intelligence 'failed'
22/07/2004 10:29 - (SA)
Canberra - An investigation into Australia's intelligence services released here on Thursday found that intelligence on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction was "thin, ambiguous and incomplete."
But the report, released by Prime Minister John Howard, also found that Australian assessments and key judgments were relatively cautious and rejected suggestions of political interference by the government in the intelligence community.
The investigation, by former intelligence agency head Philip Flood, was ordered following a parliamentary inquiry into pre-war intelligence about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) used to justify the US-led invasion.
Flood was also asked to investigate later claims of intelligence failures including about the October 2002 Bali bombings that claimed 202 lives and delays in reacting to French intelligence about the arrival in Australia of suspected Islamic terrorist Willie Brigitte.
"There has been a failure of intelligence on Iraq WMD," said Flood. "Intelligence was thin, ambiguous and incomplete. Australia shared in the allied intelligence failure on the key question of WMD stockpiles."
Howard said while the Flood report had criticised intelligence on Iraq's WMD, it said that Australian assessments and key judgments were relatively cautious.
"The inquiry has found no evidence of politicisation of the assessments on Iraq, either overt or perceived," he said.
Howard maintained that regardless of the findings of the report, his government's decision to join the invasion of Iraq was correct and he had no regrets about taking it.
He said the intelligence community had adapted to the major challenges posed by global terrorism and increased requirements for support to deployed Australian forces.
The report also showed the Australian intelligence community (AIC) was performing well and remained a potent capability, he said.
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