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Ditto Iran?

Iraq WMD War: Timeline 2005-2006, video/audio, sources

by Charles Judson Harwood Jr.

2005

• Congress debates, votes
• Iraq wmd war timeline: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005-2006, 2007
• David Kay
• Charles Duelfer
• Iran uranium timeline
• Israel/Palestine timeline:
• Palestine Peace Not Apartheid
• The Israel Lobby
• Settlements
• Blockade, reprisals

• Dafna Linzer, “Search for Banned Arms In Iraq Ended Last Month: Critical September Report to Be Final Word” {pf} (The Washington Post, Wednesday January 12 2005, page A1).

• Scott McClellan (Press Secretary), “Press Briefing by Scott McClellan” {pf} (White House, January 12 2005, 12:47-1:16 p.m. ET), video {29:19}.

Question: The fact that the Iraq Survey Group has now folded up its field operations ...

The President ...

Does he still hold out some hope?

That something is going to be found?

Mr. McClellan: Well, at this point, the members of the Iraq Survey Group that are still there in Iraq — I mean, obviously, if they hear additional reports about anything, they will follow up on those reports.

But I think Charles Duelfer has made it pretty clear, and it’s my understanding that the comprehensive report he issued last year is essentially the completion of his work. He’s going to have an addendum that will be released at some point next month. ...

Question: The President accepts.

That there were no weapons of mass destruction.

In Iraq.

Mr. McClellan: Well, he said, back in October, that the comprehensive report by Charles Duelfer concluded, what his predecessor had said as well, that the weapons that we all believed were there, based on the intelligence, were not there.

• Richard Boucher (Spokesman), “Daily Press Briefing” (U.S. State Department, January 12 2005, 12:50-1:15 p.m. ET), video (bb) {22:30}, audio {22:25}.

Question: Would you kindly run through what you have to elaborate on, what the White House has said, about the search for remaining weapons in Iraq? ...

Mr. Boucher: Yeah, what the White House has said, what we’re prepared to say, is that the team that was out there is wrapping up their report. They’re working on an addendum to the report they put out last October. ... they’ve said that their addendum won’t change the fundamental conclusions.

• Hans Blix (Stockholm), intervewed by Jane Hill (London), “Former weapons inspector Hans Blix,” BBC video (bb) {3:03 bb, source, search, search, a/v, a/v, search} (BBC News 24, January 12 2005), reported “US gives up search for Iraq WMD” {pf} (BBC News, January 12 2005, 6:59 p.m.), Nick Childs (Pentagon), “How the White House made the announcement,” BBC video (bb) {1:52 bb}.

• David Kay, Robin Cook, Eric Joyce, interviewed by Jeremy Paxman (BBC 2 TV, Newsnight, January 12 2005, 10:30 p.m.) {BBCcat c:andm740r}, video {8:56}.

• AP: The Associated Press, “No Basis For WMD Smuggling Claims” {pf} (CBSNews.com, January 17 2005), also titled, “U.S. intelligence found no WMD evidence” {pf} (USA Today, January 17 2005).

• The Nomination of Dr. Condoleezza Rice to Be Secretary of State {1008kb.txt, 1879kb.pdf, purl}, (U.S. Congress 109-1, Senate Hearing S. Hrg. 109-151, January 18-19 2005, Foreign Relations Committee) {SuDoc: Y 4.F 76/2:S.HRG.109-151, LCCN: 2006360309, OCLC: 62330184, GPOcat, LL: paper, microfiche, DL, WorldCat}. Transcripts {Lexis}: day 1 {302kb html, 194kb html, 497kb html}, day 2 {103kb html, 144kb html pf, 101kb html} (CQ/FNS: New York Times, The Washington Post). Five FNS transcripts, January 18: 9:05 a.m., 2:33 p.m., 5:55 p.m., January 19: 9:01 a.m., 10:45 a.m. C-Span video, January 18: 9:05 a.m. {3:30:20}, 2:33 p.m. {5:01:55}, January 19: 9:01 a.m. {2:30:57}. Congressional debate reported here.

• Hans Blix, testimony {300kb.pdf, source}, EU Strategy on Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, Questions 178-204 (U.K. Parliament, House of Lords, Select Committee on the European Union, Sub-Committee C: Foreign Affairs, Defence, & Development Policy, hearing, February 3 2005, 2:30 p.m.).

• Hans Blix (Chairman, WMD Commission), “Peace and Disarmament—Prospects after Iraq” (a/k/a) “Weapons of Mass Destruction, Terrorism, Global Security” {62kb.pdf} (Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok Thailand, February 7 2005, 2:00-3:00 p.m.), part of, “Bridges—Dialogues Towards a Culture of Peace” (November 2003-2005 April, Bangkok, International Peace Foundation, Vienna). Hans Blix, interviewed in Bangkok, by Daniel Kestenholz, “Unbowed, Blix Still Backs Inspections For Nuclear Threats” (National Catholic Reporter, March 4 2005).

• David Kay, “Let's Not Make the Same Mistakes in Iran” {pf} (The Washington Post, February 7 2005, page A21).

A National Intelligence Estimate as to Iran’s nuclear activities should not be a rushed, and cooked, document, used to justify the threat of military action.

Now is the time for serious analysis, that genuinely tries to pull together all the evidence, and analytical skills, of the vast U.S. intelligence community, to reach the best possible judgment, on the status of that program, and the gaps in our knowledge.

That assessment should not be led by a team that is trying to prove a case for its boss.

Now is the time to reach outside the secret brotherhood, and pull in respected outsiders, to lead the assessment.

• Sergei Lavrov, interviewed in Moscow by Simon Marks, “Foreign Minister Lavrov” (PBS: Public Broadcasting Service, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, February 11 2005), audio {30:28}, video bb (excerpt) {13:21 bb}.

• David Kay, interviewed by Tony Jones, “Australians Involved in Interrogations, Kay Says” (ABC TV, Lateline, February 17 2005, 10:30 p.m.).

• Hans Blix (Chairman, WMD Commission), “Disarmament, Terrorism, Global Security”, conference, “Reaching Nuclear Disarmament: New Challenges and Possibilities” (Swedish Network for Nuclear Disarmament (17 organizations), Immanuelskyrkan, Stockholm, February 25 2005, 6:00-7:00 p.m.).

• Hans Blix, When Do Governments Have the Right to Go to War? (Dowmel Lecture Series 2004-2005, Monument Mountain Regional High School Auditorium, Great Barrington, Massachusetts, March 7 2005, 7:30 p.m.), audio {1:28:25}, reported, Derek Gentile, “Ex-Weapons Inspector in Berkshires” (Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield Massachusetts, March 8 2005 {copy}.

• Hans Blix, “Weapons of Mass Destruction, Terrorism and Security” (Princeton University, WWS: Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Dodds Auditorium, Robertson Hall, Princeton New Jersey, Tuesday March 8 2005, 7:00 p.m. ET), video bb {1:23:31 bb, source}, audio (omits questions/answers) {50:21, 14.5mb.mp3, source}, WWS calender (day, week, month, year), notice, Tom Bartus, “Hans Blix to discuss WMD, March 8” (News@Princeton, March 2 2005), reported, Chanakya Sethi, “Blix Criticizes Bush Nonproliferation Policies: Says U.N. Still Relevant, Inspections Effective Tool” (The Daily Princetonian, March 9 2005).

• Greg Palast, “Secret US Plans For Iraq's Oil” {pf} (BBC News, Newsnight, BBC TV-2, London, Thursday March 17 2005, 10:30 p.m.) {BBCcat d:andm749n}, video (bb) {11:24, 2.88mb.rm, bb, 17.58mb.rm, search, search, rss, rss, rss} {BBC bb player, bb source source}: “A joint investigation by Newsnight and Harper's Magazine: The Bush administration made plans for war and for Iraq’s oil before the 9/11 attacks, sparking a policy battle between neo-cons and Big Oil, BBC’s Newsnight has revealed,” also broadcast, and Greg Palast interviewed by Amy Goodman, “U.S. Broadcast Exclusive {copy}: Secret U.S. Plans For Iraq's Oil Spark Political Fight Between Neocons and Big Oil” (Democracy Now! The War and Peace Report, New York City, Monday March 21 2005), video/audio {59:08, audio 27.1mb.mp3} {Palast 19:48 at 12:46: video/audio}. Greg Palast, “OPEC on the March: Why Iraq Still Sells Its Oil à la Cartel” (Harper's Magazine, volume 310, number 1859, New York City, April 2005, pages 74-76), reported, “Palast, neocons, Iraq oil, and madness” (Prairie Weather, blog, March 19 2005). Greg Palast, interviewed by Scott Horton (blog, blog), “The BBC's Greg Palast returns to the show to discuss his new Harper's article, ‘OPEC on the March’” (Weekend Interview Show with Scott Horton, Austin Texas, Saturday March 26 2005), audio {22:42, 2.6mb.mp3}. Censored 2007, Top 25 Censored Stories of 2007 (SSU: Sonoma State University, Project Censored, Rohnert Park California) (“The News That Didn't Make the News”). For an update, see, Thieving Iraq’s Oil (May 23 2007).

• John Ware, “Iraq, Tony & the Truth” {pf} (BBC 1 TV, Panorama, March 20/24 2005, 10:18 p.m., 2:30 a.m.) {BBCcat ance876x}, video {1:00:13, 75.5mb wav}, timeline {pf}, BBC transcript: “This is the story of what Mr. Blair didn’t tell us, before sending the troops into battle,” reported, “Blair's case for war questioned” {pf} (BBC News, March 21 2005): “On 23 July 2002 the prime minister chaired a highly sensitive meeting ... MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove was minuted as saying that “the facts and the intelligence” were being “fixed round the policy” by the Bush administration. By “fixed,” it is understood that the head of MI6 meant the Americans were trawling for evidence to support a policy of regime change. Just back from Washington, Sir Richard reported that military action was inevitable.” (The Downing Street Memo).

• Report to the President of the United States {copy, purl} (Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction, March 31 2005), Laurence H. Silberman, Charles S. Robb (Co-Chairmen) (the “Silberman-Robb Commission”) {SuDoc: PREX 1.19:IN 8/W 37, LCCN: 2005379526, 2005567096, OCLC: 58846082, 58731255, GPOcat, LL: paper, DL, WorldCat, WorldCat, March 31 2005}.

• George W. Bush (U.S. President, Jan. 20 2001-2009 Jan. 20), “President Discusses Schiavo, WMD Commission Report” {pf} (Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Room 450, March 31 2005, 11:31-11:38 a.m.), video {14:28}, retitled “Remarks Prior to a Briefing on the Findings of the Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction,” 41:13 WCPD 538-539 {7kb.txt, 37kb.pdf, copy} {SuDoc: AE 2.109:41/13}. Subsequent press conference, after George W. Bush left the room, omitted from the White House website, and omitted from Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, FDCH “Transcript: Bush and Co-Chairs of the Commission on Intelligence Capabilities Press Conference” {pf} (The Washington Post, March 31 2005):

Question: Could your report be read as an exoneration?

Of the president’s use of the intelligence?

Or did you not tackle that question?

Laurence Silberman: We did not.

Our executive order did not direct us to deal with the use of intelligence by policymakers.

And all of us were agreed, that that was not part of our inquiry.

____________________

Query: “Executive order”?

George W. Bush (U.S. President), Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction (Executive Order 13328 {pf}, White House, February 6 2004), 69:28 Federal Register 6899-6903 {14kb.txt, 93kb.pdf} {14kb.txt, 93kb.pdf, source, source} (Wednesday February 11 2004), revoked, George W. Bush (U.S. President), Continuance of Certain Federal Advisory Committees and Amendments to and Revocation of Other Executive Orders (Executive Order 13385, White House, September 29 2005), 70:191 Federal Register 57987-57991 {13kb.txt, 93kb.pdf} {13kb.txt, 93kb.pdf, source, source} (Tuesday October 4 2005).

–CJHjr.

• Jack Straw (U.K. Foreign Secretary), interviewed by John Humphrys (BBC Radio 4, Today, Monday April 25 2005, 6-9am at 8:10-8:29 a.m.) {BBCcat 92sx3058}, audio {18:49}, copy (bb) {14:38 bb}, FCO transcript (none), BBC transcript {pf}, reported, Nick Assinder (BBC political correspondent), “Can Iraq damage Blair further?” {pf}, “Call to punish parties over Iraq” {pf} (BBC News, April 25 2005).

• Charles A. Duelfer (Head, CIA Iraq Survey Group), Addendums to the Comprehensive Report of the Special Advisor to the DCI on Iraq's WMD {705kb.pdf, source, copy} (U.S. CIA: Central Intelligence Agency, March 2005, posted April 25 2005), reported, AP: The Associated Press, “CIA's final report: No WMD found in Iraq” {pf} (MSNBC.com, April 25 2005).

• Jon Snow, “A Legal War?” (Channel 4 News, London, Wednesday April 27 2005, 7:00 p.m.) (first leak, portions of Peter Goldsmith, U.K. Attorney-General, his secret initial legal opinion on the Iraq war), video (ditto) {4:13}, reported, “Full text: Summary of attorney general's legal advice on March 7 2003” (Guardian, April 27 2005), “Early Iraq legal opinion leaked” {pf} (BBC News, April 28 2005, 6:22 a.m. GMT), background, Alex Thomson (chief correspondent, Channel 4 News), “Old-fashioned journalism counters the election spin” {copy} (Press Gazette, May 5 2005).

• Hans Blix, Menzies Campbell (Shadow Foreign Secretary, Liberal Democrat Party), Tim Collins (Conservative Party), Philippe Sands (Professor of International law, University College London), Jack Straw (U.K. Foreign Secretary), interviewed by Robin Lustig, “Legal Advice” (BBC Radio 4, The World Tonight, Wednesday April 27 2005, 10:07-10:36 p.m.) {BBCcat 90sx4838}, audio {45:00, at 7:17-35:33, search, search, search, a/v, a/v, search} (leaked portions of Peter Goldsmith, U.K. Attorney-General, his secret initial legal opinion on the Iraq war), reported, “UK loyalty behind war, says Blix” {pf} (BBC News, April 28 2005, 11:05 GMT).

• Charles Duelfer, interviewed by Margaret Warner, “Newsmaker: Charles Duelfer” (PBS: Public Broadcasting Service, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, Wednesday April 27 2005, 7:00 p.m.), video bb {11:42 bb}, audio {11:35}.

• Jack Straw (U.K. Foreign Secretary), Michael Ancram (Shadow Foreign Secretary, Conservative Party), interviewed by James Naughtie (BBC Radio 4, Today, Thursday April 28 2005, 7-9am 8:10-8:30 a.m.) {BBCcat 92sx3030}, audio {19:07}, “Whether Tony Blair misled the country by claiming that the legal advice on war in Iraq was unequivocal.”

• Hans Blix, “A New Nuclear Arms Race?” {143kb.pdf} (Stanford University, SIIS: Stanford Institute for International Studies, 2005 SIIS International Day: Challenges In A New Era, Stanford California, Alumni Center, May 6 2005), reported, Lisa Trei, “Experts Discuss Global Nuclear Security” (Stanford Report, May 11 2005) {copy}.

• Hans Blix, “Controlling Weapons of Mass Destruction: Lessons from Iraq” (UCI: University of California, Irvine, Center for Global Peace and Conlfict Studies, 14th Annual Margolis Lecture, 2005, Social Science Lecture Hall, Irvine, Orange County California, May 7 2005, 3:00 p.m.), video {1:17:15}, reported, Nick Schou, “Blix-krieg! {pf}: In UC Irvine speech, Hans Blix denounces Iraq invasion and 'faith-based intelligence'” (OC Weekly, Santa Ana, Orange County, California, May 12 2005).

• Hans Blix (workshop chairman) (Chairman, WMD Commission; Executive Chairman, UNMOVIC, March 1 2000-2003 June 30; IAEA Director General, 1981-1997), “Why Do States Abandon Nuclear Weapons Ambitions?” (U.N. NPT Review Conference 2005, WMD Commission Workshop, cosponsored by the Government of Finland, U.N. Conference Room 4, New York City, May 9 2005, 1:00-3:00 p.m.). Hans Blix, Edward John (Ed) Markey (Co-Chair, Bipartisan Task Force on Nonproliferation, U.S. Congress), Jonathan Granoff (moderator) (president, GSI: Global Security Institute), U.N. press conference (U.N. Secretariat Building, DPI: Department of Public Information briefing room S-226, May 9 2005, 5:00-6:00 p.m.), U.N. video {1:01:01, source}, reported, “Press Conference on Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons” (U.N. News summary, May 10 2005), Charles J. Hanley (Associated Press), “Blix: US Not Committed to Nuke 'Bargain'” {copy, copy}. Hans Blix, Ed Markey, Wayne Curtis (Curt) Weldon (panelists), dinner panel discussion, “U.S. Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Goals: Honoring the Balance” (Global Security Institute, WMD Commission, Simons Foundation, U.N. Delegates Dining Room, May 9 2005, 7:00-9:00 p.m.), audio {2:21:22, 64.7mb.mp3}.

• Downing Street Memo and Iraq War (U.S. Congress 109-1, House Hearing (unofficial), June 16 2005). John Leslie Conyers (chairman, ranking minority member, House Judiciary Committee). Witnesses: Joseph C. Wilson IV (Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy, Baghdad Iraq, 1988-1991; Special Assistant to President Clinton, National Security Council; U.S. Ambassador to Gabon, 1992-1995) {statement}, Cindy Sheehan {statement}, Ray McGovern {statement}, John Bonifaz {statement}, Ann Wright {written statement}, Karen Kwiatkowski {written statement}. C-Span video {3:06:30}, audio {3:07:09, 44.1mb ram source}, transcript {263kb.pdf, 213kb.txt, copy}, reported Amy Goodman, “Downing Street and Beyond: Hearing Builds Momentum for Full Investigation” (Democracy Now!, June 17 2005).

• Ray McGovern (CIA 27 years, 1964-1991), Reuel Marc Gerecht (CIA Officer, 1985-1994, Middle East Specialist, Directorate of Operations; Department of State, 1985-1994, Political and Consular Officer; AEI: American Enterprise Institute; PNAC: Project for the New American Century), interviewed by Margaret Warner, background report by Terence Smith, “War Memos” (PBS: Public Broadcasting Service, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, June 16 2005, 7:00 p.m.), video bb {16:25 bb}, audio {16:16}: “The controversy surrounding the "The Downing Street memos" continues to grow. The documents, a series of 2002 British memos about President Bush making the case to go to war in Iraq, were recently leaked to the media.”

• Charles J. Hanley (AP: Associated Press), “Piecing together the story of the weapons that weren't” {pf} (USA Today, September 2 2005).

• Hans Blix (Chairman, WMD Commission; Executive Chairman, UNMOVIC, March 1 2000-2003 June 30; IAEA Director General, 1981-1997), “UN Reform and World Disarmament: Where Do We Go?” {79kb.pdf} (The Dag Hammarskjöld Lecture 2005 {381kb.pdf}, Uppsala University Hall, Uppsala Sweden, September 19 2005, 6:00 p.m.), photos (no posted video/audio).

• Sergei Lavrov, speech {copy}, questions/answers (Stanford University, Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace, Stanford California, September 20 2005), video {52:06, 9.53mb.wmv, bb 197mb.wmv, source}, reported, “Russian minister of foreign affairs cites partnership, shared challenges of Russia and United States in talk” (Hoover Institution, Public Affairs, September 22 2005).

• David Kay, Carl W. Ford Jr., William J. Crowe Jr., Dennis M. Gormley, Janne E. Nolan (moderator), Panel III, “The Intelligence Challenge: Understanding and Preventing Strategic Surprises,” September 28 2005, 10am-noon, video {2:01:11, ditto} (Day 2: “Shaping our Security Institutions,” 2005 Dwight D. Eisenhower National Security Conference, “Shaping National Security: National Power in an International World,” U.S. Army Chief of Staff, Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W., Washington D.C., September 27-28 2005).

• Hans Blix (Chairman, WMD Commission), “The UN and Arms Control” {copy}, Gunnel Torén (librarian, U.N. Dag Hammarskjöld Library, Uppsala Sweden), “Dag Hammarskjöld Secretary-General of the UN, 1953-1961: In the Service of Peace,” Gareth Evans (president, ICG: International Crisis Group), “Summary of the Conference: The United Nations And Conflict Prevention,” at a one day conference, “UN and the New Challenges of International Safety,” chaired by Thierry de Montbrial (IFRI chairman), with (IFRI: Institut Français des Relations Internationales, 27 rue de la Procession, Paris Cedex 15, speaker series, October 17 2005).

• Lawrence B. Wilkerson (chief of staff to Colin Powell, U.S. Secretary of State, 2001-2005), remarks (speech, Q&As), “Col. Lawrence Wilkerson on the Bush Administration's National Security Decision Making Process” (NAF: New America Foundation, October 19 2005), video {1:36:27, 24.2kb wav, 66.1kb mp4}, audio {22.0mb.mp3}, transcript {160kb.pdf}, reported, Dana Milbank, “Colonel Finally Saw Whites of Their Eyes” {pf} (The Washington Post, Wednesday October 20 2005, page A4).

• Hans Blix, “Non-proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction—The Search for Truth” {copy}, luncheon address at a one-day conference, “Non-proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction: Current Challenges and New Approaches” (Tufts University, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Carmichael Lounge, Medford Massachusetts, October 21 2005, 1:30-2:15 p.m.), C-Span video {44:00, schedule, 546894236, 189487-1, rss}, UC: University Channel (omits questions/answers), video bb {26:18 bb, source}, audio {12.1mb.mp3}, reported, Katharine Brodock, “Non-proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction—The Search for Truth” (Fletcher, October 24 2005), Russell Contreras, “Blix Says US Misled Itself, the World on Iraq: WMD Reports, Satellite Photos Called Lacking” {pf, copy} (Boston Globe, October 22 2005).

• Lawrence Wilkerson, “The White House Cabal” (Los Angeles Times, October 25 2005) {copy, copy, 43kb.pdf}.

• Lawrence Wilkerson, interviewed by Susan Swain (C-Span executive vice president, co-chief operating officer), “U.S. Policy in Iraq” (C-Span, Washington Journal, Washington D.C., Thursday October 27 2005, 8:34-9:20 a.m.), C-Span video {45:00, 189175625, 189429-3, rss}, audio simulcast by C-Span Radio (schedule) (Radio WCSP-FM, Washington D.C.), and by satellite radio in North America (C-Span Radio, Sirius channel 139, XM channel 132).

• Lawrence Wilkerson, interviewed by Steve Inskeep, “Ex-Powell Staffer Discusses Cheney Role in Iraq War” (NPR: National Public Radio, Morning Edition, Washington D.C., November 3 2005), audio {7:46}.

• Lawrence Wilkerson, interviewed by Ray Suarez, “Iraq War Questions” (PBS: Public Broadcasting Service, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, November 4 2005, 7:00 p.m.), video bb {10:35 bb}, audio {21:02} (includes subsequent panel discussion).

• Lawrence Wilkerson, interviewed by Christopher Lydon, “Lawrence Wilkerson” (Radio WGBH, Open Source, Boston, November 15 2005, 7:00-8:00 p.m. ET), audio {52:55, 24kb.mp3, archive, rss, menu, rss, rss, rss rss}, broadcast by 33 U.S. radio stations (via PRI: Public Radio International, Open Source from PRI) (July 4 2005-2007 June 30) and by satellite radio (XMPR: XM Public Radio, XM channel 133, November 15, 3:00-4:00 a.m. ET).

• Lawrence Wilkerson, interviewed by Gavin Esler (BBC News, Newsnight, BBC TV-2, London, Friday November 18 2005, 10:30 p.m.) {BBCcat e:ands285w}, video bb {5:17 bb, search, search, rss}.

• Lawrence Wilkerson, interviewed by Carolyn Quinn (BBC Radio 4, Today, Tuesday November 29 2005, 6-9am at 7:46-7:57 a.m.) {BBCcat 05sx0350}, audio {10:54}, BBC transcript {pf}, reported, Cheney Accused on Prisoner Abuse {pf} (BBC News, November 29 2005).

• Hans Blix, interviewed in Stockholm by Dave Russell (Sveriges Radio, SR International, Radio Sweden, December 8 2005), segment audio {4:29, source}, podcast audio (entire program) {24:51, 17mb.mp3, source, source}, at 4:30-9:22 {4:58}.

Dave Russell {1:09}: You took a lot of criticism, in the run-up, to the Iraqi invasion.

How much difference.

Would another three or four months have made.

Of inspections?

Hans Blix: I think a great deal, frankly.

Because, we were given tips, by the intelligence agencies, in various countries.

About—

Perhaps, round about a hundred sites.

That were indicated by them.

And we went, actually, with inspections, to about three dozen sites, if I remember rightly.

And we didn’t find any weapons of mass destruction.

Because there’re weren’t any.

Now.

We told the intelligence agencies—

We told the world, Security Council, that,

“Sorry.

There weren’t any.”

And that impressed them, somewhat.

Now.

If we had had three months more.

We would have been able to go.

To all the sites.

Indicated by intelligence.

And there would not have been.

Any weapons of mass destruction.

And if they were not totally deaf, they ought to have questioned, somewhat, the sources that they had.

President—

Vice President Cheney said, at some point, that,

“What we learned.

About the Iraq’s weapons.

We learned through defectors.

Not through inspectors.”

Well.

What did they learn?

Through defectors?

They learned the wrong things.

And I think, if we had been there.

For three months more.

And I had been able to show them, that,

“None of the sites.

That your defectors gave.

Contain anything.”

It could have made a difference.

Segment audio {4:29, at 3:20}.

Podcast audio {24:51, at 8:10}.