Blix says US intelligence on Iraq was not solid

WASHINGTON (AFP) Jun 11, 2003
Outgoing chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix said Tuesday most of the US intelligence information on Iraqi weapons of mass destruction was not "solid" and should not have been used to justify the US-led invasion of the country.

Iraqis "had many years to learn how to hide things, but nevertheless, most of intelligence has not been solid," Blix told ABC News.

He said he was not inclined to accuse US President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair of a lack of sincerity.

"I think they believed, believed in what they saw, and I think Tony Blair clearly believed in what they saw, but some of the material did not hold water," said the former weapons inspector, who retires at the end of the month.

The comments came as President George W. Bush has forcefully denied allegations that his administration manipulated intelligence on Iraqi weapons of mass destruction to justify the war, promising that "history and time will prove" that Iraq had unconventional arms programs.

But Blix said leaders should not act on faulty intelligence.

"I mean if you want to start a war on this basis, then I think the intelligence should be good, not just, 'Sorry about that, it was wrong intelligence,'" he said.

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