Probe into Iraq intelligence needed to restore US credibility: Kay
Sun Feb 1,11:02 AM ET
WASHINGTON (AFP) - An independent inquiry into the US intelligence failure on Iraq (news - web sites)'s weapons of mass destruction is needed to restore the United States' credibility in the world, former US chief weapons inspector David Kay said.
AFP/File Photo
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"It is not only important for the nation, but it is important for our credibility as a global power in our relation with allies as we move forward," Kay told Fox News in an interview Sunday.
Kay welcomed a Washington Post report Sunday that President George W. Bush (news - web sites) has agreed to an independent investigation into the intelligence used to make the case against former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s regime.
"I'm very happy if that turns out to be the case," said Kay, who resigned last month as head of the Iraq Survey Group (ISG) -- the 1,400-member team charged with finding Iraq's suspected chemical, biological and nuclear program.
Bush used evidence on Iraq's suspected stockpile of weapons of mass destruction to justify toppling Saddam's regime, which Bush described as a threat to the United States. But the ISG never found any of the suspected weapons.
"When you make mistakes, you need to be seen as understanding why you made those mistakes, so the next security crisis -- Iran, Syria, wherever -- they understand why we're concerned," Kay said.
The new US policy of preemptive war cannot work without reliable intelligence, he said.
"If you cannot rely on good, accurate intelligence, that is credible to the American people and others abroad, you can't have a policy of preemption," he said. "Fundamental intelligence is the only policy to preemption."
The inquiry, Kay continued, "is not a witch-hunt. This is a way of looking into the fundamental flaws in collecting intelligence."
The process of forming an independent commission and the investigation itself could take time, Kay said, noting it is impossible to estimate whether a report from such a panel would be ready before the November presidential election.
"I think that it is important to know that an honest effort is underway to find the causes" of the US intelligence failures, said Kay, who added that he wants to remain outside the political debate that an independent inquiry would feed.
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