Feb 01, 2010
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jan/31/mi6-chilcot-inquiry-iraq-war
Ex-MI6 chief likely to give evidence to Chilcot inquiry
behind closed doors
MPs from all parties say his testimony should be heard in
public
Crucial evidence to the Iraq inquiry by Sir Richard
Dearlove, the head of MI6 at the time of the 2003 invasion, is likely to be
heard in private.
He presented to Tony Blair the intelligence, obtained from
an agent known as "Curveball", that Saddam Hussein had mobile production
facilities for chemical weapons. Blair told the Chilcot inquiry on Friday: "This
did have an impact on me at the time, although this particular piece of
intelligence turned out later to be wrong."
"Curveball" was an asset of the German intelligence service
who was later discovered to be a fantasist. The UK was never allowed to question
the spy personally. Dearlove's evidence is likely to come after the general
election. Whitehall sources have indicated that the format of Dearlove's
appearance is still being thrashed out between MI6 and the Chilcot team. "If he
[Dearlove] believes he can give some of his evidence in public, he will be
encouraged to do so, but clearly this may not be the case," one source said.
The inquiry is thought to be struggling to establish which
confidential documents presented to it can be declassified, making it difficult
for its members to question key intelligence officials in public.
Andrew Mackinlay, a Labour MP and former member of the
foreign affairs select committee, said he would be "appalled" if Dearlove did
not appear in public. "There is amazing deference in this country to the
intelligence services, and as a result they call the shots," he said.
He drew comparisons with the US, where intelligence chiefs
regularly appear in public and pointed out that Chilcot had a "safety button" to
suspend live discussion if the committee saw fit.
Ed Davey, the Lib Dem foreign affairs spokesman, said
Dearlove had to give at least some evidence in public. "If there is not a public
session with the person who more than any relayed intelligence to the PM, the
inquiry will be undermined," he said.
Ben Wallace, a Tory MP and former military intelligence
officer, said "operational issues" relating to the workings of the intelligence
services had to be taken in private. "But issues relating to the interface
between intelligence and Downing Street's case for war should be in public."
Dearlove, now Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge, gave
evidence in person at the inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales and
also to the Hutton inquiry into the death of Dr David Kelly, albeit via audio
link so he could remain unseen.
Chilcot has defended the need for some evidence to be heard
behind closed doors. "If the inquiry is to succeed in getting to the heart of
what happened and what lessons need to be learnt, we recognise that some
evidence sessions will need to be private," he said at its opening.
So far, one witness, a general who served in Basra, has
given evidence in private. Allowing Dearlove to give evidence behind closed
doors on the grounds of national security would be far more controversial.