The news of Curveball, the Iraqi 'intelligence source' who fabricated the entire Saddam Hussein 'Weapons of Mass Destruction' scenario out of thin air, has hit the press and airwaves.
His interview with The Guardian is here.
One must always take anything in The Guardian with a huge grain of salt, but this account is worth reading, in any event.
Here is the quote:
I had the chance to fabricate something to topple the regime," he told the Guardian in a series of interviews carried out in his native Arabic and German. "I and my sons are proud of that, and we are proud that we were the reason to give Iraq the margin of democracy.
The end justifies the means and any tragic collateral damage, in other words.
This is the stuff of John LeCarre novels, only beyond the ability of any novelist to invent.
The tragedy required not only a willing and accomplished liar, but a receptive ear, a willingness to believe. Given Saddam's known record of brutality, it was not too great a leap of faith. He had used chemical weapons on his own people. He had invaded and raped Kuwait. He was a cold-blooded, amoral killer. This proffered tale fit the profile.
Since we had no intelligence operatives on the ground, thanks in great part to the gutting of the CIA in the 1970's, confirming or discrediting the tale was a tough job. We chose to not believe the UN reps who visited, because their record of credibility was so open to question.
And, the West was still rattled by September 11, 2001.
Combine all ingredients, stir gently, heat to a boil. Kill tens of thousands of people.
I wonder how Curveball would fare telling his story locked into a room with the families of all those British, Canadian, and US service members who died as a result of the invasion and subsequent civil war?
We'll never know.
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