Case for war in Iraq 'over-dependent on intelligence': Former MI6 chief

By Rich Bowden, M&C Staff Writer Nov 1, 2007, 9:57 GMT

An Iraqi soldier and residents inspect a burned-out minibus in Baghdad 31 October 2007. One person was killed and three others wounded in a car bomb attack, security sources said. EPA/MOHAMMED JALIL

(M&C) - The former head of MI6 from 1999 to 2004 has said the government's case for war in the leadup to the attack on Iraq relied far too much on intelligence.

Speaking at a public lecture at the London School of Economics, Richard Dearlove said "[Though] the intelligence that was released was believed to be correct when it was released, there were no human (intelligence) resources in Iraq who could have told us authoritatively that there were no weapons of mass destruction."

Mr Dearlove went on to suggest the government's case was "built around intelligence and little else" in presenting the reasons for the attack of Iraq to the British people.

It is suggested there was a rift between Mr Dearlove and the government over the war in Iraq and he stepped down from the intelligence position in 2004. However the government has maintained that Mr Dearlove's decision to resign had nothing to do with the war in Iraq.

Referring to the current political stand-off in Iran he added that "concrete" evidence of weapons of mass destruction would need to be uncovered before there could be any attack on the country.