Open source intelligence

RUSI JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2004 Lord Hutton's comprehensive verdict in favour of the government and against the BBC (read media generaLLy) was delivered on 28 January 2004.A leading Law Lord, Hutton gave his 'ruling' in a judicial fashion: he found in favour of one of the two sides implicated in the Inquiry into Dr David KelLy's death. ALthough critics have challenged the one-sidedness of his report, its findings were based on an exhaustive review of evidence led by an eminent jurist with a reputation for integrity and independence. That said, a central question that has dominated the national debate since Dr KeLly's death whether pre-war intelligence informed government decision-making or was formed to support decision-making was not addressed in the Inquiry. Its omission fuelled caLLs for a new independent inquiry, which was duly announced by Prime Minister Blair on 3 February. Expected to report by summer 2004, this new inquiry will investigate the accuracy, validity and reLiabiLity of the pre-war intelligence product, particuLarLy concerning Iraq's WlVlD threat but perhaps also the former regime's alleged [inks to AL-Qa'ida. Until then, the public wilL be none the wiser about the challenges of the intelligence process and no dearer on the traditionally stated and acceptable role of intelligence: to inform decision-makingindependently, impartially and with integrity. Hopefully, this article, written before the Hutton Inquiry was published and unchanged since, may go some way to clarify that.