Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Saturday
Blair Under Pressure
Aired July 19, 2003 - 16:12 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: Some sad and chilling words today from the family of a British scientist, David Kelly. They issued a statement saying recent events have made David's life, quote, "intolerable."
The statement adds that all those involved should reflect long and hard on this fact.
Despite the growing controversy, British Prime Minister Tony Blair persevered with his Asian tour, but even in Japan, Mr. Kelly's mysterious death dominated events. CNN's senior European political correspondent Robin Oakley has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN SR. EUROPEAN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): Wherever he goes in the world, Tony Blair, currently on a tour of the Far East, is dogged by the question of whether his government distorted intelligence in making its case for war.
Things got much worse Saturday with the confirmed death of Defense Ministry adviser, scientist David Kelly. He had admitted to his bosses contact with the BBC journalist who then claimed that government quote, "sexed up" an anti-Saddam dossier against intelligence advice, with the claim Iraq could launch weapons of mass destruction in 45 minutes.
When the government pushed Dr. Kelly into the open, trying, many say, to cast doubt on the BBC story, he was given a rough time by an investigative committee.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you feel like a fall guy? I mean, you've been set up, haven't you?
OAKLEY: For the mild-mannered microbiologist Dr. Kelly, it seemed the spotlight was too harsh to endure.
Now the focus is back on Mr. Blair, who deflected some of that spotlight by announcing a judicial probe into Kelly's death.
TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: There is going to be a full and independent inquiry. I think we should make our judgment after we get the facts, and I think in the meantime, we should show respect and restraint.
OAKLEY: The committee which grilled Dr. Kelly said he had been poorly treated by the government. Lawmakers say that if the inquiry agrees the government acted inappropriately, heads are likely to roll. Among them, those responsible for the case for war, Mr. Blair's communications director, Alistair Campbell and Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon, who was quick to spread the blame.
GEOFF HOON, U.K. DEFENSE SECRETARY: I think we all have to accept our share of responsibility for this, but nevertheless, it seems to me that the media is as much responsible as any part of government.
OAKLEY: Might he be forced to resign?
HOON: Well, I will look very carefully at what the inquiry has to say.
OAKLEY: As for Mr. Hoon's boss, when a reporter in Tokyo yelled that Mr. Blair had blood on his hands and asked if he would quit, the normally loquacious prime minister was silent, before his host led him off their platform.
(on camera): British lawmakers are on holiday. The inquiry will buy some time. But opponents are pressing for a much wider inquiry into the origins of the Iraq war. And Mr. Blair is under pressure like never before.
Robin Oakley, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired July 19, 2003 - 16:12 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN ANCHOR: Some sad and chilling words today from the family of a British scientist, David Kelly. They issued a statement saying recent events have made David's life, quote, "intolerable."
The statement adds that all those involved should reflect long and hard on this fact.
Despite the growing controversy, British Prime Minister Tony Blair persevered with his Asian tour, but even in Japan, Mr. Kelly's mysterious death dominated events. CNN's senior European political correspondent Robin Oakley has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN SR. EUROPEAN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): Wherever he goes in the world, Tony Blair, currently on a tour of the Far East, is dogged by the question of whether his government distorted intelligence in making its case for war.
Things got much worse Saturday with the confirmed death of Defense Ministry adviser, scientist David Kelly. He had admitted to his bosses contact with the BBC journalist who then claimed that government quote, "sexed up" an anti-Saddam dossier against intelligence advice, with the claim Iraq could launch weapons of mass destruction in 45 minutes.
When the government pushed Dr. Kelly into the open, trying, many say, to cast doubt on the BBC story, he was given a rough time by an investigative committee.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you feel like a fall guy? I mean, you've been set up, haven't you?
OAKLEY: For the mild-mannered microbiologist Dr. Kelly, it seemed the spotlight was too harsh to endure.
Now the focus is back on Mr. Blair, who deflected some of that spotlight by announcing a judicial probe into Kelly's death.
TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: There is going to be a full and independent inquiry. I think we should make our judgment after we get the facts, and I think in the meantime, we should show respect and restraint.
OAKLEY: The committee which grilled Dr. Kelly said he had been poorly treated by the government. Lawmakers say that if the inquiry agrees the government acted inappropriately, heads are likely to roll. Among them, those responsible for the case for war, Mr. Blair's communications director, Alistair Campbell and Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon, who was quick to spread the blame.
GEOFF HOON, U.K. DEFENSE SECRETARY: I think we all have to accept our share of responsibility for this, but nevertheless, it seems to me that the media is as much responsible as any part of government.
OAKLEY: Might he be forced to resign?
HOON: Well, I will look very carefully at what the inquiry has to say.
OAKLEY: As for Mr. Hoon's boss, when a reporter in Tokyo yelled that Mr. Blair had blood on his hands and asked if he would quit, the normally loquacious prime minister was silent, before his host led him off their platform.
(on camera): British lawmakers are on holiday. The inquiry will buy some time. But opponents are pressing for a much wider inquiry into the origins of the Iraq war. And Mr. Blair is under pressure like never before.
Robin Oakley, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
