Intelligence Reforms Rely on Political Will ; Ministers Must Be Both More Intelligent and Sceptical Consumers of Intelligence

Hennessy, Peter, The Independent (London, England)

Early next month, the Prime Minister and the small inner group of ministers on his Cabinet Committee on Security and Intelligence will be presented with what could prove the most important review of British intelligence since the late 1960s.

John Scarlett, the head of MI6, had of course already initiated reforms, but this will go much further. It will recommend substantial changes in the validation and assessment of intelligence which, if Mr Blair and his group accept them, will implement the Butler report in full and affect the way intelligence is processed from the moment it is gathered to its final shaping into assessments for ministers, the chiefs of staff, a range …

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Publication information: Article title: Intelligence Reforms Rely on Political Will ; Ministers Must Be Both More Intelligent and Sceptical Consumers of Intelligence. Contributors: Hennessy, Peter - Author. Newspaper title: The Independent (London, England). Publication date: January 14, 2005. Page number: 41. © 2009 The Independent - London. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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