Danish Leaders Beset on War Data - Critics Suggest Nation Was Misled

Danish Leaders Beset on War Data
Critics Suggest Nation Was Misled
By Keith B. Richburg
Washington Post Foreign Service
Sunday, May 9, 2004; Page A22

COPENHAGEN -- Denmark's coalition government has come under sharp attack from opposition parties and the media over allegations that political leaders exaggerated or misused intelligence claims about Saddam Hussein's weapons programs to justify joining the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq last year.

The controversy, which has forced the resignation of the defense minister, echoes similar ones in Washington and London. It began when a Danish military intelligence analyst leaked classified documents that appeared to show that the country's intelligence agency had doubts about Iraq's military power.

The government denies it misled Parliament; the analyst, Frank Soholm Grevil, 43, was fired for disclosing the information and now faces legal charges.

In an interview, Grevil said he and colleagues at the Danish Defense Intelligence Service felt "indirect pressure" to submit reports to the government that conformed to claims by U.S. and British intelligence agencies that Hussein possessed banned weapons.

He nonetheless wrote many reports saying that "very little is known" about what Hussein actually had, he said. But in making the case for war to Parliament and the public last year, he said, Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen "left out the reservations bit."

(more)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11393-2004May8.html

Danish army: Iraqi shells WMD-free

Several hundred Danish soldiers are working with a British-led multinational force responsible for security in southern Iraq.

Mortar shells found in Iraq and believed to be suspicious in fact contained no chemical agents, the Danish army said after a week of tests.

The 36 shells, found 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of the city of Qurnah in southern Iraq on January 9, had initially been thought by Danish and British troops to contain a blister agent.

But further tests carried out in southern Iraq and the United States were negative, the Danish army said in a statement on Sunday, The Associated Press reported.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/01/18/sprj.irq.chemicals/index.html

Danish forces in Iraq armed with snow shovels

<snip>
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) Danish security forces in Iraq, struggling with temperatures of about 50 degrees Celsius, are prepared for the worst - even a blizzard.

The almost 400 soldiers from the chilly Nordic are equipped with snow shovels, brooms and a lawnmower as they work to restore law and order in the war-torn country.
<more>

http://news.excite.com/odd/article/id/339476%7Coddlyenough%7C07-10-2003::11:04%7Creuters.html

The controversy, which has forced the resignation of the defense minister, echoes similar ones in Washington and London

The Danes have, gasp, accountability.

Their defense minister is forced to resign where ours is still in office, "leading" the march to hell.


Cher

Call me surprised and shocked

Didn't wolfie say that Iraq woudl lead to a domino like effect of Democracy?

I am sure Wolfie did not quite expect this domino effect though

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In the text below I think we find the sad truth about the "coalition"

From the posted Article (page2)

In Denmark, much of the debate over the war concerned the country's traditional role as a staunch ally of the United States. In addition to making a case against Hussein, the government contended that the relationship would have been jeopardized if the country stayed out of the conflict.

Waever argues that this role may stem in part from national guilt over failing to resist the Nazi occupation more energetically during World War II and for dissenting from some NATO policies in the 1980s, during the Cold War. Now, Washington can usually count on small Denmark as a steadfast military partner in Europe.

"The relationship between Denmark and the United States was more important than the merits of the case against Iraq," said Mikkel Rasmussen.
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I'm afraid that that last statement I posted is probably one of the largest contributors to the War on Iraq.

The relationship between _____________ (fill in the blank) and the United States was more important than the merits of the case against Iraq

Therein lies the "truth" of why Iraq was invaded.

Threats, Bribes and Promises, all at the design of the USA created the coalition that participated in this war.

That's my opinion.

What a mess Der Fuhrer has made of this.

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I don't think the World would hold it against them to "abandon" the US.

In fact, they might go "up a notch" or two.

I don't think Spain is suffering for pulling out.

I don't believe Canada suffered for not "joining"

Except for the US's "disapproval"

But I don't think the rest of the World cares much anymore whether or not the US "approves" of them or not.

The US's threats and bribes are starting to wear thin.

That's My Canuk Opinion.