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Intelligence Expert Tells Congress He Was Pressured on Iraq Analysis

HeadlineJun 26, 2003

Active-duty intelligence expert tells closed congressional hearings that he was pressured on Iraqi analysis. The New York Times is reporting a top State Department expert on chemical and biological weapons named Christian Westermann told a closed congressional committee hearing last week that he was pressured to tailor his analysis on Iraq to suit the administration views. Westermann is believed to be the first intelligence expert on active service to make the claim to members of Congress. In a second meeting with the Senate Intelligence Committee, Westermann said he felt pressure from John Bolton, the undersecretary of state for arms control and international security. The two had earlier clashed over Cuba when Bolton asserted publicly Cuba had a biological weapons program. Westermann argued there was not enough evidence to support those assertions.

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