No 10 insists Kelly tape backs its case against the BBC

Independent Digital (UK) Ltd

--- In its battle with the Downing Street machine, the BBC has repeatedly drawn attention to Ms Watts' coverage. At first glance, the Newsnight report appears to back up Mr Gilligan's allegation.

But No 10 officials are convinced that Ms Watts' reports will support their case that Mr Gilligan's original claim was wrong. In its evidence to the judicial inquiry to be headed by Lord Hutton, the Government will cite another report by Ms Watts on 4 June. She said then: "Our source was not disputing that the 45-minute assessment was included in the dossier by the intelligence services, although he did say he felt that to have been a mistake."

The Government will also tell Lord Hutton that Ms Watts did not repeat Mr Gilligan's claim that Mr Campbell "sexed up" the dossier

The BBC will argue that Dr Kelly gave Mr Gilligan different information to Ms Watts and Gavin Hewitt, who reported the story for the 10 O'Clock News on BBC1. A BBC source said: "I believe we can prove that Dr Kelly did say to Mr Gilligan things that he did not say to Susan Watts or Gavin Hewitt. The contemporaneous notes are good and we believe that we have found some quite strong circumstantial, corroborative evidence." ---

Ride Don’t Drive It’s Global Cool

Number 10 can spin this any way it wants. At the end, the only issue is: Did the Prime Minister lie in ordedr to gain support for his effort to send British forces to help George W. Bush fight his colonial war?

The answer to that question is obvious. Hopefully, the Labour Party will hand Mr. Blair his head soon.

Meanwhile, we in the States must hope that enough Republicans break ranks -- and enough Democrats have the spine to do what is right -- and move to remove Mr. Bush, who never should have been allowed to take office in the first place.