Scoop  Top Scoops

Scoop Video: Former Australian Intelligence Officer Warns NZ Of Rising Threat

Video Report By Selwyn Manning - Scoop Media co-editor.

Andrew Wilkie, former senior Australian intelligence officer, has revealed a politicising of intelligence assessment within the western alliance and urges that New Zealanders and Australians ought to question the reliability of intelligence information, especially when used to justify war, and as evidence in judicial matters like the Ahmed Zaoui case. Selwyn Manning reports that Wilkie is also concerned that NZ will face an increased security threat should it get too close militarily to the USA>

Videostream services provided by www.r2.co.nz

Andrew Wilkie was the senior transnational intelligence analyst in Australia's Office of National Assessments in 2002 and early 2003, dealing with the intelligence being gathered on Iraq, and providing reports to the government. He resigned from the ONA in March 2003 and went public with his concerns that John Howard's government was manipulating and distorting the intelligence for political reasons.

He is especially concerned that Australia's closeness to the US is now putting New Zealand at risk, and has come to NZ at this time to warn about the dangers of being too close to Howard and Bush.

Wilkie stands by the assertions he made in 2003 - that Iraq did not pose a serious enough threat to justify a war, that too many things could go wrong, and that it was bad policy to resort to force so long as alternative options remained. He thinks that they have all been proven accurate.

In June 2004 Andrew Wilkie's book Axis of Deceit was published. It is an account of the reasons for his resignation, including why and how ONA's work was being manipulated for political purposes. In October 2004 he stood for the Green Party against John Howard in the federal election. He won 16.5% of the vote and made Howard's formerly blue-ribbon seat marginal.

Andrew continues to research, write and speak out against the dangers of getting too close to the US and helping implement its foreign and defence policies.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

 

Top Scoops Headlines