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Glossary
This page provides a glossary of terms used on the site, including the relevant organisations and the official inquiries that looked into the dossier.
Assessment Staff
The assessment staff of the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) responsible for co-ordinating the drafting of JIC assessements. Often experts seconded (to the Cabinet Office) from other Departments.
Butler Review
2004 "Review of Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction", mainly concerning Iraq and the dossier. Butler website and Butler Report
Coalition Information Centre
A unit within the Foreign Office whose purpose is to provide propaganda in support of Britain's participation in US-led wars.
Defence Intelligence Staff
Part of the Ministry of Defence. As its name suggests, it is concerned with defence-related intelligence, including assessments of other countries' military capabilities.
Defence and Overseas Secretariat
Cabinet Office section with responsibility for "foreign, security and defence, development and counter-terrorism policy". At the time of the dossier, its head was Sir David Manning
Dossier Drafting Group
Described by John Scarlett as "a specific group established to 6 oversee the drafting of the public dossier", the drafting group was equivalent to a "current intelligence group", which would draft an internal JIC paper, except that it was packed with spin doctors. The drafting group met on the afternoon of 9 September and the morning of 17 September.
Foreign Affairs Committee
Select committee of the House of Commons. Carried out an inquiry in June/July 2003 into The Decision to go to War in Iraq
Hutton Inquiry
2003/4 "Investigation Into the Circumstances Surrounding the Death Of Dr David Kelly". Hutton Website and report
Intelligence and Security Committee
Cabinet Office committee with oversight of the intelligence services, reporting to the prime minister. Published a report Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction – Intelligence and Assessments in September 2003.
Intelligence and Security Secretariat
Cabinet Office section whose key responsibility is "is to ensure that the Prime Minister and other senior Ministers are well served on cross-Government intelligence and security issues." The Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) is a function of this. The Secretariat's head, the Permanent Secretary, Intelligence, Security and Resilience is also the chair of the JIC. At the time of the dossier, the roles were separate, with the JIC chairman, John Scarlett reporting to the secretariat's head, David Omand then titled Intelligence and Security Co-ordinator.
Joint Intelligence Committee
Cabinet Office committee consisting of senior intelligence officers and other top civil servants giving the prime minister and other departmental "customers" advice on intelligence matters, mainly in the form of "assessments". At the time of the dossier, its chair was John Scarlett
MI6/SIS
The Secret Intelligence Service. SIS website
Planning Meetings
Two meetings took place to plan the production of the dossier, on 5 September and on the morning of 9 September. Both were chaired by Alastair Campbell. The latter meeting was discussed by the Foreign Affairs Committee and by Chris Ames' July 2003 New Statesman article "The difference a day made". The fact that an earlier meeting had occurred did not emerge until the Hutton Inquiry.