Wilkie claims security agencies have been “politicised”
In 2003 intelligence officer Andrew Wilkie resigned from the Office of National Assessments because he did not agree with the way intelligence was being manipulated to support cause for going to war against Iraq. He believed clearly there was no evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and history has proved him right on the count. Three and a half years on he has written a report for the left-leaning think tank The Australia Institute, which argues very strongly that Australia’s security agencies, such as ASIO, the ONA and the Federal Police, have been tainted by the Howard political agenda and that this is placing the security of Australians at risk. Following his move to break ranks, Wilkie argued that the government implemented a smear campaign against him. The Wire asked Andrew Wilkie if his turbulent relationship with the Australian Government and its security agencies compromised his ability to objectively pass judgment on Australia’s security agencies.