FOTO CAPTION:
"A squadron leader adjusts his helmet next to an F-3 Tornado, yesterday at Leuchars Base in Scotland."/REUTERS

HEADLINE:
"Blair used an outdated academic essay for his report on Iraq"

SUBTITLE:
"Powell qualifies the material as a magnificent study on Iraq's wrongdoings"

INTRO:
Walter Oppenheimer, London "The British government embarrassed itself yesterday after it was revealed that its latest report on the misdeeds of the Iraqi regime was based more on old academic studies than on fresh information proceeding from secret services. Downing Street's slip-up, having admitted it should have included references to the authors of those texts, dissolved Prime Minister Tony Blair's efforts to persuade those still undecided, just like a sugarcube in boiling water. Blair agreed to be interviewed on TV by a handful of citizens who oppose the war in Iraq."

TEXT:
"Blair's spokespersons insisted yesterday that the report was "exact" and "solid". But its effect on public opinion could end up being quite the opposite to what the Government had sought out. Four of the 19 pages that make up the report were nearly identical copies from an essay written by Ibrahim al Marashi, a post-graduate student from California and published in the 'Middle East Review of International Affairs'. Other parts of the report were based on the works of unknown professors published in 'Jane's Intelligence Review'. Downing Street admitted it should have quoted those authors and assured that the Government had not intended to make believe that the report was based exclusively on intelligence gathered in this field.
But the fiasco doesn't just affect London. U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, stands discredited after reminding the British media that, during his speech before the U.N. Security Council last Wednesday, he had insisted on "calling the attention of my colleagues towards the magnificent report that the United Kingdom has distributed (...), which describes in exquisite detail the activities of Iraq."
It has also taken credibility away from Prime Minister Tony Blair's efforts in convincing public opinion that this war is just and necessary. Blair once again showed his enormous political courage on Thursday. For an hour he answered questions not only from Jeremy Paxton, the BBC's most aggressive journalist, but also from a handful of citizens opposing the war.
Although seemingly sterile, the efforts shown by Blair in explaining himself to the citizens of his country are starting to take on heroic proportions, as they stand in stark contrast to the attitude taken up by his great political friend, José María Aznar. While the Spanish head of state accepted the presence of silent protestors for the first time at this week´s meeting of Congress, the British Prime Minister has multiplied his presence in Parliament and now even on television.
Seeming more nervous than he usually is, Blair mastered, with great effort, some very difficult moments. He did not waver when one of those assisting the interview accused Blair of being servile to George W. Bush, calling him "Mr. Vice President" and "Honorable Representative of Northern Texas". He remained even more calm when Paxton, the interviewer, asked if he and Bush ever prayed together, touching one of the Prime Minister's most intimate spots, being a practicing Anglican Christian believer. Blair, offended, replied: "No. Why are you asking me that?"

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