What is the verification status of this claim?

This claim is currently marked as "CONFIRMED". The verification is based on 2 primary sources and 2 total sources reviewed by the They Knew community.

Who originally made this claim?

This claim was made by Scott Ritter / UN Weapons Inspectors, Weapons Inspectors, on or around 2002-09-01.

How many sources support this claim?

There are 2 total sources associated with this claim, of which 2 are primary sources (court documents, FOIA releases, official records).

Iraq's WMDs were fabricated: the intelligence was based on a single unreliable source codenamed 'Curveball' — documented evidence

🟢 CONFIRMED

The primary intelligence used to justify the 2003 Iraq invasion came from an Iraqi defector codenamed 'Curveball' (Rafid Ahmed Alwan al-Janabi), who later admitted he fabricated his claims about mobile biological weapons labs. German intelligence (BND) had warned the CIA that Curveball was unreliable. Colin Powell's UN presentation relied heavily on this fabricated intelligence. No WMDs were ever found in Iraq.

Iraq's WMDs were fabricated: the intelligence was based on a single unreliable source codenamed 'Curveball'

MIL·September 1, 2002·By Scott Ritter / UN Weapons Inspectors·4.6K upvotes·125 comments

What They Said Was Crazy

“The intelligence on Iraqi WMDs is being fabricated or exaggerated to justify a predetermined invasion. There are no weapons of mass destruction.”

— Scott Ritter / UN Weapons InspectorsSeptember 1, 2002Source

📄 The Receipts

★

PRIMARYHow 'Curveball' Helped Start a War (60 Minutes / CBS)

www.cbsnews.com/news/how-curveball-helped-start-a-...

ARTICLEOpen

★

PRIMARYCommission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the US Regarding WMD (2005)

www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GPO-WMD

DOCUMENTOpen

⚖️ The Record, Side by Side

What they said vs. what the evidence shows

What They Said

“Every statement I make today is backed up by sources, solid sources. These are not assertions. What we're giving you are facts and conclusions based on solid intelligence.”

— Secretary of State Colin Powell · Feb 2003

What Actually Happened

PrimaryARTICLE

How 'Curveball' Helped Start a War (60 Minutes / CBS)

View

PrimaryDOCUMENT

Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the US Regarding WMD (2005)

View

🙈 They Laughed At Us

“Every statement I make today is backed up by sources, solid sources. These are not assertions. What we're giving you are facts and conclusions based on solid intelligence.”

— Secretary of State Colin Powell, 2003