Meaning: The quote you provided is from David Kay, an American weapons inspector and senior official in the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) for Iraq. This statement was made in reference to the intelligence leading up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which was based on the belief that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The invasion and subsequent search for WMDs led to widespread controversy and criticism, as no such weapons were found, leading to questions about the accuracy of the intelligence that had been used to justify the invasion.

In this quote, David Kay is reflecting on the intelligence that led to the belief in the existence of WMDs in Iraq. He acknowledges that the German intelligence service, as well as others, believed that WMDs were present in Iraq. However, he goes on to state that it turns out that they were all wrong, and he finds this realization to be most disturbing. This statement underscores the significant impact of the flawed intelligence on the decision to go to war and the subsequent consequences.

The belief that Iraq possessed WMDs was a key factor in the decision by the United States and its allies to invade Iraq in 2003. The administration of President George W. Bush, as well as other governments, pointed to the potential threat posed by Iraq's alleged WMDs as a primary justification for the invasion. However, after the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, the search for WMDs turned up empty, leading to widespread skepticism and criticism of the intelligence that had been used to justify the war.

David Kay played a significant role in the post-invasion search for WMDs as the head of the Iraq Survey Group, tasked with investigating and assessing Iraq's WMD programs. His statement reflects the growing realization that the intelligence on which the invasion was predicated was fundamentally flawed. This revelation had far-reaching implications, not only for the credibility of the intelligence community but also for the broader geopolitical landscape and the ongoing conflict in Iraq.

The failure to find WMDs in Iraq raised important questions about the reliability of intelligence gathering and analysis, as well as the potential manipulation or misinterpretation of intelligence for political purposes. It also prompted a reassessment of the decision-making processes that led to the invasion and the role of intelligence in shaping foreign policy and military interventions.

In the years following the invasion, the absence of WMDs in Iraq became a focal point for criticism of the decision to go to war and fueled debates about the legitimacy of the invasion and the broader implications for international relations and security. The fallout from the flawed intelligence and the subsequent lack of WMDs in Iraq had a lasting impact on public trust in government justifications for military action and the use of intelligence to support such actions.

David Kay's statement encapsulates the deep concern and disillusionment that arose from the realization that the intelligence community, as well as political leaders, had been mistaken about the existence of WMDs in Iraq. It serves as a reminder of the profound consequences of flawed intelligence and the need for rigorous scrutiny and accountability in the use of intelligence to inform decisions with far-reaching implications.

In conclusion, David Kay's quote reflects the deep concern and disillusionment that arose from the flawed intelligence regarding WMDs in Iraq, and the subsequent lack of evidence to support these claims. This revelation had significant consequences for international relations, the credibility of the intelligence community, and the decision-making processes that led to the invasion of Iraq. It serves as a cautionary tale about the potential pitfalls of relying on flawed intelligence to justify military interventions and the need for transparency and accountability in the use of intelligence in shaping foreign policy.