The Weapons Detective

Book excerpt: In The Weapons Detective, Rod Barton tells of a professional life replete with adventure, urgency and achievement. From the chaos of Somalia to the inner sanctums of the UN, Barton has more than once been at the eye of the historical storm. He describes interviewing Iraq's Dr Germ and painstakingly uncovering a biological weapons program. He also tells of resisting political pressure from the CIA and MI6 in the aftermath of the 2003 war, when WMD failed to appear. The Weapons Detective describes the fascinating chess - game of weapons inspection, with its mixture of detective work, scientific analysis and mind - games. It offers a fresh look at figures including Richard Butler, Hans Blix, Scott Ritter and David Kelly. Written with humour and authority, it reveals an unsung Australian hero and sheds new light on a vital chapter of contemporary history. With a Foreword by Robert Manne.