in the run-up to the iraq war, campbell was involved in the preparation and release of the "september dossier" in september 2002 and the "iraq dossier" (nicknamed "dodgy dossier") in february 2003. these documents argued the case for concern over possible weapons of mass destruction (wmds) in iraq. both have been criticised as overstating or distorting the actual intelligence findings. subsequent investigation revealed that the september dossier had been altered, on campbell's orders, to be consistent with a speech given by george w. bush and statements by other united states officials. on 9 september 2002, campbell sent a memo to john scarlett, the chairman of the joint intelligence committee, in which campbell directed that the british dossier be "one that complements rather than conflicts with" the us claims.