The AFRC was created as a body independent
from politicians and government bureaucrats, to
ensure its perceived credibility. Rituals of independence
were meticulously carried out in trying to
confer legitimacy to the work of the Commission.
The only interim reports to politicians informed
them that: ‘‘We are on time; we are on target; we
are on budget.’’ (Commission interview #1, March
2003) Further, Commission members decided not
to quote extensively documents issued either by
the Office or by Treasury; we were told that the
Commission felt that such quotation would have
‘‘undermined’’ its independence and the persuasiveness
of its claims.