The Sandbag Times Issue No:28

Chilcot Report
The Chilcot Report
The SBT looks at the Iraq Inquiry in the
wake of the Chilcot Report
Since Lord Chilcot presented his findings on
the Iraq Inquiry there have been many
opinions and emotions flying around.
Mostly at Tony Blair, but also in other directions.
We needed to let the dust settle a little before
writing anything about the inquiry.
Our report centres on the statement read out by
Sir John Chilcot on 6th July 2016. This statement
clearly defines the findings of the decision to go to
war with Iraq in 2003. Lets take a look at the
opening statement first. This sets out the purpose
of the inquiry and summarises the findings. It is
advisable to read the full statement so we can truly
understand how the findings were reached.
“In 2003, for the first time since the Second
World War, the United Kingdom took part in an
invasion and full-scale occupation of a sovereign
State. That was a decision of the utmost gravity.
Saddam Hussein was undoubtedly a brutal dictator
who had attacked Iraq’s neighbours, repressed and
killed many of his own people, and was in
violation of obligations imposed by the UN
Security Council.
But the questions for the Inquiry were:
• whether it was right and necessary to invade
Iraq in March 2003;
and
• whether the UK could – and should – have
been better prepared for what followed.
We have concluded that the UK chose to join
the invasion of Iraq before the peaceful options for
disarmament had been exhausted. Military action
at that time was not a last resort.
We have also concluded that:
• The judgements about the severity of the threat
posed by Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction –
WMD – were presented with a certainty that
was not justified.
• Despite explicit warnings, the consequences of
the invasion were underestimated. The
planning and preparations for Iraq after
Saddam Hussein were wholly inadequate.
• The Government failed to achieve its stated
objectives.”
With all of this in mind it is plain to see that
the decision to go to war was wrong. It is clear
after reading Sir John’s report that the UK was a
long way off legally, morally and tactically in it’s
decision to go to war. Many of us will be asking
questions now. I remember watching Question
Time just before the invasion and hearing so many
people asking Mr Blair questions about the
legality of the decision. It was clear to see that the
decision, despite going against the advice of many
in power and general public opinion, was that we
were going to war.
But now we know how the decision was made
the question has now got to be, if it was illegal
what actions should now be taken.
It is important to note that the Iraq Inquiry was
not designed to prosecute, but simply to find the
truth. Several MPs have called for former prime
minister Tony Blair to face criminal charges after
the Chilcot report criticised him for leading the
nation to war based on "flawed intelligence".
In a statement, Blair called the decision to take
military action "the hardest, most momentous,
most agonising" of his ten years in office and
accepted "full responsibility" for the
consequences.
However, he stood by the decision to invade
and denied several of the committee's key
findings, including that military action could have
been delayed.
Sir John Chilcot’s Committee concluded Blair
had exaggerated the threat posed by Iraq – and in
doing so, critics say, deliberately misled MPs into
voting in favour of the invasion. A note to then-
US president George Bush assuring him that Blair
was with him "whatever" has also been cited as
evidence that the former PM "pre-committed" the
UK to the war.
Many families of the soldiers that died have
expressed that they want Mr Blair to stand trial.
There is even a petition raised for Mr Blair to be
put on trial for misconduct in office.
Considering that the Chilcot Report took 7
years to reach its findings I feel that a trial may be
equally far off. Although the Inquiry clearly drops
the responsibility at Mr Blairs doorstep. I feel
whoever takes on the job of the prosecution will
have to negotiate a very demanding political
minefield. That is not to say that it should not
happen but I fear it will be a very slow process.
Our conclusion is that we believe that the
Chilcot report shocked many people in its
condemnation of Mr Blair and the decision to go
to war. I know many thought it would be nothing
more than a cover up. This wasn’t the case. The
failures are clearly outlined and need to be
answered. Will Tony Blair stand trial? I don’t
know. I think most people believe he should. For
us the most important thing is to remember those
who acted on the government’s decision and
sacrificed so much. Our Armed Forces. We must
remember them above all. Their dedication to
protecting the security of our country should not
be questioned. Only those that make the decisions
to use them.
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