Britain’s participation in Iraq War was based on misleading intelligence reports, according to the 2.6 million-word Chilcot report that was released on Wednesday and delivered damning verdict on Britain’s most controversial military engagement since the end of the Second World War.
Chilcot report says Iraq War could have been averted had leaders chosen peaceful diplomatic options. The official inquiry also observed that the UK plans for post-invasion Iraq were “wholly inadequate.”
John Chilcot took seven years to make the report, which states that Saddam Hussein posed “no imminent threat” when the U.S-led attack on Iraq was launched in March 2003.
Chilcot also said that former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was warned of the risks of rise in terrorism and regional instability before the invasion of Iraq, but Blair’s decided to participate in the war to protect the UK’s relationship with the United States. Moreover, the British government also failed in devoting enough forces in Iraq to secure the country in the wake of the invasion.
The official inquiry to Iraq War was commissioned in June 2009 by former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, following pressure from the public and Parliament.
The inquiry was expected to be completed within a year, but instead took more than seven years to reach a conclusion.
Jeremy Corbyn described the Tony Blair’s decision to go to war in Iraq as a “stain” on the Labour party and country, and has apologized to the people of Iraq and the families of soldiers who were killed in the war.
“The decision to go to war in Iraq has been a stain on our party and our country but we now have the chance to work together to build more constructive and mutually beneficial relationships with the rest of the world based on cooperation, peace and international justice.” Mr Corbyn said in a speech in London.
Mr Blair has also expressed his “sorrow, regret and apology” for the “failures” but said he would make the same decision again.
“I express more sorrow, regret and apology than you may ever know or believe,” he said.
“The intelligence assessments made at the time of going to war turned out to be wrong.”
Earlier, Mr Blair had said he firmly believes he had done the “right thing” and that the world became a “better place” without Saddam Hussein.
“If I was back in the same place, with the same information I would take the same decision because obviously that was the decision I believe was right,” he said.
“All I’m saying today, because obviously some of the intelligence has turned out to be wrong, the planning wasn’t done properly, I have to accept those criticisms, I accept responsibility for them.” Mr Blair said.
You must be logged in to post a comment.