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[Jezbollah]

The Chilcot Report into the British involvement in the Iraq War is published today at 11am UK time. The report, 7 years in the making will document the British involvement in the military conflict in Iraq between mid-2001 and July 2009. It will cover the run up to the decision to participate in the war, the action and decision making of the military during the conflict and the involvement of the armed forces after.

The key questions documented in the Report are as follows:

• Why did Britain enter the war?
• Did Tony Blair misuse WMD intelligence?
• Was there a failure to think beyond the invasion?
• Were the troops adequately equipped?
• Was the decision to go to war legal?

LIVE COVERAGE: Sky News https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y60wDzZt8yg

**Update**

Report is available to view here: http://www.iraqinquiry.org.uk/the-report/
Executive summary (150 pages) here: http://www.iraqinquiry.org.uk/media/246416/the-report-of-the-iraq-inquiry_executive-summary.pdf

TLDR version: Report is no whitewash, damning on UK approach to the war, both refusing to consider peaceful options and inadequate planning, and lacking planning and capability to help rebuild Iraq after. PM Blair was also advised that military action in Iraq would increase threat from Al-Qaeda to the UK.

**Update 2 - Statement from Tony Blair**

Statement from Rt Hon Tony Blair on Chilcot Report

Responding to the publication of the Chilcot Report Mr Blair said:

“The report should lay to rest allegations of bad faith, lies or deceit. Whether people agree or disagree with my decision to take military action against Saddam Hussein; I took it in good faith and in what I believed to be the best interests of the country.

I note that the report finds clearly:

- That there was no falsification or improper use of Intelligence (para 876 vol 4)

- No deception of Cabinet (para 953 vol 5)

- No secret commitment to war whether at Crawford Texas in April 2002 or elsewhere (para 572 onwards vol 1)

The inquiry does not make a finding on the legal basis for military action but finds that the Attorney General had concluded there was such a lawful basis by 13th March 2003 (para 933 vol 5)

However the report does make real and material criticisms of preparation, planning, process and of the relationship with the United States.

These are serious criticisms and they require serious answers.

I will respond in detail to them later this afternoon.

I will take full responsibility for any mistakes without exception or excuse.

I will at the same time say why, nonetheless, I believe that it was better to remove Saddam Hussein and why I do not believe this is the cause of the terrorism we see today whether in the Middle East or elsewhere in the world.

Above all I will pay tribute to our Armed Forces. I will express my profound regret at the loss of life and the grief it has caused the families, and I will set out the lessons I believe future leaders can learn from my experience.”

ENDS

 

[Audioboxer]

Nothing will happen to Blair. Like the bankers too rich and powerful.

 

[jelly]

Just finished reading it all.

Interesting.

 

[Jezbollah]

Sir John Chilcot now speaking.

 

[Ghost]

I like that Sky news have FTSE on the screen, is that always there or are they expecting it to drop like a stone as he speaks?

 

[Meadows]

I like that Sky news have FTSE on the screen, is that always there or are they expecting it to drop like a stone as he speaks?

I don't think this will have an impact on financial markets.

 

[Jezbollah]

SJC: "UK had decided to join the war before all peaceful options had been exhausted"

EDIT: Oh shit, outright deal being outed between Blair and Bush for regime change.

 

[Meadows]

oh shitttttt

 

[Ghost]

Blairs idea to formulate a 'clever plan' with Bush to force regime change in Iraq.

 

[JonathanEx]

Huh, so much for whitewash.

 

[twobear]

Y'all still want Blair back in charge of the Labour Party? Lol

 

[Meadows]

Tony Blair must be fucking sweating now

 

[Jezbollah]

UK "undermined UN Security Council action" - Rekt.

Legal circumstances for legitimate military action "far from certain"

 

[nOoblet16]

It's all True !!!

 

[BossDarkseid]

Did he basically just say "We're not gonna give our view on the legality of it but *taps nose*

Spoiler

it wasn't legal

" ?

 

[KarneeKarnay]

Holy fuck.

He's pretty much confirming what people have been saying for a while now.

1. We didn't have adequate evidence.

2. We went in while there was still peaceful options available.

3. This was a woefully planned invasion.

Brix are being shat.

But what about Blair!

 

[Maledict]

People were saying those things before the war even started.

 

[Jezbollah]

 

[Ghost]

Blair's basis for claiming further breaches of UN resolution (ie the legal basis for war) 'Not Clear'

 

[nOoblet16]

People were saying those things before the war even started.

Ofcourse and they were all dismissed as conspiracy, leftist theories.

 

[Zakalwe]

Did he basically just say "We're not gonna give our view on the legality of it but *taps nose*

Spoiler

it wasn't legal

" ?

Pretty much.

 

[tomtom94]

Basically doing everything he can except say "hang the bastard".

 

[Salvadora]

Y'all still want Blair back in charge of the Labour Party? Lol

Nobody wants/wanted that.

He's a pariah in the UK and has been for some time

 

[KarneeKarnay]

Chilcot says Blair presented the intelligence about Iraq’s WMD 'with a certainty that was not justified'

Well there it is.

 

[Jezbollah]

"Policies on Iraq was flawed - should have been challenged, but were not"

 

[twobear]

Nobody wants/wanted that.

He's a pariah in the UK and has been for some time

They were in the Labour leader thread.

 

[Meadows]

MI6 cutting the cables

 

[Maledict]

They were in the Labour leader thread.

I don't recall anyone specifically asking for Blair. I remember a lot of people, me included, wishing Labour had a leader with the political nounce and charisma of Blair.

 

[klonere]

Remember all those anti-war marches?

Fucking fat lot of good they did.

 

[nOoblet16]

I don't recall anyone specifically asking for Blair. I remember a lot of people, me included, wishing Labour had a leader with the political nounce and charisma of Blair.

There were.
I myself said that he fucked up when it came to the war but he was alright when it came to the rest...which is kind of true. But his fuck up was major.

 

[Dougald]

Charles Kennedy vindicated. RIP.

 

[And_Gignac]

BLAIR4JAIL

 

[Zakalwe]

wishing Labour had a leader with the political nounce and charisma of Blair.

I feel like I'm living in a different reality here.

Charisma?

 

[Juicy Bob]

Fucking shame on you, Mr Blair.

 

[Ghost]

Ministers were aware of all potential problems in post conflict Iraq including Iranian intervention & increased terrorist activity.

Report finds hindsight was not required on these matters.

 

[D4Danger]

confirming everything we already knew/suspected

didn't need hindsight. The government knew exactly what would happen and did it anyway.

 

[Meadows]

Fuck me, this isn't a whitewash is it

 

[tomtom94]

Report finds hindsight was not required on these matters.

Well, there it is.

 

[nOoblet16]

I hope this stops people from deciding for war in the future whenever there is another debate in the parliament, rather than dismiss the concerns and claim going to war will bring peace.

 

[BossDarkseid]

Blair developing spontaneous Alzheimer's in 3....2....1....

 

[Jezbollah]

SJC: Armed forces showed great courage in the face of considerable risks, and they deserve our gratitude. Deep anguish for families of those lost.

- 150,000 Iraqi deaths, most civilians. 1 million people displaced. The people of Iraq has suffered greatly.

- Coalition failed to comprehend the magnitude of rebuilding Iraq

- UK had undertaken four regions to provide security, however never had enough capability to do so.

 

[Maledict]

I feel like I'm living in a different reality here.

Charisma?

Blair is one of the most charismatic leaders we've had in the last 50 years. Polling of working class voters who vote Tory now (and I'd under thatcher), show they *still* think he was the best Labour leader we've had.

Maybe it didn't work on you, but Tony Blair was absolutely charismatic. In person it's like being hit by a spotlight as well.

 

[JonathanEx]

UK governments failing to plan and prepare for impact of something?

Huh.

There's a thought.

 

[Nikodemos]

I feel like I'm living in a different reality here.

Charisma?

Man could sell a snake its freshly-shed skin. Takes a lot of personal impetus (if you don't want to call it charisma) to do that.

 

[zsynqx]

This is pretty damning.

 

[nOoblet16]

Did BBC just cut through the statement ? Wtf !

Edit: It was BBC 2 and yes they did cut through.

 

[Jezbollah]

"the UK military role in Iraq finished a very long way from success"

"Mr Blair overestimated his ability to influence US decision making"

 

[Juicy Bob]

"UK's military role in Iraq finished way short of success."

 

[Broken Joystick]

Blair developing spontaneous Alzheimer's in 3....2....1....

I don't recall

 

[Par Score]

Ministers were aware of all potential problems in post conflict Iraq including Iranian intervention & increased terrorist activity.

Report finds hindsight was not required on these matters.

No shit.

All of this was known, argued, and ignored before the war even started.

Don't hold your breath for Bush and Blair standing shoulder to shoulder at The Hague though.