Gordon Brown: Iraq war was right decision for right reasons
Gordon Brown arriving at the QE2 conference centre to deliver evidence this morning
Friday, 05, Mar 2010 06:09
By Matthew Champion and Richard James.
Gordon Brown has told the Iraq inquiry that military action to topple Saddam Hussein was the right decision for the right reasons.
The prime minister, appearing before Sir John Chilcot's inquiry in central London, nevertheless said that military action was the "gravest" of decisions the government had to make.
"The international community asked [Saddam Hussein] to abide by international law and the international obligations he had accepted," Mr Brown, who was chancellor at the time of the 2003 invasion, said.
"At the end of the day it was impossible to persuade him to abide by international law.
"We cannot have an international community that works if we have terrorists who break these rules or, in this case, aggressor states that refused to obey the laws of the international community."
Mr Brown was asked by Sir John's panel about concerns from families of service personnel killed in Iraq that he had restricted funds from the Treasury to the Ministry of Defence.
But the prime minister insisted that "no request was ever turned down".
"We always asked the military at the point at which they are undertaking operation to assure me they had the equipment they need for the task they are undertaking," he added.
Earlier, when asked how difficult the decision had been for him on a personal level Mr Brown responded with the words: "Nobody wants to see innocent people die or put our forces at risk of loss of life.
"Nobody wants to make this decision except in the gravest of circumstances where you are sure you are doing the right thing.
"I think the issues that arise from reconstruction are areas where I want to learn lessons and where we are learning lessons already."
The prime minister, who is facing two two-hour sessions of evidence at the QE2 conference centre today, identified three areas in which lessons could be learned: Changed structures in government decision-making; the fact that it took seven days to win the battle but seven years to win peace; and the importance of securing international cooperation in future interventions.
Mr Brown's testimony has largely followed the lines taken by former prime minister Tony Blair in January, although he insisted it was not the threat of aggression from Iraq that saw him back the war.
He said that if Iraq had been allowed to flout international obligations then "we are sending the message to other states and countries that they are free to do as they will".
Other key points from prime minister's evidence
- Sanctions against Iraq were 'not making a difference
- The Cabinet was closely consulted and he was kept "in the loop" by Tony Blair"
- Brown did not see the letters between Blair and George Bush
- The then chancellor wanted to push the Americans harder on reconstruction
Brown never ruled out military options from a budget perspectiveIraq was the first "major test" of the international community in the post cold war world- Iraq showed the 'importance' of reforming international bodies
Before today's appearance the focus was on allegations Mr Brown "guillotined" defence spending shortly after the 2003 invasion when serving as chancellor.
The prime minister was the one to agree to the inquiry taking place after moving into No 10 but initially called for it to take place behind closed doors.
The prime minister's name has been referenced by a number of previous witnesses, most notably Sir Kevin Tebbit who claimed Mr Brown has slashed defence spending shortly after the controversial invasion.
The former Ministry of Defence permanent secretary said the financial cuts, equivalent to around £1 billion, meant he was forced to work on an emergency budget during the war, suggesting the Treasury had not wanted the armed forces to receive as much money as they did.
Former international development secretary Clare Short also claimed the prime minister had been "marginalised" by his predecessor Tony Blair in the lead up to invasion.
During her evidence session she claimed Mr Brown had complained to her that Mr Blair had effectively shunned him as he became increasingly obsessed with his legacy.
The most controversial allegation though is the supposed lack of funds and equipment for British troops, a topic the opposition parties have been quick to use to attack the prime minister.
In his closing comments to the inquiry, Mr Brown said the basis for international organisations in the future would be closer cooperation between the US and Europe.
He also said the armed forces required the country's "sympathy and debt of gratitude".
"No one who makes decisions can make so without recognising lives are affected and sometimes lives are lost," he added.