Long-awaited Iraq inquiry finally begins
Long-awaited Iraq inquiry finally begins
Tuesday, 24, Nov 2009 01:00
By Richard James.
The long-awaited inquiry into Britain's role in the Iraq war finally opened today.
Senior-ranking officials, including military chiefs and ministers, will appear before the five-member committee during the next few months to give evidence on the reasons for going to war in 2003 and the lessons learned from the military campaign.
The inquiry is expected to culminate next year in the appearance of former prime minister Tony Blair, who many still criticise for dragging Britain into an "illegal war" and succumbing to the demands of US president George Bush.
Controversially though the committee's findings will not be published until after next summer's general election and questions have already been raised about whether a panel chosen by the current government can be truly independent.
Today's session looked into UK foreign policy towards Iraq in the lead-up to the invasion in 2003.
Sir Peter Ricketts, former chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee and subsequently political director at the Foreign Office, was one of those to give evidence in front of the committee.
He admitted in early 2001 the UK and US had agreed their plans to try and 'contain' Iraq was failing.
"Saddam Hussein was feeling pretty comfortable," he said, adding "voices" in Washington had begun calling for the Iraq leader's removal even before George Bush became president in 2001.
In the days leading up to today's first evidence session Sir John continually attempted to play down claims the inquiry may fail to produce a comprehensive report into the war, free from government interference.
The former civil servant said he was confident of producing a "full and insightful" account on the decision-making that led to Britain going to war.
"When you set up an independent inquiry of this sort, you set the members of it free to do what they will," he said.
"Our determination is to do not merely a thorough job but one that is frank and will bear public scrutiny.
"All five members of the committee are now completely independent from different perspectives and bodies of experience."