Iraq War Inquiry Opens in UK

[babylonsister]

Iraq War Inquiry Opens in UK


A public inquiry into the UK's role in the Iraq war has opened in London, with former civil servants first to appear in hearings that will climax with Tony Blair, the former British prime minister, taking the stand.


Anti-war protesters from the 'Stop the War' group, wearing masks depicting British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, right, former US president George W. Bush, center and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, left, pose for the photographers, outside the conference center where the Iraq war inquiry ia taking place, in central London, Tuesday Nov. 24, 2009. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)

One-time senior officials from the foreign and defence ministries will outline Britain's policy towards Baghdad in early 2000, as the five-member committee investigates what lessons can be learned from the US-led war.

John Chilcot, the inquiry chairman and a former civil servant, said he was confident of producing a "full and insightful" account of the decision-making that led Britain to join the 2003 invasion against strong opposition at home and abroad.

An appearance by Blair, who took Britain into the conflict, is likely to be the highlight of the inquiry, although he and other Labour government figures are not due to give evidence until next year.

'Unprecedented' inquiry

Shane Greer, executive editor of Total Politics, a British political magazine and website, told Al Jazeera that he believes the inquiry will uncover new information about the Iraq war.

"First of all the scope of this inquiry is absolutely unprecedented.

"Already back in July Sir John {Chilcot} began speaking with families of injured and killed soldiers ... now he's going onto the spy chiefs, civil servants ... and moving onto politicians.

"So I think we're going to see much more from this inquiry than any previous inquiry, because of course the frame of reference is so much wider, the access to information is so much wider.

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http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/11/24-3

"And also the inquiry has been given the power to apportion blame which really is quite incredible."