• Disrupting Power Since 2015
  • Donate
  • Login
Thursday, May 15, 2025
  • Login
  • Register
Canary
MEDIA THAT DISRUPTS
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION
SUPPORT
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
Canary
No Result
View All Result

Chilcot immediately addresses the legality question, before slamming our “occupation”

Elizabeth Mizon by Elizabeth Mizon
6 July 2016
in UK
Reading Time: 3 mins read
168 4
A A
0
Home UK
319
SHARES
2.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Sir John Chilcot has given his executive summary of the Iraq Inquiry report, after seven years of interviews and analysis. The report looked into Britain’s policies on Iraq from 2001-09, that informed the lengthy and much-criticised conflict. Chilcot’s entire half-hour statement was critical of the UK’s conduct in the decision to take military action, but Chilcot noted upfront that the inquiry was only to “consider the UK’s policy” and “identify lessons for the future”.

He rightly calls the UK’s military action an “occupation” and an “invasion”, words we usually identify with, at best, questionable conduct. But the question on everyone’s lips has been: was this an illegal war?

Though the inquiry has no legal foundation to engage legal proceedings, Chilcot addressed the question immediately, stating:

The Inquiry has not expressed a view on whether military action was legal. That could, of course, only be resolved by a properly constituted and internationally recognised Court. We have, however, concluded that the circumstances in which it was decided that there was a legal basis for UK military action were far from satisfactory.

The basis of this dissatisfaction had many sources, but the most clear and telling statement was also offered upfront:

[…] the UK chose to join the invasion of Iraq before the peaceful options for disarmament had been exhausted. Military action at that time was not a last resort.

Chilcot commented on Mr Blair’s actions throughout his statement, criticising them heavily and consistently. He noted that Blair and President Bush did not wait for the UN Security Council’s weapons inspectors to do their job because they didn’t believe they would “achieve the desired result”; that Saddam Hussein “could not have deployed WMD”; that Blair’s policies were based on “flawed intelligence and assessments” that were “not challenged, and they should have been”.

Of the many lessons to be learned, Chilcot noted “the management of relations with allies, especially the US” claiming that Blair “overestimated his ability to influence US decisions on Iraq.” He also pointed to the need to recognise the “importance of collective Ministerial discussion which encourages frank and informed debate and challenge.”

Sir John finished his statement by saying:

We have sought to set out the Government’s actions on Iraq fully and impartially. The evidence is there for all to see. It is an account of an intervention which went badly wrong, with consequences to this day.

You can read both Chilcot’s statement, and the report, in full. At 2.6 million words, it will be difficult for any civilian to find the time or energy to read the report, of course. But the media should hopefully reveal analysis of the findings.

The size of the Chilcot Iraq report pic.twitter.com/zVxKX3gaRi

— PA Media (@PA) July 6, 2016

However, it is important to remember that in addition to the cold facts of how we got here, there are the cold statistics of lives lost along the way, the side effects of the continuing, needless and ill-thought out conflict, and the damning indictments from Iraqi people on how life is now – because of British and US military action.

Get involved!

Support The Canary to continue bringing you independent media.

Read The Canary’s international articles, and articles about war.

Image via BBC screenshot

 

Share128Tweet80
Previous Post

Watch Corbyn destroy the Blairites over Iraq – in 2003 (VIDEO)

Next Post

Chilcot just nailed exactly what was wrong with Blair’s ‘leadership’

Next Post
Chilcot just nailed exactly what was wrong with Blair’s ‘leadership’

Chilcot just nailed exactly what was wrong with Blair's 'leadership'

‘Blairites’ to rebrand as the ‘NeverHeardOfTheGuy-ites’ in wake of Chilcot report

'Blairites' to rebrand as the 'NeverHeardOfTheGuy-ites' in wake of Chilcot report

This devastating report shows how the invasion of Iraq created ‘a thousand Saddams’

This devastating report shows how the invasion of Iraq created ‘a thousand Saddams’

Corbyn’s response to the Chilcot Inquiry is one of the most moving things you’ll see all week (VIDEO)

Corbyn's response to the Chilcot Inquiry is one of the most moving things you'll see all week (VIDEO)

Watch this journalist’s excellent case for a post-Brexit progressive alliance (VIDEO)

Watch this journalist's excellent case for a post-Brexit progressive alliance (VIDEO)

The British Museum just held an event with the Israeli embassy - and the Met police responded by repressing Palestine protesters
News

British Museum holds event with the Israeli embassy – so Met Police respond by repressing Palestine protesters

by The Canary
14 May 2025
EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer's in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London
Analysis

EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer’s in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London

by Ed Sykes
14 May 2025
People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour's DWP benefit cuts
News

People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour’s DWP benefit cuts

by The Canary
14 May 2025
Keir Starmer's 'Island of Strangers' speech: channeling the racist rhetoric of Enoch Powell
Opinion

Is Keir Starmer capable of killing?

by Jamie Driscoll
14 May 2025
As an ACTUAL GENOCIDE continues, its apologists come for Gary Lineker over an emoji
Opinion

As an ACTUAL GENOCIDE continues, its apologists come for Gary Lineker over an emoji

by Ed Sykes
14 May 2025
  • Contact
  • About & FAQ
  • Get our Daily News Email
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

The Canary
PO Box 71199
LONDON
SE20 9EX

Canary Media Ltd – registered in England. Company registration number 09788095.

For guest posting, contact [email protected]

For other enquiries, contact: [email protected]

The Canary is owned and run by independent journalists and volunteers, NOT offshore billionaires.

You can write for us, or support us by making a regular or one-off donation.

© Canary Media Ltd 2024, all rights reserved | Website by Monster | Hosted by Krystal | Privacy Settings

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion

© 2023 Canary - Worker's co-op.

Before you go, have you seen...?

The British Museum just held an event with the Israeli embassy - and the Met police responded by repressing Palestine protesters
News
The Canary

British Museum holds event with the Israeli embassy – so Met Police respond by repressing Palestine protesters

EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer's in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London
Analysis
Ed Sykes

EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer’s in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London

People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour's DWP benefit cuts
News
The Canary

People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour’s DWP benefit cuts

Keir Starmer's 'Island of Strangers' speech: channeling the racist rhetoric of Enoch Powell
Opinion
Jamie Driscoll

Is Keir Starmer capable of killing?

ADVERTISEMENT
Business
Nathan Spears

When digital isn’t enough: why paper still matters in modern business

Tech
Nathan Spears

How Digital Addictions Are Formed in the Shadow of Large Platforms

Lifestyle
Nathan Spears

Recovery in the Sun: How the Canary Islands are Becoming a Wellness Tourism Hub