The Chilcot inquiry is incapable of addressing the key issue of whether the invasion of Iraq was legal, senior judicial figures have said, adding to the controversy surrounding the inquiry's legitimacy.The inquiry into one of the most contentious political decisions of modern times begins hearing evidence tomorrow, and its chairman, Sir John Chilcot, has insisted that the legality of the invasion in 2003 will be one of the key issues it addresses.
The Chilcot inquiry is incapable of addressing the key issue of whether the invasion of Iraq was legal, senior judicial figures have said, adding to the controversy surrounding the inquiry's legitimacy.
The inquiry into one of the most contentious political decisions of modern times begins hearing evidence tomorrow, and its chairman, Sir John Chilcot, has insisted that the legality of the invasion in 2003 will be one of the key issues it addresses.
British officials decided not to get involved in talk about regime change in Iraq in 2001 even though some parts of the new Bush administration began to discuss the possibility two years before the invasion, the opening hearing of the UK inquiry into the war heard today.But Whitehall was, like Washington, concerned that the policy of containing Saddam Hussein was failing before the September 11 attacks on the US, senior civil servants said.
British officials decided not to get involved in talk about regime change in Iraq in 2001 even though some parts of the new Bush administration began to discuss the possibility two years before the invasion, the opening hearing of the UK inquiry into the war heard today.
But Whitehall was, like Washington, concerned that the policy of containing Saddam Hussein was failing before the September 11 attacks on the US, senior civil servants said.
The UK government "distanced itself" from talk of removing Saddam Hussein in early 2001 despite concerns about his threat, the Iraq inquiry has been told.Sir Peter Ricketts, a top intelligence official at the time, said it was assumed it was not "our policy" despite growing talk in the US about the move. Senior diplomats have finished their evidence on the war's origins on the first day of public hearings. The inquiry chairman has said he hopes to conclude his report in late 2010. Relatives of some of the 179 UK service personnel killed in Iraq gathered outside the venue in central London where the hearings are being held, as did a number of anti-war protesters.
The UK government "distanced itself" from talk of removing Saddam Hussein in early 2001 despite concerns about his threat, the Iraq inquiry has been told.
Sir Peter Ricketts, a top intelligence official at the time, said it was assumed it was not "our policy" despite growing talk in the US about the move.
Senior diplomats have finished their evidence on the war's origins on the first day of public hearings.
The inquiry chairman has said he hopes to conclude his report in late 2010.
Relatives of some of the 179 UK service personnel killed in Iraq gathered outside the venue in central London where the hearings are being held, as did a number of anti-war protesters.
British and American officials secretly discussed overthrowing Saddam Hussein two years before the invasion of Iraq, the public inquiry into the war was told today. On the opening day of Sir John Chilcot's Iraq Inquiry, Foreign Office officials said they feared that United Nations sanctions against Iraq were losing support by 2001 amid growing concern about weapons of mass destruction. A small band of protesters, some dressed in Tony Blair masks, gathered outside the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in Westminster as senior civil servants began to give evidence on British and US policy towards Saddam Hussein and the no-fly zones imposed in Iraqi airspace. Sir Peter Ricketts, then chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, said that he was aware of a "background noise" of discussion in the United States about overthrowing the Iraqi regime soon after the election of President George W. Bush.
British and American officials secretly discussed overthrowing Saddam Hussein two years before the invasion of Iraq, the public inquiry into the war was told today.
On the opening day of Sir John Chilcot's Iraq Inquiry, Foreign Office officials said they feared that United Nations sanctions against Iraq were losing support by 2001 amid growing concern about weapons of mass destruction.
A small band of protesters, some dressed in Tony Blair masks, gathered outside the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in Westminster as senior civil servants began to give evidence on British and US policy towards Saddam Hussein and the no-fly zones imposed in Iraqi airspace.
Sir Peter Ricketts, then chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, said that he was aware of a "background noise" of discussion in the United States about overthrowing the Iraqi regime soon after the election of President George W. Bush.
they are not intended to reach a finding that the public find credible, they exist to provide a smokescreen for a few years to cover the establishment for a few years in the hope everyone forgets about it.
If that fails, they have another inquiry. in the meantime Jack Straw will continue to claim all have been found not guilty and Alistaer Campbell will insist with staring eye and throbbing vein that the dodgy dossier was the truth the whole truth and nothing like but the truth. keep to the Fen Causeway
for example right now in India nobody noticed Manmohan's state visit to White House. Why? Another scandal hit political life when Manmohan's plane was descending in Washington. Indian Express on Monday morning leaked results of so-called Liberhan commission which costed 8 crores to the exchequer, lasted record 17 years. Justice Liberhan was investigating causes of Babri Masjid demolition by hordes of Hindu fanatics in December 1992. Of course after recieving from successive governments at least 80 prolongations a mountain produced a mouse. majority of people Liberhan is indicting simply passed away or retired from public service.
