Whilst I don’t like to contradict myself at the best of times, and especially about a post I only wrote yesterday, but my comment on the unlikelihood of court cases etc in this country over the Iraq war has taken a couple of dints this morning.
According to todays Independent, Sir Alan West, head of The Royal Navy at the time of the invasion, took private legal advice as to whether the government were above board in its assertions. Such were West’s concerns, he also asked Lord Goldsmith, the great war ditherer, to provide written confirmation that the war was legal. Whilst all this was going on, the head of the army, General Sir Michael Jackson, reportedly said that he had worked for years in the Balkans trying to put Milosevic in front of a war crimes commission, but had “no intentions of ending up in a cell next to him”. Whilst discontent within the top ranks of all the three forces has been known for some time, the actions of West and the comments of Jackson show clearly the degree to which the commanders doubted the Labour case for war.
As it emerged, West was told that the case for war would probably stand up in court as Saddam had violated UN decrees, but it could also be said that more time should have been given for him to comply. Sounds like some legal firm was hedging it’s bets!
There is also the small matter of a Commons debate today that will see the Conservatives call for a full inquiry into the war since 2003. Whilst the government will oppose any such moves, the recent calls for change by deputy leadership candidates Jon Crudas and Harriet Harman may signal a Labour revolt. Without Blair at the helm and even Brown admitting that mistakes have been made with regards to Iraq, perhaps some MP’s feel now is the time to vent their true concerns on the war.
An inquiry will not result in court appearances at this point. However, it is the first stage of a procedure that could result in demands for war crime accountability. With over ½ million Iraqi’s dead and 6 million displaced, the moral burden for some is becoming too much.
It also concerns me that the forces commanders at the time had reservations (and still do). These men have been employed in careers with the sole purpose to fight wars, either as aggressors or defenders. If they have doubts, then I think we should listen to them
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article2643067.ece
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