Chilcot Report

[Kwacky]

Out today.

It sounds as if the government at the time is criticised for going to war in Iraq but Blair isn't directly blamed so he won't face any charges.

It's horrible to think that a government can send men off to their death on the back of made up information.

[D41]

What "made-up" info??

[Kwacky]

About the threat from Iraq and their weapon capabilities.

[Cav]

This is Sir Chilcot's statement at 11am today: http://www.iraqinquiry.org.uk/media/247 ... tement.pdf

[D41]

Didn't the UK have a sizeable British community inside Iraq??

I think Blair acted upon the information he had at hand. Regardless of Blair's motives, Hussein was an abomination of a man, and killed more of his own people than anyone else.
If I saw a guy eating up some defenceless person, I'd go to help (the defenceless person!!)....same thing here. Just bigger.

[D41]

This is Sir Chilcot's statement at 11am today: http://www.iraqinquiry.org.uk/media/247 ... tement.pdf

The last two lines killed it for me....they'd been given every available option to disarm, and every time Hussein said yes and then took a step back and did nothing.

He was a dictator.....should say more than enough.

[Kwacky]

The world is full of dickheads ruling countries and doing what they like. We don't seem to be too bothered about them.

Besides, if the UK or the US wanted to take someone out, they can do so without having to launch a massive invasion.

Saddam's fall led to Al Qaeada and ISIS. Tell me how that one worked out.

[D41]

How would you take out a guy like Hussein without the measures used?? The guy traveled constantly between various residences, never staying more than two nights (I think?) in the same place.

The World is safer today than it was when he was in power.

[Cav]

I haven't managed to read it all yet but it seemed quite condemning for the first 7 pages.

I believe Al Qaeda and ISIS have only gotten as 'powerful' as they are because Saddam isn't there (although I think it's likely ISIS is somewhat government setup). Thing is, while Saddam's tactics were not to our taste, one; we shouldn't force our own ways on others and two; his regime kinda worked... there was an element of control which was greater than that of some other countries around it - kind of like gadafi

Trouble is, Islam is a very different religion with very different ideals to the former protestant nature of the UK and by trying to force another religion on them (effectively what you do when trying to westernize a country) they will rebel and you could likely create a civil war from that alone.

[Cav]

The World is safer today than it was when he was in power.

On what do you basis this statement on?

One thing seemed clear to me from the limited reading I have done so far about the Chilcot Inquiry - they were willing to do anything they could to manufacture a war.

For this reason alone I don't put it past the US government (Bush), who was pulling Blair along behind him (mostly without a fight), to manufacture an act of terror to get the public opinion to agree with him that invading Iraq was a good idea.

[D41]

"Manufacture an act of terror"???

[Kwacky]

The World is safer today than it was when he was in power.

Now I know you're making it up as you go along.

Baghdad car bombings since 2003

[duke63]

It astonishes me that governments, even ours, seem to make up a plan as they go along. There was no plan for after the invasion and the potenetial fallout, even though they were aware of the hornets nest they might be stirring up.

We are now in that same position again. We have had a referendum on a very important and contentious issue and we now have a vote in favour of change without anyone having the slightest idea how to do that or of the implications to ordinary people or the country as a whole of that change.

**** of the highest order!

[D41]

You're right. Saddam was cool as feck. Should've left the poor lad alone.

[Kwacky]

You're right. Saddam was cool as feck. Should've left the poor lad alone.

Sometimes we need to keep our nose out of other peoples business.

[D41]

And sometimes we don't. What's done is done. With Hussein in power there was always an uncertainty in the public's mind. That is, the public OUTSIDE of Iraq. Inside it is a fecking nightmare, and it'll will continue to be that way, as you rightly point out. We're talking about tribal warfare combined with religious fanaticism here....you're not going to find any sort of solution to that.
Hindsight is always 20/20., etc.

[Kwacky]

You miss the point of the report. We knew at the time we shouldn't get involved.

[D41]

And we went in anyway?? Pull the other one. It's taken 15 years for this huge revelation to surface??

Shoulda, woulda, coulda.

[Kwacky]

[D41]

LOLOL!!!!