So the Tories have called for an inquiry in to the Iraq War, oh how opportunistic of them. Do I sense an election on the way? Of course I do! Perhaps they would like to erase from history the fact that 146 of their MPs voted in favour of the war from the outset, or, because they have a new sparkling leader, does that automatically mean that they can change their opinions?
Plaid has been consistent in calling for an inquiry, and Adam Price's campaign to Impeach Tony Blair was positive in that it sought to mobilise the peace movement in a common campaign goal. Nevertheless, these calls have fallen flat, and the Government still do not believe that it is 'the right time' for an inquiry, when 'our troops' are fighting on the ground ( and are losing morale if the latest poll of families of servicemen is anything to go by)
The Lib dems have put in an amendment to the Tory motion, asking all MPs who voted for the War to apologise. I don't see anything wrong with this, but unfortunately I don't see MPs offering to apologise in a hurry. Apologies are not that common in politics because politicians don't like being wrong, or being seen to be wrong even if they know they are!
Miliband is still in denial that the war was even a mistake, regardless of the fact that even some of George Bush's most ardent supporters in America now recognise that yes, they were, ( gulp) wrong to occupy Iraq.
An Independent inquiry is desperately needed to assess the war on every level- from clarity on the reasoning for war, to the action taken on a ground level, to the continuation of US/ British intervention in Iraq, to seeking to restore faith from the electorate in the political system. Until the London Government acknowledges this, I do not see how they can seek to even address their waning credibility.
3 comments:
Bethan
While the idea of Tony Blair and George Bush being called to account for the war in Iraq is an extremely irresistable one, it's hard to feel anything but cynicism about another inquiry into Iraq.
Whatever happens it will be the Government which sets up the inquiry. And inquiries generally come to whatever conclusion those who set them up want them to.
The Labour party seem to be offering just three feeble reasons to refuse this call for an inquiry into the Iraq disaster: 'wait until the troops return home', 'this is Tory political opportunism' and 'an inquiry at this time would be a distraction'.
This is a shameful response and anyone who has heard these Labour MP's over the last few days putting this case will have been embarrassed. I can only conclude that they are utterly shameless and have nothing but contempt for the people in these countries of Britain.
If they had a shred of decency, honesty or guts they would preface every remark they ever make with an abject apology - not just to us, but also to the peoples of Iraq.
The thought that through these MP's indifference, party politicking and self-interest they bear a huge part of the responsibility for the destruction, carnage and tens of thousands of deaths in this despicable war and, even now refuse to acknowledge their debt makes them utterly contemptible.
I'm afraid that a 5th Inquiry in to the Iraq war at this moment in time would be useless. It will only concur what has been previously set forward by the likes of the ISC, FAC, Hutton and Butler.
The only time we may ever have a chance of really knowning what the score was with Iraq is when the Official Secrets Act runs out on published material from the Cabinet Office, which would be between the 8th of March 2002 and the 20th of March 2003.
I've written an interesting 5,000 word report on the british governments decision to invade iraq :) You might be interested in reading it?
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