Thursday, May 29, 2014

Brit Iraq War Inquiry 'to be Published as Soon as Possible'

We're a step closer to knowing Blair's promises to Bush
29 May 2014 - After months of deadlock between those in charge of the Chilcot Inquiry and Whitehall officials, there is now agreement on the release of secret information and conversations in the run up to the Iraq war.

The wrangling has centered on 25 notes and 130 records of conversations between the then Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and the then US President, George W Bush.

It clears the way for the report to be published at some point later this year.

The Iraq Inquiry is the official examination into the run up to and the aftermath of the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

It's headed by Sir John Chilcot who began his inquiry in 2009.

There have been criticisms of the delay and some have blamed Mr Blair for frustrating the process. He, however, vehemently denies this accusation. read more>>>

Britain and US reach deal to release Iraq war documents - but not all
29 May 2014 - Britain and the US have reached an agreement on which government documents, outlining UK Prime Minister Tony Blair's discussions with George W. Bush that led to the invasion of Iraq, can be made public. The matter has been the subject of major diplomatic talks, because both countries wanted to keep the discussions private.

The Chilcot Inquiry into the lessons to be learned over the decision for Britain to go to war with the US in Iraq has been a long and difficult process.

The Inquiry has announced that "agreement had been reached on the principles that will underpin disclosure of material from Cabinet-level discussions and communications between the UK Prime Minister and the President of the United States. These documents have raised difficult issues of long-standing principle." read more>>>

Chilcot Report Edges Closer Amid Icy Exchanges
The report into Britain's role in the Iraq war could be published before the 2015 general election, as David Cameron has demanded.

29 May 2014 - At last, 11 years after British and American forces invaded Iraq and five years after Sir John Chilcot began his official inquiry into Britain’s role in the war, it seems that the report could soon be published – perhaps even before the 2015 General Election, as David Cameron has demanded.

The report has been delayed by a stand-off between the inquiry team and two successive Cabinet Secretaries, Sir Gus (now Lord) O’Donnell and Sir Jeremy Heywood, who blocked publication of conversations and private notes between Tony Blair and then US President George W Bush on confidentiality grounds.

They also opposed publication of Cabinet minutes and other official records.

Tony Blair has repeatedly denied that he was the cause of the hold-up. Both O’Donnell and Heywood worked closely with his government.

Now an icily choreographed public exchange between Chilcot and the Cabinet Office confirms that the logjam has been broken. read more>>>

* * * The British Iraq War Inquiry * * *


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