Sunday, May 04, 2014

"End the excuses and print Iraq War report"

Controversial: One of the main bones of contention is private notes between him and the then US President George W. Bush, which show the decision to go to war was taken long before Mr Blair indicated the measure publicly.

Tony Blair besieged as Cameron says: End the excuses and print Iraq War report
* * Former PM accused of trying to delay publication of Chilcot Inquiry

* * Well-sourced reports suggest that it will savage his handling of the conflict

* * Blair has argued criticism could dent Ed Miliband's General Election hopes

* * Comes as former Labour leader struggles to maintain his standing

3 May 2014 - David Cameron has piled the pressure on the growing crisis in Tony Blair’s reputation by calling for an end to hold-ups in a long-delayed report on the Iraq War.

The former Prime Minister has been accused of trying to delay publication of the Chilcot Inquiry over well-sourced reports that it will savage his handling of the conflict.

Now Mr Cameron has stepped into the dispute by making it clear Sir John Chilcot’s findings should be made public as soon as possible.

Under pressure: Tony Blair has been accused of trying to delay publication of the Chilcot Inquiry over well-sourced reports that it will savage his handling of the conflict

It follows claims that Mr Blair and Labour hope to delay the report until after next year’s General Election, arguing any criticism of the last Labour Government could hit Ed Miliband’s hopes of success.

‘The PM believes there is no excuse for any further lengthy delay in publishing Chilcot,’ said a No 10 aide.

‘It would be unreasonable to postpone it beyond the next Election.’ read more>>>

May 3, 2014 - Condoleezza Rice backs out of commencement after protests

* * * The British Iraq War Inquiry * * *

In the above link, soon to be released and with redacted bush/blair private conversations which have been holding up the release, is the site of the often called 'Chilcot Inquiry', you will find these from the early public testimony and much more:

24 November 2009 - Even before Bush's administration came to power an article written by his then national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, warned that "nothing will change" in Iraq until Saddam was gone

27 November 2009 - But there was a 'sea change' in attitude after the atrocities, with former national security adviser Condoleezza Rice targeting Iraq on the very day of the outrage.

30 November 2009 - George Bush tried to make a connection between Iraq and al-Qaida in a conversation with Tony Blair three days after the 9/11 attacks, according to Blair's foreign policy adviser of the time.

1 December 2009 - There was "a touching belief [in Washington] that we shouldn't worry so much about the aftermath because it was all going to be sweetness and light".

3 December 2009 - Boyce mentions the "dysfunctionalism" of Washington. He says that he would find himself briefing his American counterparts on what was happening in different parts of the US administration. Rumsfeld was not sharing information


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