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Blair defends actions in new Iraq inquiry grilling
Tony Blair said he was determined to do whatever it took to disarm Saddam Hussein despite legal concerns, as he returned for a second appearance at Britains inquiry into the Iraq conflict. The former prime minister has been recalled to explain discrepancies in the evidence he gave one year ago when he first attended the inquiry into the US-led 2003 invasion of Iraq.In a written statement submitted to the inquiry, Blair said he had given US President George W. Bush a strong commitment in January 2003 that Britain would do what it took to disarm Saddam, despite the legal concerns. He conceded he received advice from then attorney general Peter Goldsmith on January 14 and January 30, 2003, suggesting that a further UN resolution was required for military action to be legal, but said this was provisional. In speaking to President Bush on 31st January 2003 I was not going to go into this continuing legal debate, internal to the UK government, Blair wrote in his statement. I repeated my strong commitment, given publicly and privately to do what it took to disarm Saddam. He noted that Goldsmith, the governments top legal adviser, changed his mind, adding that if he had not, then the UK could not and would not have participated in the decision to remove Saddam. Summing up, Blair added: In the end there was a decision that had to be made: on the basis of the information available, to decide whether to join the US coalition and remove Saddam, or to stay out. I decided we should stay in.
Posted by: Steve White 2011-01-22 |
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