Brown: There will be an Iraq inquiry

sunderkatwala Mon Mar 17, 2008 at 11:00:21 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

The Prime Minister is committed to an inquiry " to learn all possible lessons from the military action in Iraq and its aftermath". The commitment came in a reply to my letter, to him, arguing that the 5th anniversary of the war would be the appropriate time to announce an inquiry, Gordon Brown wrote that "there will come a time when it is appropriate to hold an inquiry" however he also states his view "that time is not now".



It is very good news that the Prime Minister is personally committed to an inquiry on Iraq. I wrote to him to make the case for an inquiry because I was not aware of any previous statement from Gordon Brown since he became Prime Minister making the government's policy clear, so this has seemed to remain an open question. While the government says it does not want to hold an inquiry now, the 5th anniversary strikes me as an appropriate context for Government to make a public statement about the nature and timing of an inquiry. Read the correspondence, plus reports http://fabians.org.uk/news/iraq-letter/ More background and analysis http://worldafterbush.blogspot.com

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Brown: There will be an Iraq inquiry | 8 comments (8 topical)

Re: Brown: There will be an Iraq inquiry (#1)

by rwendland on Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 12:43:21 PM GMT

If the Telegraph has this right, we are keeping 4000 troops in Iraq "following advice from senior generals over continued instability", and going back on the announcement that troop levels would be reduced to 2,500 this spring.

Duh. What is going on. Is this don't embarrass Bush before the election? Did the US threaten to send their own troops down to Basra? I'd really like to say "We've declared success in Basra - let's just get out", but if the US send replacement troops to Basra that rather destroys our "we've succeeded in Basra" narrative, and would probably create yet more grief in Basra.

I wonder how much the maybe $3 trillion cost to the United States of the Iraq war, which is ~$40,000 per US family, contributed to the recent US financial crisis? Seems to me the faltering of the US economy, and global impact, could well be the lasting neocon success.


Re: Brown: There will be an Iraq inquiry (#2)

by rwendland on Sun Mar 23, 2008 at 02:27:26 AM GMT

Seems the reason for not reducing troop levels in Basra as promised is a "looming showdown between Iraqi government forces and Shia militias" - "the final battle for Basra", in which we have promised to help. And increasing rocket attacks on our airbase holdout.

Seems the Shia militias have split into many factions in Basra, fighting for turf, and the Iraqi Army thinks it can defeat them before the provincial elections in the autumn: "Failure to do so will mean the gunmen will take over what is left of the degenerating political process, making it impossible to shift them in the near future."

Cannot say this fills me with warm feelings of confidence. 


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Re: Brown: There will be an Iraq inquiry (#3)

by swatantra on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 06:56:51 PM GMT

Brown is right that an enquiry at this point in time would be destabilising on our troops; but we shall need an enquiry in the future, when the troops have returned in 20 years time. But we all know the mistakes that led to that disastrous decision anyway. The question surely is, can we pin it on any one indidual or individuals.


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Re: Brown: There will be an Iraq inquiry (#4)

by rwendland on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 03:40:27 AM GMT

Don't know about the 20 years - I suspect the U.S. will take over from us, and say we have "cut and run" by not staying in Basra city. As The Times says:

American officers and officials have privately made clear, much of today’s problems in Basra can be traced back to Britain’s failure to commit the forces necessary to control Basra and southern Iraq in general. Whereas President Bush’s “surge” tactic of sending 30,000 reinforcements to central Iraq has succeeded in bringing down the level of violence in Baghdad and Anbar province, the Americans believe that the gradual withdrawal of British troops from the south has had the opposite effect,

Are we really going to put in more troops to let a failing Iraqi govt claim it controls Basra? Probably involving a lot of deaths.

The Mail is reporting that KBR is building four dining facilities at Basra airport, capable of feeding 4,000 U.S. troops. The Mail is a dubious source, but surely something as specific as this must be based on sources. So it seems preparations are under way to support an option to "retake" Basra.

Such a mess. 


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Re: Brown: There will be an Iraq inquiry (#5)

by rwendland on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 04:30:10 PM GMT

... Here's a suggestion that the British Army think going back into Basra futile, but UK politicians are struggling to face up to the decision to let the US take-over:

“It’s ridiculous for Britain’s position in Iraq that we’ve got this firepower down there and we’re not willing to help the Iraqis out,” one British official said. “The army won’t even listen to suggestions it might be needed.”

But the Iraqi govt realise they need US/UK help or face a terrible climb-down:

Friday’s Washington Post quoted an unnamed advisor to Mr Maliki conceding that outside help was needed. “I think the government can’t win this battle without interference of Americans or British,” he said. “I think the aid or assistance is on the way.”

Crunch decision time for Gordon Brown this w/e by the look of it. Get out, or take sides in a Shia-Shia war. Get out Gordon - there will be a new US administration in under a year.


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Re: Brown: There will be an Iraq inquiry (#7)

by rwendland on Tue Apr 01, 2008 at 12:34:13 AM GMT

... Seems Iran was integral to sorting out a Shia-Shia ceasefire, according to CNN: "Iraqi Shiite lawmakers traveled Friday to Iran to meet with al-Sadr. They returned Sunday, the day al-Sadr told his Mehdi Army fighters to stand down." Iraqi MoD commander said that "he hoped the mission [in Basra] would be brief and limited".

"movement of people was almost back to normal in the center of [Basra]"

Will the U.S. be pleased? Will we thank Iran - looks like we have been saved from a hard decision?

HatTip:  Dr. Barnett R. Rubin


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Re: Brown: There will be an Iraq inquiry (#8)

by rwendland on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 04:40:13 PM GMT

Seems 550 US troops were sent from Baghdad to Basra to join up with 150 American soldiers already serving with Iraqi forces, while UK troops remained at the airbase. Good for GB to have kept out of this ill-thought-out operation.

Seems al-Maliki would not speak to our most senior officer in Basra. The US sent a Rear Admiral and a Major-General to Basra to coordinate the operation:

The source said that during that time the mood among the British forces on the base was “miserable”.

It's silly staying in Basra to save Bush face. Basically this is becoming an internal Shia-Shia political issue being sorted out "by other means". Do we want to be supporting one side of that? Let's get out soon.


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Re: Brown: There will be an Iraq inquiry (#6)

by EvanPrice on Mon Mar 31, 2008 at 09:42:40 PM GMT

May I ask, swatantra, what your knowledge is that enables you to be able to assert that 'an enquiry at this point in time would be destablishing on our troops'.

As a former soldier, in touch with many who have served and are serving in both Iraq and Afghanistan, I have to say that this line from the Government is without base.  An inquiry, properly conducted, into the invasion and the apparent lack of planning for what to do afterwards would have no negative impact on those serving in theatre.  Indeed, it may be possible to feed some of the conclusions into the planning processes for what to do next ...


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Brown: There will be an Iraq inquiry | 8 comments (8 topical)