Protesters wearing a former British Prime Minister Tony Blair mask, left, and former U.S. President George W. Bush mask pose for the media outside the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London, shortly before the publication of the Chilcot report into the Iraq war, Wednesday, July 6, 2016. The long awaited British inquiry into the 2003 invasion of Iraq has been published. Led by former senior civil servant John Chilcot, the report took over seven years to prepare and runs over two million words. The report did not analyze the legality of the invasion and instead focused on the British decision-making process in the run up to the war in 2003.
Last week, Sir John Chilcot finally published the long-awaited results of his Iraq War inquiry. The voluminous report details the causes and consequences of the war, criticism over legal advice and what conspired between Mr. Blair and his American counterparts.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn recently apologized for the war on behalf of the Labour Party. This was supported by John Prescott, the deputy prime minister at the time of the war, who expressed regret with the decision to go to war this week.
Lord Prescott stated in the Sunday Mirror, “I will live with the decision of going to war and its catastrophic consequences for the rest of my life.”
To understand the nature and scale of this war, one needs to go back more than 13 years ago when Iraq was on top of the agenda and the subject of “containment.” American neo-conservatives were pressing for regime change in Iraq long before 9/11 and this was also discussed openly between Bush and Blair as revealed by Mr. Blair’s memo in the Chilcot report. Conveniently, Blair’s misleading belief that Saddam Hussain posed an “imminent threat” with his “WMD stockpile” and establishing a link with al-Qaida served as the ideal justification for the invasion.
After Chilcot’s damning report on Mr. Blair, he expressed neither regret, repentance nor remorse. Rather, Blair stands by the war up until this day and believes it was the right decision. To most of us in the U.K., the war was illegal on more than just moral grounds. Reading the Chilcot report brought memories back: Seeing images of dead children on the news, witnessing the flames go up in Fallujah and yet being powerless to do anything other than protest to make our government see sense. One can only feel remorse for the dead and displaced but for many Iraqi’s, this emotional turmoil will be everlasting.
File image posted by the Raqqa Media Center of ISIS shows a fighter of the Islamic State group waving their flag from inside a captured government fighter jet following the battle for the Tabqa air base, in Raqqa.
However, the current reality is that although removing a brutal dictator may have seemed like a good idea, it has also unleashed sectarian strife, created a terrorist hotbed and shook the regional balance between the Persians and Arabs. Let’s be frank, regime change in Iraq not only has led to a dominant Iran in the region. which now militarily supports Bashar Assad’s Syria but, also created ISIL in the region. It is also responsible for the refugee crisis as various terrorist groups were building on their networks long before the Arab Spring of 2011.
To say the least, the handling of the Iraq War was not only disastrous but also highlighted contempt in the treatment of Iraq and Iraqis. Unreliable intelligence, a lack of planning, post-conflict reconstruction, Britain’s silence on Donald Rumsfeld’s dismissed body counts and the delay in investigating alleged war crimes by British nationals against Iraqi’s are just a few sins highlighted by report.
The consequences are many, as millions of civilians and many coalition forces died and millions more were displaced because two heads of state hatched a plan they thought would bring peace and democracy in the region. Undoubtedly, Iraq’s current state is worse now than before the invasion. Political instability, terrorism and sectarianism have been prevalent since then.
For those who argue Mr. Blair should be prosecuted, Parliament doesn’t have the legal power to prosecute him and the International Criminal Court doesn’t have a mandate. The most that we can expect is a “contempt of Parliament” motion which is soon to be debated by British parliamentarians. If the motion, which most politicians support, passes, then Mr. Blair can be banned from office and stripped of his role in the Privy Council. Of course, this is not just because Mr. Blair led an illegal war but because he also deceived parliament in the eve of War in 2003.
It is evident that justice is yet to be served, as families of dead Iraqis and of British servicemen and all the negligence highlighted by Chilcot points toward Mr. Blair’s failed attempt in reshaping the map of the Middle East. More importantly, Chilcot himself cannot be immune from criticism either, as not even one Iraqi was invited to give evidence in the U.K. and there is hardly any presence of Iraqi comment in the report.
The man who deceived Britain into a perpetual war is not only deluded to have believed his ambitions would unite the world. Instead, it has unleashed post-Cold War hell where terrorism and instability seem to have a perpetual grip in the region but are not limited to it.
Up until this day, what began in 2003 echoes throughout the Middle East. The memories will not fade for Iraqis nor for those who campaigned tirelessly against the war.
Only time will tell what it will take to end this moment of everlasting emotional turmoil.
Content posted to MyMPN open blogs is the opinion of the author alone, and should not be attributed to MintPress News.
“And if America and the UK had not intervened, everything would have turned out, perfectly!
This is the problem with Alternative History or Alternative Fiction: people can write their own alternative ending.
The simple fact remains that our sanctions regime was killing 50,000 Iraqi children, each year. In 1995, Saddam’s sons-in-law came forward and did a patriotic thing and ratted him out and exposed the LAST of the WMD. That MEANS that in 1996, we killed 50,000 Iraqi children FOR WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION THAT DID NOT EXIST! And since the only reason for the sanctions was because of the existence of WMD, then it was not “killing,” it was MURDER.
The same thing happened in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002. That’s 350,000 Iraqi children DEAD for WMD that DID NOT EXIST.
And when confronted with the war in 2003, the anti-war nuts said, “Give sanctions more TIME!” More time to do what, exactly?!? He DIDN’T HAVE ANY WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. If they had their way, we would spent the last 13 years killing 650,000 MORE IRAQI CHILDREN.
SINCE JAMES WHERRY IS ONE OF ZIONISM’S MOST ACTIVE HASBARAT TROLLS, HIS OPINION SHOULD BE TAKEN WITH ABOUT 10 POUNDS OF SALT. THIS WANNABE JEW IS A PROFESSIONAL LIAR, AS HIS/ITS FORMER “CAREER” WITH ARMY CIVIL AFFAIRS ATTESTS. CIVIL AFFAIRS CREATURES ARE THE SCUM THAT BROUGHT “HEARTS AND MINDS” PROGRAMS (PHOENIX PROGRAM) TO VIETNAM AND OTHER VICTIM COUNTRIES (“Hearts & Minds Programs” are those in which the US military tells people, “Love and obey us or we will drop white phosphorous and napalm on your children”.)
”James Wherry” is a TRAITOR & Zionist hasbara shill, formerly associated with the “School of the Americas” (now – Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation) WORLD’S LARGEST TRAINING CAMP FOR DEATH SQUADS AND TERRORISTS, located at Fort Benning, Georgia. Even though Wherry was an officer in the US military, his first loyalty is obviously to Zionism. Zionists follow the Jewish “Chosen” Master-Race delusion promoted in Judaism’s Talmud. Wherry still residees near his beloved Mano Blanco, ISIS and Al Qaeda friends at 6300 MILGEN RD APT 1403 COLUMBUS, GA 31907, should anyone wish to drop by to say, “HI”.
Wherry and his little paramour at their “wedding”. Being gay is one thing. Sexual use of someone young enough to be his child, and who would do ANYTHING to escape the disgusting poverty and violence of a culture like that in the Philippines, makes Wherry a s-xual predator.
Wherry’s Discus avatar
http://images.classmates.com/pho301/i/l/K/8/4911843658_display.jpg
James Wherry
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/local/article29462263.html
HILARIOUS………..
“I’m very happy about it,” James Wherry said. “Marriage is the bedrock of our society. I hope that same-sex couples can rejuvenate and revitalize marriage and give it the respect it is due.”
James Wherry said he and Mario Jay Wherry met through gaymatchmaker.com. James Wherry proposed and flew to the Philippines to hold an engagement party with Mario Jay Wherry and his family. Mario Jay Wherry arrived in the United States at the end of May.
THIS FILTH WORE OUR UNIFORM, BUT IT WANTS TO BE ISRAELI
https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/416986_111583399006499_524294966_n.jpg?oh=d07d9ec6cc4373a8f6e8cc8992b33234&oe=57C137D9
Because I exposed tapatio as a Naz!, he’s angry with me. That’s the reason he changed his “avatar” from “Robert Munro” (his real name) to “tapatio.” Once again, tapatio seeks to try and get me murdered by making false statements about me, claiming that I have ever set foot in either the SOA or WHINSEC.
Civil Affairs Soldiers are the ones on the ground who worked to repair damage in Afghanistan and Iraq, building schools and medical clinics and helping with farming programs. Tapatio lets his unbridled hatred of ME get the best of him as he calls our men and women in uniform TRAITORS.
Ah, so “Civil Affairs” have switched roles from Phoenix style programs to misappropriating hundreds of millions of dollars allegedly intended to repair damage done by the US and rerouting all those AMERICAN TAXPAYER DOLLARS to the Cayman Islands?
If one looks closely at this photo of James Wherry and his mail order Filipino boy-bride (Mario) on their wedding day, it’s pretty obvious from looking at this darling couple that on the left is a late middle-aged Caucasian male, probably late 50s, seriously over-weight, with skin that would be bad even at that age (mine is far better at almost 70 and I have a LOT more hair). On the right is a light-brown skinned boy, late teens or early 20s in very good condition. NOT exactly the sort that would hop into bed with a fat, flatulent old hog.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/27b64c382ed6f4d9981a1343e916dfa143ff66d86eec1e795e4bdf003ba57da0.jpg
Dimwit, Civil Affairs has been part of the U.S. Army since the original Civil Affairs Divisions of WWII were set up to administer military governments in occupied Germany and occupied Japan. My own unit stood up during the Korean War.
I realize your claimed service in Vietnam gives you a very, very limited view of the military and this “operation phoenix,” which I have never even heard of, but no: CA prosecutes CA Soldiers who try and make off with cash. Your hatred of our men and women in uniform keeps shining through. Your anger at me for exposing you as a Jew-hating religious bigot who has JUSTIFIED the HOLOCAUST also comes right on through.
Of course, TAPATIO is ANGRY that we ever occupied his beloved Naz! Germany.
He just can’t seem to get over the fact that his fellow Naz!s lost.
He just can’t seem to get over the fact that his fellow Naz!s lost.
BTW, retard, Robert and I use the same files. He’s in New England and I’m on the West Coast and you’re at 6300
MILGEN RD APT 1403 COLUMBUS, GA 31907
Funny, how “Robert Munro” stopped posting the exact same time that you appeared in the new guise of “tapatio.”
No, your files are identical, but so are your arguments and the flavor of your lies.
”James Wherry” is a TRAITOR & Zionist hasbara shill, formerly associated with the “School of the Americas” (now – Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation) WORLD’S LARGEST TRAINING CAMP FOR DEATH SQUADS AND TERRORISTS, located at Fort Benning, Georgia. Even though Wherry was an officer in the US military, his first loyalty is obviously to Zionism. Zionists follow the Jewish “Chosen” Master-Race delusion promoted in Judaism’s Talmud. Wherry still residees near his beloved Mano Blanco, ISIS and Al Qaeda friends at 6300 MILGEN RD APT 1403 COLUMBUS, GA 31907, should anyone wish to drop by to say, “HI”.
Wherry and his little paramour at their “wedding”. Being gay is one thing. Sexual use of someone young enough to be his child, and who would do ANYTHING to escape the disgusting poverty and violence of a culture like that in the Philippines, makes Wherry a s-xual predator.
Wherry’s avatar photo.
http://images.classmates.com/pho301/i/l/K/8/4911843658_display.jpg
James Wherry
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/local/article29462263.html
HILARIOUS………..
“I’m very happy about it,” James Wherry said. “Marriage is the bedrock of our society. I hope that same-sex couples can rejuvenate and revitalize marriage and give it the respect it is due.”
James Wherry said he and Mario Jay Wherry met through gaymatchmaker.com. James Wherry proposed and flew to the Philippines to hold an engagement party with Mario Jay Wherry and his family. Mario Jay Wherry arrived in the United States at the end of May.
THIS FILTH WORE OUR UNIFORM, BUT IT WANTS TO BE ISRAELI
https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/416986_111583399006499_524294966_n.jpg?oh=d07d9ec6cc4373a8f6e8cc8992b33234&oe=57C137D9
JAMES WHERRY AND HIS MAIL ORDER FILIPINO BOY BRIDE
Tapatio likes to make things up, to include any association I had with the School of the Americas. Unlike the TRAITOR TAPATIO who spits on our men and women in uniform, I HAVE been in the U.S. Army, and that’s about all the association I have.
By contrast, tapatio has PRAISED the round up and extermination of Jews in Naz!-occupied Europe. TAPATIO is a TRAITOR for praising the Naz!s, but this website welcomes him because it’s what MintPressNews, its editors and authors believe. Here he is, praising Hitler:
Army? That bunch of losers – too stupid to get into the Navy or Air Force.
Wherry may have been a shyster with Army “Civil Affairs” (give us your minds or we’ll have somebody cut out your heart – like the Phoenix Program).
I went through ROTC, OCS and spent 22 months IN COMBAT in Vietnam, under the delusion that I was serving “democracy”. What I was doing was strike-breaking for Ford and Firestone (owners of French Michelin Rubber).
There is a rather HUGE difference between putting ones’ tail on the line every day and Wherry’s fat a$$ sitting behind a desk and running around conquered countries hiding duffle bags of $$$$.
BTW, Wherry CLAIMS that I do/say a lot of things. Somehow, he NEVER PRODUCES EVIDENCE.
James Wherry on his “wedding day” to a MAIL ORDER FILIPINO MAIL-ORDER BOY BRIDE, YOUNG ENOUGH TO BE WHERRY’S CHILD.
1. I’ve just proven that tapatio thinks our men and women in uniform are “traitors.”
2. I’ve posted where he has proclaimed that “Hitler was right” about the Jews. Despite the fact he changed his post, he CONTINUES to proclaim that ‘the Naz!s were right’ in rounding up the Jews in occupied Europe during WWII for extermination. https://www.mintpressnews.com/us-police-killed-nearly-9000-civilians-since-911/218381/
https://www.mintpressnews.com/islamophobia-industry-spent-206m-building-hatred-us-heres-create-love-instead/217662/
He has never claimed to have any evidence that I worked at the School of the Americas, but still publishes it. He guesses at my age and that of my husband’s (we met, when I was in my ’40’s and he was in his mid-20’s).
FAIRY-WHERRY, you’ve proven NOTHING.
James Wherry was in “Civil Affairs”. These are the scum that, when I was in the military in Vietnam, went to Vietnamese towns and handed out some candy or food and demanded that the people turn over their young men and women. If the town didn’t obey the nice Civil Affairs” men, good soldiers would call in napalm or white phosphorous to teach the people a “lesson”. THAT is what Wherry did for a living, except in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Now, Wherry lives a few minutes from the largest terrorist and death squad training base on Earth – Fort Benning Georgia, home of the School of the Americas (renamed – “Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation” because people had learned what was done there).
When a creature like Wherry retires next door to such a base, it seems logical that he has some association with that enterprise. Wherry could have retired near any base in the US to obtain his benefits.
Of course, I’m assuming that Wherry is retired. Even a scuzzy bunch like the Army would be kinda embarrassed by one of their officers buying a MAIL ORDER BOY-BRIDE from the PHILIPPINES. Not to mention that I can’t see Wherry’s giant belly fitting into a uniform.
No, “Civil Affairs” are the people who came in and administered your NAZ! GERMANY and JAPAN at the end of WWII, when we DEFEATED YOU. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_affairs#United_States_Army
For a guy who PRAISES NAZ!s and JUSTIFIES THE HOLOCAUST https://www.mintpressnews.com/islamophobia-industry-spent-206m-building-hatred-us-heres-create-love-instead/217662/, this is the real reason that TAPATIO hates us.
He is a traitor for condemning men and women in uniform, while he was apparently busy murdering Vietnamese. Must’ve been good, pretending to be “Der Master Race,” eh, Taps?
Tapatio is a well-known Naz!
1. He has praised Hitler by saying that “Hitler was right” about the Jews.
2. He has JUSTIFIED the HOLOCAUST by the NAZ!s as “self defense of European culture.” Now, most of us don’t PRAISE the [email protected], but he does.
Wow! Are you still peddling that bizarre belief that anti-war activists wanted to continue the sanctions? I think you’ll find we did not want either!
http://disq.us/p/153qeuh
have you read the report? The report does not say we should have walked away from the INTEL updates that claimed that Assad still had WMD, or that we had any reason to doubt them. It claims there were other options.. The biggest was to CONTINUE SANCTIONS – and yes, that was the alternative offered by peace activists in 2003. I was there and remember.
“two heads of state hatched a plan they thought would bring peace and democracy in the region.” WTF?! Peace and democracy were the OPPOSITE goals for Iraq. How can anyone still believe that Orwellian doublespeak anymore?