Revealed: Jack Straw’s secret warning to Tony Blair on Iraq

[cal04]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6991087.ece

A “SECRET and personal” letter from Jack Straw, the then foreign secretary, to Tony Blair reveals damning doubts at the heart of government about Blair’s plans for Iraq a year before war started.

The letter, a copy of which is published for the first time today, warned the prime minister that the case for military action in Iraq was of dubious legality and would be no guarantee of a better future for Iraq even if Saddam Hussein were removed.

It was sent 10 days before Blair met George Bush, then the US president, in Crawford, Texas, in April 2002. The document clearly implies that Blair was already planning for military action even though he continued to insist to the British public for almost another year that no decision had been made.

The letter will be a key piece of evidence at the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war when it questions Straw this week.

The document begins in a way that now appears eerily prophetic: “The rewards from your visit to Crawford will be few ... there is at present no majority inside the PLP (parliamentary Labour party) for any military action against Iraq.”


Jack Straw’s Iraq war letter to Tony Blair
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6991102.ece

So why didn't you quit, Mr Straw?'
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/leading_article/article6991012.ece

[Solly Mack]

1. k/r

[Vidar]

2. K&R.

[LeftishBrit]

3. k&r

Shameful that Blair was so adamant and so determined to disregard all reasonable advice. Also a pity that Straw did not follow the example of his colleague Robin Cook.