Tony Blair summoned back to Iraq inquiry to be quizzed over new evidence

[deminks]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/dec/08/tony-blair-summoned-chilcot-inquiry

Tony Blair faces the Chilcot inquiry Tony Blair giving evidence to the Chilcot inquiry in January of this year. He will face the panel again early next year. Photograph: PA

Tony Blair is to be summoned back to the official inquiry into the Iraq invasion in light of damaging and conflicting evidence revealed since he appeared as a witness earlier this year.

Blair will give evidence between 18 January and 4 February next year along with Admiral Lord Boyce, the former chief of the defence staff, and Jack Straw, the former foreign secretary. Three successive cabinet secretaries who operated at the heart of Whitehall will also be called.

Members of the Chilcot panel are believed to be concerned about the revelation in documents released in June that the former prime minister was warned by his government's chief law officer that an invasion of Iraq would be illegal the day before he privately assured George Bush he would support US-led military action.

The documents gave an unprecedented insight into how the then attorney general, Lord Goldsmith, repeatedly warned Blair of the consequences of invading Iraq without fresh UN authority, much to the prime minister's irritation.

(end snip)

Is the deal still on for the inquiry to "protect American interests"? Now that the cat is out of the bag, so to speak?

[Rageneau]

1. Wish I lived in a country that held warmongers accountable.