Political Crossfire Forums

DSwain · Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Posts: 3552

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6114378.stm

I suppose there are three questions here, really:

Is there a need for an inquiry into Iraq?
Should such an inquiry be conducted while UK forces are still in Iraq?
Is it right for David Cameron to make such a call as Conservative leader?

I think that there should be an inquiry and that it should start as soon as the last British serviceman leaves Iraq. As for Cameron - he's out-Blairing the master now, looking for any **** with which to attack Labour - regardless of the wider issue. Top marks to Quentin Davies.

antonio62 · Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2006 10:07 am Post subject:

I don't see why there shouldn't be an enquiry. There isn't a huge need for one because I think everyone knows what went wrong already but it cant do any harm.

British boy · Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Posts: 324 Location: London

I think there's needs to be an inquiry if just to publically repremand the government for getting us into the war in the 1st place.
I donnot however think that it should be held while we have troops out there at the moment.

As to whether Cameron should have asked for this as conservative leader i think that it is the duty of the opposition to do that. saying that, i believe that cameron said that to score political points and wouldn't have bothered if he didnt think he could get any votes.

AKAMad · Joined: 20 Feb 2006 Posts: 300 Location: Birmingham

Yes, let's have an inquiry after the troops come home.
We wouldn't want to learn from our mistakes, while there is a chance to save the lives of some of our boys.
No, I mean what is the lives of our troops, compared with Tony Blair's embarassment.

'Lions led by donkeys'

bob.appleyard · Joined: 15 Oct 2005 Posts: 7404 Location: Manchestar, innit

Since at least WWII, the UK has conducted investigations following deployment, so it would be traditional, if not necessary. I do think that actions as grave as going to war need to be analysed carefully, in the hope of improving future decisions of this calibre. On an official level, it would perhaps be wiser to conduct the investigation after the operation is over, to keep spin etc to a minimum.

slitedeviance · Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 1507

To be honest, despite the fact that I have serious issues with our presence and involvement in Iraq, I can't really see the point of the enquiry...

I mean, we all know Blair lied about Saddams capacity for striking our country. We all know that Dr. Kelly was probably murdered. We all know it was a pile of BS thrown at us to try and justify Blair sticking with GW to ensure the Americans weren't at it alone and had a major international partner.

We all know Bush promised Blair rebuild contracts which were then tendered to US companies instead.

Don't we?

DSwain · Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Posts: 3552

slitedeviance wrote: To be honest, despite the fact that I have serious issues with our presence and involvement in Iraq, I can't really see the point of the enquiry...

I mean, we all know Blair lied about Saddams capacity for striking our country. We all know that Dr. Kelly was probably murdered. We all know it was a pile of BS thrown at us to try and justify Blair sticking with GW to ensure the Americans weren't at it alone and had a major international partner.

We all know Bush promised Blair rebuild contracts which were then tendered to US companies instead.

Don't we?

No

slitedeviance · Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 1507

DSwain wrote: slitedeviance wrote: To be honest, despite the fact that I have serious issues with our presence and involvement in Iraq, I can't really see the point of the enquiry...

I mean, we all know Blair lied about Saddams capacity for striking our country. We all know that Dr. Kelly was probably murdered. We all know it was a pile of BS thrown at us to try and justify Blair sticking with GW to ensure the Americans weren't at it alone and had a major international partner.

We all know Bush promised Blair rebuild contracts which were then tendered to US companies instead.

Don't we?

No

Then yeah, we'll have an enquiry which will produce nothing new that hasn't already been "repudiated" by the Government.

DSwain · Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Posts: 3552

slitedeviance wrote: DSwain wrote: slitedeviance wrote: To be honest, despite the fact that I have serious issues with our presence and involvement in Iraq, I can't really see the point of the enquiry...

I mean, we all know Blair lied about Saddams capacity for striking our country. We all know that Dr. Kelly was probably murdered. We all know it was a pile of BS thrown at us to try and justify Blair sticking with GW to ensure the Americans weren't at it alone and had a major international partner.

We all know Bush promised Blair rebuild contracts which were then tendered to US companies instead.

Don't we?

No

Then yeah, we'll have an enquiry which will produce nothing new that hasn't already been "repudiated" by the Government.

Personally I'd rather have things looked at properly as opposed to drawing conclusions on hearsay, rumour and conspiracy. But I know that's less fun for some of us.

ubikk · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 2059

I want a full accounting of where all the tax money has been going. Like where money for reconstruction went, how the no-bid and cost-plus contracts were handled, etc. At least on this side of the ocean. Probably should look into it all, though.

Comrade Kerr · Joined: 09 Nov 2006 Posts: 3

Were we a truely democratic state an enquiry would be a fine thing, whilst it would reveal nothing new, Blair would struggle to squirm away from the force of official proof of his crimes.

However, in our less than ideal "democracy", this enquiry like any other would, whilst at the announcement of its commencement instill hope in the masses, descending into a farce, wherein corrupt peers and buearocrats not only twist but blatantly disregard the truth so as to protect the interests of their masters.

So in short there should be no enquiry, it will not produce justice, and as such is a waste of money.

slitedeviance · Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 1507

Comrade Kerr wrote: Were we a truely democratic state an enquiry would be a fine thing, whilst it would reveal nothing new, Blair would struggle to squirm away from the force of official proof of his crimes.

However, in our less than ideal "democracy", this enquiry like any other would, whilst at the announcement of its commencement instill hope in the masses, descending into a farce, wherein corrupt peers and buearocrats not only twist but blatantly disregard the truth so as to protect the interests of their masters.

So in short there should be no enquiry, it will not produce justice, and as such is a waste of money.

Whilst I would really really like to see them deal with an enquiry, I have to agree with you. Better to focus on getting out of Iraq, as opposed to finding out why we were there in the first place.