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Chilcot report: senior army officer queries purpose of 'boresome' inquiries Chilcot report: senior army officer queries purpose of 'boresome' inquiries
(35 minutes later)
The mounting controversy over delays in publishing the Iraq war report should lead us to question the purpose of “such boresome inquiries”, the most senior British officer to be involved in postwar planning in Iraq has said.The mounting controversy over delays in publishing the Iraq war report should lead us to question the purpose of “such boresome inquiries”, the most senior British officer to be involved in postwar planning in Iraq has said.
Major General Tim Cross told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Friday that the government needed to learn lessons about the “size and shape” of the remit handed to Sir John Chilcot in order for any similar inquiries to produce better results. Maj Gen Tim Cross told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Friday that the government needed to learn lessons about the “size and shape” of the remit handed to Sir John Chilcot in order for any similar inquiries to produce better results.
“I think the broader issue – and I think it’s a broader issue for us as a nation – is why do we want these boresome inquiries?” said Gen Cross, who retired from the army in 2007. “What do we intend from them and why do we give people these incredibly difficult jobs to do?” “I think the broader issue – and I think it’s a broader issue for us as a nation – is why do we want these boresome inquiries?” said Cross, who retired from the army in 2007. “What do we intend from them and why do we give people these incredibly difficult jobs to do?”
Political pressure has been mounting on Chilcot, who heads up the official public inquiry into the UK’s role in the Iraq war, to publish the findings after years of delays. The inquiry began in 2009, with the last of the hearings held in February 2011.Political pressure has been mounting on Chilcot, who heads up the official public inquiry into the UK’s role in the Iraq war, to publish the findings after years of delays. The inquiry began in 2009, with the last of the hearings held in February 2011.
Related: Chilcot defends long-delayed Iraq inquiry – but sets no date for publicationRelated: Chilcot defends long-delayed Iraq inquiry – but sets no date for publication
Earlier this week, Chilcot issued a statement saying that more time was required in the interests of fairness and accuracy, and he expressed sympathy over “the anguish of the families of those who lost their lives in the conflict”.Earlier this week, Chilcot issued a statement saying that more time was required in the interests of fairness and accuracy, and he expressed sympathy over “the anguish of the families of those who lost their lives in the conflict”.
Chilcot added that the delays had been caused by problems in getting Whitehall to disclose relevant documents and by the “Maxwellisation process”, which allows individuals facing criticism to be given time to reply. He said he expected to receive the final responses shortly.Chilcot added that the delays had been caused by problems in getting Whitehall to disclose relevant documents and by the “Maxwellisation process”, which allows individuals facing criticism to be given time to reply. He said he expected to receive the final responses shortly.
“At the end of the day [Chilcot] has got a job to do and I think he’s doing his best to fulfil the remit that was laid upon him,” said Cross. “I think we have got to learn some lessons from this and not just this inquiry. There are lots of other inquiries like it.“At the end of the day [Chilcot] has got a job to do and I think he’s doing his best to fulfil the remit that was laid upon him,” said Cross. “I think we have got to learn some lessons from this and not just this inquiry. There are lots of other inquiries like it.
“To get teams of people to look at an issue and to draw out some important issues in relatively quick time and enable those lessons to be applied, of course that’s a good thing. But the size and shape of the inquiries we’re getting into on a continuous basis, I do not believe it is producing those sorts of results.”“To get teams of people to look at an issue and to draw out some important issues in relatively quick time and enable those lessons to be applied, of course that’s a good thing. But the size and shape of the inquiries we’re getting into on a continuous basis, I do not believe it is producing those sorts of results.”
Lawyers for families who lost relatives in the Iraq war are pushing ahead with legal action to seek a judicial review aimed at compelling Chilcot to set a date for the publication of the report. The issue could be in court within weeks.Lawyers for families who lost relatives in the Iraq war are pushing ahead with legal action to seek a judicial review aimed at compelling Chilcot to set a date for the publication of the report. The issue could be in court within weeks.
Lawyers representing 29 of the families had set a deadline of 5pm on Wednesday this week for Chilcot to announce a timetable, but hours before the deadline Chilcot published his statement defending the numerous delays and saying he was still not in a position to offer a timetable.Lawyers representing 29 of the families had set a deadline of 5pm on Wednesday this week for Chilcot to announce a timetable, but hours before the deadline Chilcot published his statement defending the numerous delays and saying he was still not in a position to offer a timetable.