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Chilcot report unlikely to be delayed by Colin Powell memo Chilcot report unlikely to be delayed by Colin Powell memo
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The Chilcot inquiry is unlikely to delay further its report into the war in Iraq as a result of the emergence of a fresh memo from former US secretary of state Colin Powell, according to one of those who gave evidence to the hearing.The Chilcot inquiry is unlikely to delay further its report into the war in Iraq as a result of the emergence of a fresh memo from former US secretary of state Colin Powell, according to one of those who gave evidence to the hearing.
Related: Chilcot under pressure to report after leaked Blair-Bush Iraq memoRelated: Chilcot under pressure to report after leaked Blair-Bush Iraq memo
A spokesman for the inquiry said that Sir John Chilcot will not be commenting on the memo so as not to prejudice or pre-empt the report. Chilcot informed David Cameron last week that he planned to provide a timetable for publication of the long-delayed report by 3 November. The spokesman declined to comment on whether the memo would create a further delay. A spokesman for the inquiry said Sir John Chilcot will not be commenting on the memo so as not to prejudice or pre-empt the report. Chilcot informed David Cameron last week that he planned to provide a timetable for publication of the long-delayed report by 3 November. The spokesman declined to comment on whether the memo would create a further delay.
Publication is likely to be next year. The report is likely to be published next year.
According to Powell’s memo, Blair indicated to then US president George W Bush in March 2002 that the UK would support military operations in Iraq if necessary, a full year before the invasion. Blair has said repeatedly he had not committed the UK to the war until 2003.According to Powell’s memo, Blair indicated to then US president George W Bush in March 2002 that the UK would support military operations in Iraq if necessary, a full year before the invasion. Blair has said repeatedly he had not committed the UK to the war until 2003.
Chilcot has still not produced a report into the war after six years, despite a cost of £10m. He faced a media storm earlier this year over the delay. Some of the families who lost relatives in the war threatened legal action to force publication.Chilcot has still not produced a report into the war after six years, despite a cost of £10m. He faced a media storm earlier this year over the delay. Some of the families who lost relatives in the war threatened legal action to force publication.
He told the foreign affairs committee in August that the Maxwellisation process, in which witnesses facing criticism were contacted in order to given them an opportunity to respond, had been completed. He told the foreign affairs committee in August that the Maxwellisation process, in which witnesses facing criticism were contacted to give them an opportunity to respond, had been completed.
A witness, not one of those criticised, said that Chilcot was unlikely to reopen the process at this late stage, not least because the substance of the Powell memo was “not a big revelation”. A witness – not one of those criticised – said Chilcot was unlikely to reopen the process at this late stage, not least because the substance of the Powell memo was “not a big revelation”.
It is now well-known that Blair had tilted towards war by March 2002, the witness said, and even if Chilcot had not seen this particular memo, he would have been told similar things by other witnesses or seen evidence in other documents.It is now well-known that Blair had tilted towards war by March 2002, the witness said, and even if Chilcot had not seen this particular memo, he would have been told similar things by other witnesses or seen evidence in other documents.
By 2002, No 10 was largely bypassing the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Defence and dealing directly with the White House.By 2002, No 10 was largely bypassing the Foreign Office and the Ministry of Defence and dealing directly with the White House.
The memo would be unlikely to require Maxwellisation as the only person involved would be Blair and these points regarding him having made up his mind as early as 2002 were the crux of the inquiry, so have already been put to him. The memo would be unlikely to require Maxwellisation, as the only person involved would be Blair and the points regarding him having made up his mind as early as 2002 were the crux of the inquiry, so have already been put to him.
Blair’s defence has traditionally been that the UK was not committed to war until the House of Commons voted in 2003, and that war even at that stage could have been avoided if then Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein had met US demands.Blair’s defence has traditionally been that the UK was not committed to war until the House of Commons voted in 2003, and that war even at that stage could have been avoided if then Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein had met US demands.
Those involved in the Chilcot inquiry are resentful of the persistent criticism in the media over the delays and blame the government for delaying the release of necessary documents. They further argue that if they had not gone through the Maxwellisation process, they might have been open afterwards to legal challenges. Those involved in the Chilcot inquiry are resentful of the persistent criticism in the media over the delays and blame the government for delaying the release of necessary documents. They further argue that if they had not gone through the Maxwellisation process, they might have been open to legal challenges after publication.