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| Iraq War: Chilcot inquiry says invasion 'not last resort' | Iraq War: Chilcot inquiry says invasion 'not last resort' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The UK went to war in Iraq before all peaceful options for disarming Saddam Hussein were exhausted, the long-awaited official report has concluded. | The UK went to war in Iraq before all peaceful options for disarming Saddam Hussein were exhausted, the long-awaited official report has concluded. |
| The invasion was not the "last resort" presented to MPs and the British public, chair Sir John Chilcot said. | The invasion was not the "last resort" presented to MPs and the British public, chair Sir John Chilcot said. |
| The 2003 invasion was based on "flawed intelligence and assessments" that "were not challenged", it argues. | The 2003 invasion was based on "flawed intelligence and assessments" that "were not challenged", it argues. |
| Tony Blair underestimated the impact it would have on Iraq and the wider region despite "explicit warnings", it adds. | Tony Blair underestimated the impact it would have on Iraq and the wider region despite "explicit warnings", it adds. |
| The former Labour prime minister is facing fresh calls to apologise from political opponents of the war amid protests against the war taking place in central London. He has said he will "take full responsibility for any mistakes without exception or excuse". | |
| A spokesman for the families of the 179 British service personnel and civilians killed in Iraq between 2003 and 2009 said their loved ones had died "unnecessarily and without just cause and purpose". | A spokesman for the families of the 179 British service personnel and civilians killed in Iraq between 2003 and 2009 said their loved ones had died "unnecessarily and without just cause and purpose". |
| He said all options were being considered, including asking those responsible for the failures identified in the report to "answer for their actions in the courts if such process is found to be viable". | He said all options were being considered, including asking those responsible for the failures identified in the report to "answer for their actions in the courts if such process is found to be viable". |
| The report, which has taken seven years to complete, has been published on the Iraq Inquiry website. | The report, which has taken seven years to complete, has been published on the Iraq Inquiry website. |
| What was the Iraq War? | What was the Iraq War? |
| The war, which lasted about six weeks, ended Saddam Hussein's 25-year regime in Iraq, but the aftermath unleashed years of sectarian violence that has killed thousands since then. | The war, which lasted about six weeks, ended Saddam Hussein's 25-year regime in Iraq, but the aftermath unleashed years of sectarian violence that has killed thousands since then. |
| The US, which led the intervention in March 2003, lost 4,487 service personnel in the war. Figures about Iraqi deaths vary from 90,000 to more than 600,000. | |
| The worst attack happened last weekend when so-called Islamic State militants - who control swathes of Iraq and Syria - launched a suicide bombing in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, killing more than 250 people. | The worst attack happened last weekend when so-called Islamic State militants - who control swathes of Iraq and Syria - launched a suicide bombing in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, killing more than 250 people. |
| The key points of the report | The key points of the report |
| The report, which is 2.6 million words long, does not make a judgement on whether Mr Blair or individual ministers were in breach of international law. | The report, which is 2.6 million words long, does not make a judgement on whether Mr Blair or individual ministers were in breach of international law. |
| But Sir John, the ex-civil servant who chaired the inquiry, does not pull his punches when criticising decisions made in the run up to war and in the aftermath. | But Sir John, the ex-civil servant who chaired the inquiry, does not pull his punches when criticising decisions made in the run up to war and in the aftermath. |
| He describes the Iraq War as an intervention that went "badly wrong" with consequences still being felt to this day. | He describes the Iraq War as an intervention that went "badly wrong" with consequences still being felt to this day. |
| He has harsh criticisms for UK military commanders, who the report says had made "over-optimistic assessments" of their capabilities which had led to "bad decisions". | He has harsh criticisms for UK military commanders, who the report says had made "over-optimistic assessments" of their capabilities which had led to "bad decisions". |
| But in a statement at the launch of the report, he criticised the way the need for military action was presented to the public and MPs by Mr Blair and his ministers. | But in a statement at the launch of the report, he criticised the way the need for military action was presented to the public and MPs by Mr Blair and his ministers. |
| "The judgements about the severity of the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of a mass destruction - WMD - were presented with a certainty that was not justified," he said. "Despite explicit warnings, the consequences of the invasion were underestimated." | "The judgements about the severity of the threat posed by Iraq's weapons of a mass destruction - WMD - were presented with a certainty that was not justified," he said. "Despite explicit warnings, the consequences of the invasion were underestimated." |
| UK military fatalities | UK military fatalities |
| Full details of the 179 British servicemen and women who died | Full details of the 179 British servicemen and women who died |
| The US and UK were part of an international coalition which invaded Afghanistan, regarded as a "safe haven" for terrorists, in late 2001 to rid it of the Taliban. | The US and UK were part of an international coalition which invaded Afghanistan, regarded as a "safe haven" for terrorists, in late 2001 to rid it of the Taliban. |
| In January 2002, President Bush named Iraq as part of what he described as an "axis of evil" in what he said was a "war on terror" against al-Qaeda and other groups. | In January 2002, President Bush named Iraq as part of what he described as an "axis of evil" in what he said was a "war on terror" against al-Qaeda and other groups. |
| Sir John said military action against Saddam Hussein might have been necessary "at some point" but that when Britain joined the US-led invasion in March 2003, the Iraqi dictator posed "no imminent threat", the existing strategy of containment could be continued and the majority of UN Security Council members supported continuing UN inspections and monitoring" | Sir John said military action against Saddam Hussein might have been necessary "at some point" but that when Britain joined the US-led invasion in March 2003, the Iraqi dictator posed "no imminent threat", the existing strategy of containment could be continued and the majority of UN Security Council members supported continuing UN inspections and monitoring" |
| Blair/Bush memos | Blair/Bush memos |
| Momentum in Washington towards taking action against Saddam Hussein quickly began to build in the wake of the 9/11 attacks in 2001 in the US, which killed nearly 3,000 people. | Momentum in Washington towards taking action against Saddam Hussein quickly began to build in the wake of the 9/11 attacks in 2001 in the US, which killed nearly 3,000 people. |
| The report concludes that Mr Blair, who twice gave evidence to the Iraq Inquiry, along with more than 100 senior military figures, officials and ministers, "overestimated his ability to influence US decisions on Iraq". | The report concludes that Mr Blair, who twice gave evidence to the Iraq Inquiry, along with more than 100 senior military figures, officials and ministers, "overestimated his ability to influence US decisions on Iraq". |
| He said Mr Blair had assured then US president George W Bush in July 2002 - nearly a year before the invasion - that the UK would be with him "whatever", as revealed in a cache of 29 memos between Mr Blair and Mr Bush, published along with the report. | He said Mr Blair had assured then US president George W Bush in July 2002 - nearly a year before the invasion - that the UK would be with him "whatever", as revealed in a cache of 29 memos between Mr Blair and Mr Bush, published along with the report. |
| Mr Blair told Mr Bush that if he wanted a wider military coalition he would have to get UN backing, make progress on Middle East peace and engineer a "shift" in public opinion. | Mr Blair told Mr Bush that if he wanted a wider military coalition he would have to get UN backing, make progress on Middle East peace and engineer a "shift" in public opinion. |
| The memos reveal that Mr Blair and Mr Bush were openly discussing toppling Saddam Hussein as early as 2001. In a memo dated December 2001, he tells President Bush their military action in Afghanistan would help shift public opinion in favour of invading Iraq. | The memos reveal that Mr Blair and Mr Bush were openly discussing toppling Saddam Hussein as early as 2001. In a memo dated December 2001, he tells President Bush their military action in Afghanistan would help shift public opinion in favour of invading Iraq. |
| "We shall give regime change a good name which will help in our arguments over Iraq," says Mr Blair. | "We shall give regime change a good name which will help in our arguments over Iraq," says Mr Blair. |
| When the UK failed to get a UN resolution specifically authorising military action in March 2003, Mr Blair and then foreign secretary Jack Straw blamed France for an "impasse" in the UN and said the UK government was "acting of behalf of the international community to "uphold the authority of the Security Council". | When the UK failed to get a UN resolution specifically authorising military action in March 2003, Mr Blair and then foreign secretary Jack Straw blamed France for an "impasse" in the UN and said the UK government was "acting of behalf of the international community to "uphold the authority of the Security Council". |
| But Sir John concludes that the opposite was true. "In the absence of a majority in support of military action, we consider that the UK was, in fact, undermining the Security Council's authority," he said in his statement. | But Sir John concludes that the opposite was true. "In the absence of a majority in support of military action, we consider that the UK was, in fact, undermining the Security Council's authority," he said in his statement. |
| Intelligence failures | Intelligence failures |
| Sir John echoes the criticisms made in earlier reports into the Iraq War of the use of intelligence about Saddam's alleged weapons of mass destruction to justify war. | Sir John echoes the criticisms made in earlier reports into the Iraq War of the use of intelligence about Saddam's alleged weapons of mass destruction to justify war. |
| It says the assessed intelligence had not established "beyond doubt" that Saddam Hussein had continued to produce chemical and biological weapons. | It says the assessed intelligence had not established "beyond doubt" that Saddam Hussein had continued to produce chemical and biological weapons. |
| Of Mr Blair's September 2002 statement warning that Saddam Hussein had an arsenal of biological and chemical weapons that could be launched within 45 minutes of the command to use them, Sir John says: "The judgements about Iraq's capabilities in that statement, and in the dossier published on the same day, were presented with a certainty that was not justified." | Of Mr Blair's September 2002 statement warning that Saddam Hussein had an arsenal of biological and chemical weapons that could be launched within 45 minutes of the command to use them, Sir John says: "The judgements about Iraq's capabilities in that statement, and in the dossier published on the same day, were presented with a certainty that was not justified." |
| On the eve of war Mr Blair told MPs that he judged that the possibility of terror groups in possession of weapons of mass destruction was a "real and present danger to Britain and its national security". | On the eve of war Mr Blair told MPs that he judged that the possibility of terror groups in possession of weapons of mass destruction was a "real and present danger to Britain and its national security". |
| "Mr Blair had been warned, however, that military action would increase the threat from al-Qaeda to the UK and UK interests. He had also been warned that an invasion might lead to Iraq's weapons and capabilities being transferred into the hands of terrorists," said Sir John. | "Mr Blair had been warned, however, that military action would increase the threat from al-Qaeda to the UK and UK interests. He had also been warned that an invasion might lead to Iraq's weapons and capabilities being transferred into the hands of terrorists," said Sir John. |
| The legality of the war | The legality of the war |
| The then attorney general Lord Goldsmith advised Mr Blair to seek explicit UN authorisation for military action but when diplomatic efforts failed informed him that intervention was lawful on the basis of previous UN resolutions on Iraq relating back to the 1991 Gulf War. | The then attorney general Lord Goldsmith advised Mr Blair to seek explicit UN authorisation for military action but when diplomatic efforts failed informed him that intervention was lawful on the basis of previous UN resolutions on Iraq relating back to the 1991 Gulf War. |
| Sir John said the report does not make a judgement on the legality or otherwise of the war - pointing out that participants did not give evidence under oath and his findings have no legal force. | Sir John said the report does not make a judgement on the legality or otherwise of the war - pointing out that participants did not give evidence under oath and his findings have no legal force. |
| But he adds: "The circumstances in which it was decided that there was a legal basis for UK military action were far from satisfactory." | But he adds: "The circumstances in which it was decided that there was a legal basis for UK military action were far from satisfactory." |
| Post-war planning and aftermath | Post-war planning and aftermath |
| Much of the report focuses on the post-war planning for the governance of Iraq, originally undertaken by the US-led Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad, and how well equipped British troops were to oversee the large area of southern Iraq around Basra. | Much of the report focuses on the post-war planning for the governance of Iraq, originally undertaken by the US-led Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad, and how well equipped British troops were to oversee the large area of southern Iraq around Basra. |
| Many of the witnesses to the inquiry, including former ministers and military commanders, were highly critical of what they said were failures in the Ministry of Defence to provide the necessary resources and equipment and the UK's general deferral to the US in key areas. | Many of the witnesses to the inquiry, including former ministers and military commanders, were highly critical of what they said were failures in the Ministry of Defence to provide the necessary resources and equipment and the UK's general deferral to the US in key areas. |
| In his statement, Sir John said: "We have found that the Ministry of Defence was slow in responding to the threat of improvised explosive devices and that delays in providing adequate medium Wight protected patrol vehicles should not have been tolerated. | In his statement, Sir John said: "We have found that the Ministry of Defence was slow in responding to the threat of improvised explosive devices and that delays in providing adequate medium Wight protected patrol vehicles should not have been tolerated. |
| "It was not clear which person or department or department within the Ministry of Defence was responsible for identifying and articulating such capability gaps. But it should have been." | "It was not clear which person or department or department within the Ministry of Defence was responsible for identifying and articulating such capability gaps. But it should have been." |
| Mr Blair told the inquiry the difficulties encountered in Iraq after the invasion could not have been known in advance but the inquiry says, the risks of "internal strife", regional instability and al-Qaeda activity in Iraq were each "explicitly identified before the invasion". | Mr Blair told the inquiry the difficulties encountered in Iraq after the invasion could not have been known in advance but the inquiry says, the risks of "internal strife", regional instability and al-Qaeda activity in Iraq were each "explicitly identified before the invasion". |
| "The planning and preparations for Iraq after Saddam Hussein were wholly inadequate. The government failed to achieve its stated objectives." | "The planning and preparations for Iraq after Saddam Hussein were wholly inadequate. The government failed to achieve its stated objectives." |
| How has Tony Blair reacted | |
| The former prime minister issued a statement saying he still believes the world is better off without Saddam Hussein and the war and its aftermath is not responsible for the "terrorism we see today whether in the Middle East or elsewhere in the world". | |
| The report, he claims, does not suggest there was any "falsification of the intelligence" and acknowledges that Mr Blair was told that there was a legal basis for the war. | |
| "The report should lay to rest allegations of bad faith, lies or deceit. Whether people agree or disagree with my decision to take military action against Saddam Hussein; I took it in good faith and in what I believed to be the best interests of the country," he said. | |
| But he acknowledges the report makes real criticisms of preparation, planning, process and of the relationship with the US. | |
| "These are serious criticisms and they require serious answers... I will take full responsibility for any mistakes without exception or excuse." | |
| Wider reaction | |
| Sir John said he hoped the report would answer some of the questions the relatives of those who died and enabled them to make their own mind up on the basis of the evidence. | Sir John said he hoped the report would answer some of the questions the relatives of those who died and enabled them to make their own mind up on the basis of the evidence. |
| Reg Keys, whose son Tom was killed in Iraq four days before his 21st birthday, told a news conference that his son had "died in vain". | Reg Keys, whose son Tom was killed in Iraq four days before his 21st birthday, told a news conference that his son had "died in vain". |
| And Karen Thornton, whose son Gunner Lee Thornton died in 2006 after being shot while on patrol in Iraq, told BBC Radio 4's Today that she wanted Mr Blair to face war crimes charges if it was proved he had lied. "I think the people who lied should be held to account for what they have done," she said. "They are responsible for the deaths of so many people." | And Karen Thornton, whose son Gunner Lee Thornton died in 2006 after being shot while on patrol in Iraq, told BBC Radio 4's Today that she wanted Mr Blair to face war crimes charges if it was proved he had lied. "I think the people who lied should be held to account for what they have done," she said. "They are responsible for the deaths of so many people." |
| Lib Dem leader Tim Farron, whose party opposed the war, said Mr Blair owed the British people an apology. | Lib Dem leader Tim Farron, whose party opposed the war, said Mr Blair owed the British people an apology. |
| "It's a stark contrast between Mr Blair's absolute, ruthless determination to go to war almost no matter the evidence on the one hand and on the other hand his complete failure and the government's failure to plan at all over what happened next," he said. | "It's a stark contrast between Mr Blair's absolute, ruthless determination to go to war almost no matter the evidence on the one hand and on the other hand his complete failure and the government's failure to plan at all over what happened next," he said. |
| The SNP, which also opposed the war, said it wanted to know why Tony Blair had supported the invasion "come what may", adding that those who failed in their duties must be held accountable for their actions. | The SNP, which also opposed the war, said it wanted to know why Tony Blair had supported the invasion "come what may", adding that those who failed in their duties must be held accountable for their actions. |
| And leading lawyer Philippe Sands, who gave evidence to the inquiry, said the cabinet had been "misled about the legal advice". | And leading lawyer Philippe Sands, who gave evidence to the inquiry, said the cabinet had been "misled about the legal advice". |
| David Cameron, who will make a statement later, told MPs during Prime Minister's Questions that lessons must be learnt on "how we make government work better and how legal advice is considered better". | |
| Jeremy Corbyn, who was an implacable opponent and was one of nearly 140 Labour MPs who opposed the decision to go to war, is to set Labour's position shortly. |