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| Army chief blames Iraq 'amateurs' | Army chief blames Iraq 'amateurs' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A senior official has told the inquiry into the Iraq war that "amateurs" who did not have the experience to perform were put into key roles in the country. | A senior official has told the inquiry into the Iraq war that "amateurs" who did not have the experience to perform were put into key roles in the country. |
| Lt Gen Frederick Viggers, Britain's senior military representative in Iraq, said lives had been lost as a result. | Lt Gen Frederick Viggers, Britain's senior military representative in Iraq, said lives had been lost as a result. |
| He said senior officials, including ministers, needed more training to deal with the complexities involved in mounting an invasion. | He said senior officials, including ministers, needed more training to deal with the complexities involved in mounting an invasion. |
| The inquiry is examining UK policy towards Iraq between 2001 and 2009. | |
| The first few weeks have focused on policy in the run-up to the war, the UK's assessment of Iraq's weapons capacity, military preparations for the invasion and post-war planning. | |
| 'Huge responsibility' | |
| Lt Gen Viggers said the operation had suffered from a lack of direction from the beginning. | |
| INQUIRY TIMELINE November and December 2009: Former top civil servants, spy chiefs, diplomats and military commanders give evidenceJanuary and February 2010: Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and other politicians expected to appear before the panel March 2010: Inquiry expected to adjourn ahead of the general election campaignJuly and August 2010: Inquiry expected to resumeLate 2010 or early 2011: Report set to be published Iraq inquiry: Day-by-day timeline Q&A: Iraq war inquiry | |
| "We've got huge experience in this country - we're not using it and we're putting amateurs into really really important positions and people are getting killed as a result of some of these decisions," he told the inquiry. | |
| "It's a huge responsibility and I just don't sense we're living up to it." | |
| He said it was those at the highest levels of government who did not seem to have a clear idea of the operation's direction. | |
| "I am not talking about the soldiers and commanders and civilians... who did a great job. But it's the intellectual horsepower that drives these things [which] needs better co-ordination," he said. | |
| In its first few weeks, the Iraq inquiry is hearing from senior diplomats and policy advisers who shaped policy in the run-up to the war. | |
| The crucial question of the legality of the war will not be addressed until early next year, when Tony Blair is expected to give evidence. |