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Army chief blames Iraq 'amateurs' Army chief blames Iraq 'amateurs'
(about 2 hours 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 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.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''Huge responsibility'
Lt Gen Viggers said the operation had suffered from a lack of direction from the beginning. Lt Gen Viggers said the operation had suffered from a lack of direction and a clear idea of what would be faced from the beginning.
"It was rather like going to the theatre and seeing one sort of play and realising you were watching a tragedy as the curtains came back," he said.
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 inquiryINQUIRY 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
He said lessons from Iraq were not being applied in Afghanistan.
"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."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.""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. Without naming individuals, he said he blamed those at the highest levels of government.
"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."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. 'Immutable decision'
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. Later, the commission heard that decisions on medium and long-term strategy had been imposed on regional commanders without consultation.
There was a terrific argument about this but actually there was no point in us discussing it as it already been discussed in Washington and was immutable Hilary Synnott, CPA regional co-ordinator
Hilary Synnott, the Coalition Provisional Authority's (CPA) regional co-ordinator for Southern Iraq from July 2003 until January 2004, described the moment a long-term plan for the governance of Iraq had been revealed.
"It caused an explosion among American commanders," he said.
"This was a long-term plan going up to the end of 2005.
"It was deeply flawed.
"There was a terrific argument about this, but actually there was no point in us discussing it, as it had already been discussed in Washington and was immutable."
He said when they had later been told that the CPA was to be wound up it had come as a "total surprise".
"The decision was made in Washington," he said.
"The assumption at the time among us was that the decision was greatly coloured by the imminence of the mid-term elections.
"The CPA was not winning, best to hand over responsibility for Iraqis and to cease to be responsible for Iraqi sovereignty.
"That's how it came to pass".