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Hoon denies Iraq war inevitable Hoon denies Iraq war inevitable
(10 minutes later)
British involvement in the invasion of Iraq was not decided until it was approved by MPs, Geoff Hoon has said.British involvement in the invasion of Iraq was not decided until it was approved by MPs, Geoff Hoon has said.
The ex-defence secretary said the UK always hoped diplomatic efforts on Iraq would be successful and had never given "unconditional" support for war.The ex-defence secretary said the UK always hoped diplomatic efforts on Iraq would be successful and had never given "unconditional" support for war.
It would have been "inappropriate" for the cabinet to challenge the legal advice it received on the war, he said. It would have been "inappropriate" for the cabinet to discuss the legal advice it received on the war, he said.
Letters show that the attorney general warned Mr Hoon in April 2002 about the legality of military action.Letters show that the attorney general warned Mr Hoon in April 2002 about the legality of military action.
Lord Goldsmith ultimately advised the government just days before the invasion in March 2003 that such an action would be legal but only after raising several concerns in an earlier analysis.Lord Goldsmith ultimately advised the government just days before the invasion in March 2003 that such an action would be legal but only after raising several concerns in an earlier analysis.
Mr Hoon said it was "no great surprise" that his initial assessment was "finely argued" but insisted that the attorney general's final conclusion was "categorical" and gave ministers and the military the assurances they needed that their actions would be lawful.Mr Hoon said it was "no great surprise" that his initial assessment was "finely argued" but insisted that the attorney general's final conclusion was "categorical" and gave ministers and the military the assurances they needed that their actions would be lawful.
I never assumed that that we were in a position of unconditionally resorting to military action Geoff Hoon I never assumed that we were in a position of unconditionally resorting to military action Geoff Hoon
Defence secretary from 1999 to 2005, Mr Hoon is the first cabinet minister to appear before the Chilcot inquiry.Defence secretary from 1999 to 2005, Mr Hoon is the first cabinet minister to appear before the Chilcot inquiry.
He said the "inherent assumption" that the UK would take part in military action, come what may, was wrong.He said the "inherent assumption" that the UK would take part in military action, come what may, was wrong.
The UK always hoped diplomatic efforts - through the United Nations - to disarm Saddam Hussein would be "successful", and involvement in any invasion was not inevitable until MPs backed the move in March 2003.The UK always hoped diplomatic efforts - through the United Nations - to disarm Saddam Hussein would be "successful", and involvement in any invasion was not inevitable until MPs backed the move in March 2003.
"I never assumed that we were in a position of unconditionally resorting to military action, actually, right up to the vote in the House of Commons," he said."I never assumed that we were in a position of unconditionally resorting to military action, actually, right up to the vote in the House of Commons," he said.
'Pretty real''Pretty real'
It was apparent that the US "meant business" on Iraq by the summer of 2002, Mr Hoon told the inquiry, as the 9/11 attacks had totally changed US thinking about security risks.It was apparent that the US "meant business" on Iraq by the summer of 2002, Mr Hoon told the inquiry, as the 9/11 attacks had totally changed US thinking about security risks.
"It was getting pretty real by then," he said. "I think there was a real sense of the Americans thinking through in a very practical way the consequences of the 'axis of evil' speech and focusing on Iraq.""It was getting pretty real by then," he said. "I think there was a real sense of the Americans thinking through in a very practical way the consequences of the 'axis of evil' speech and focusing on Iraq."
At a crucial meeting with President George Bush in April 2002, former prime minister Tony Blair sought information about US military planning in order to understand US policy and to try to "influence it", he said.At a crucial meeting with President George Bush in April 2002, former prime minister Tony Blair sought information about US military planning in order to understand US policy and to try to "influence it", he said.
But at this stage, he stressed, there was "no expectation" in Whitehall that the UK would contribute troops to any future military action and that this was only a possibility if certain conditions were met.But at this stage, he stressed, there was "no expectation" in Whitehall that the UK would contribute troops to any future military action and that this was only a possibility if certain conditions were met.
Mr Hoon said it did not "surprise" him that Mr Blair wrote private letters to President Bush about Iraq - the existence of which was revealed by former No 10 communications director Alastair Campbell - but said he did not believe he would have made any commitments.Mr Hoon said it did not "surprise" him that Mr Blair wrote private letters to President Bush about Iraq - the existence of which was revealed by former No 10 communications director Alastair Campbell - but said he did not believe he would have made any commitments.
Military planning
As US military preparations intensified, Mr Hoon said the US assumed in October 2002 that the UK would not provide any land forces to an invasion, restricting its involvement to air and naval support.As US military preparations intensified, Mr Hoon said the US assumed in October 2002 that the UK would not provide any land forces to an invasion, restricting its involvement to air and naval support.
Mr Hoon said he then pressed the prime minister to decide whether to commit troops, aware that military commanders were concerned they would not have enough time to prepare if the go-ahead was given.Mr Hoon said he then pressed the prime minister to decide whether to commit troops, aware that military commanders were concerned they would not have enough time to prepare if the go-ahead was given.
Military planning
He acknowledged that the UK felt it would have more influence over post-war Iraq if it played a "big role" in military operations.He acknowledged that the UK felt it would have more influence over post-war Iraq if it played a "big role" in military operations.
Declassified letters published by the inquiry show that Mr Hoon was warned by Lord Goldsmith in April 2002 that there were "considerable difficulties" in justifying military action in Iraq.Declassified letters published by the inquiry show that Mr Hoon was warned by Lord Goldsmith in April 2002 that there were "considerable difficulties" in justifying military action in Iraq.
Nearly a full year before the invasion, Lord Goldsmith told Mr Hoon - following a TV interview he had given about Iraq - that he was "not aware of the existence of material indicating the existence of an imminent threat from Iraq which would justify military action without the support of a [United Nations] Security Council authorisation".Nearly a full year before the invasion, Lord Goldsmith told Mr Hoon - following a TV interview he had given about Iraq - that he was "not aware of the existence of material indicating the existence of an imminent threat from Iraq which would justify military action without the support of a [United Nations] Security Council authorisation".
During the inquiry it has emerged that the cabinet did not discuss the issue of the legality of the invasion despite pressure from former International Development Secretary Clare Short to do so.During the inquiry it has emerged that the cabinet did not discuss the issue of the legality of the invasion despite pressure from former International Development Secretary Clare Short to do so.
Mr Hoon said he regarded the attorney general's advice as a conclusive legal judgement rather than a policy issue to be debated by ministers.Mr Hoon said he regarded the attorney general's advice as a conclusive legal judgement rather than a policy issue to be debated by ministers.
"His [Lord Goldsmith's] decision was that it was lawful. I cannot see how cabinet can look behind it," he said. "I am not sure that it would be appropriate for cabinet to have that kind of discussion.""His [Lord Goldsmith's] decision was that it was lawful. I cannot see how cabinet can look behind it," he said. "I am not sure that it would be appropriate for cabinet to have that kind of discussion."
On Thursday Jack Straw - foreign secretary at the time of the invasion - will appear for a single three-hour session and on 29 January Tony Blair will give evidence for a full day.On Thursday Jack Straw - foreign secretary at the time of the invasion - will appear for a single three-hour session and on 29 January Tony Blair will give evidence for a full day.
Demand for seats for Mr Blair's evidence has been so high the inquiry has allocated them using a ballot system.Demand for seats for Mr Blair's evidence has been so high the inquiry has allocated them using a ballot system.
The Liberal Democrats say Gordon Brown should appear at the inquiry earlier than his expected date after the general election.The Liberal Democrats say Gordon Brown should appear at the inquiry earlier than his expected date after the general election.