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Straw speaks of Iraq war dilemma 45 minute claim has 'haunted us'
(40 minutes later)
Jack Straw has said the decision to back the Iraq invasion was "the most difficult decision" he had ever taken. The claim Saddam Hussein could use chemical weapons within 45 minutes has "haunted us ever since", ex-foreign secretary Jack Straw has said.
In written evidence to the Iraq inquiry, the former foreign secretary described the issue as a "profoundly difficult moral and political dilemma". He said the decision to go to war was not based just on intelligence but it was an "error" not to be more precise about the claim in the 2002 dossier.
Appearing in person, Mr Straw said he regarded regime change as the objective of military action in Iraq as "improper and unlawful" and never supported it. Mr Straw told the Iraq inquiry that supporting the March 2003 war was "the most difficult decision" he had taken.
He is the first serving cabinet minister to give evidence. He said that if he had opposed it the UK would not have taken part.
Mr Straw, who is currently the justice secretary, said the decision had been a "profoundly difficult moral and political dilemma".
Mr Straw said he regarded the US policy of regime change as the objective of military action in Iraq as "improper and unlawful" but insisted Saddam was a "serious threat" that must be addressed.
'Critical decision''Critical decision'
Mr Straw is the most senior figure yet, and the first serving cabinet minister, to give evidence to the inquiry - which is examining the background to UK involvement in the March 2003 war and its aftermath.
In a written statement published as he began to be questioned, Mr Straw said he was "fully aware" that, as foreign secretary, his support for military action would be "critical" if the UK was to commit troops.In a written statement published as he began to be questioned, Mr Straw said he was "fully aware" that, as foreign secretary, his support for military action would be "critical" if the UK was to commit troops.
"If I had refused that, the UK's participation in the military action would not have been possible," he said."If I had refused that, the UK's participation in the military action would not have been possible," he said.
"There would almost certainly have been no majority in cabinet or in the Commons.""There would almost certainly have been no majority in cabinet or in the Commons."
I regarded it [regime change] as improper and self-evidently unlawful Jack StrawI regarded it [regime change] as improper and self-evidently unlawful Jack Straw
During the first hour of a planned three-hour appearance before the inquiry, Mr Straw pointed out that US had backed the principle of regime change in Iraq since 1998 but this was never British policy. Mr Straw pointed out that US had backed the principle of regime change in Iraq since 1998 but this was never British policy.
"It was not our policy in 2002 nor in 2003," he said. "There would have been no legal basis for it ever being our policy. "It was not our policy in 2002 nor in 2003," he said. "There would have been no legal basis for it ever being our policy."
He said he would never have "been a party" to such a policy: "I regarded it [the policy of regime change] as improper and self-evidently unlawful."He said he would never have "been a party" to such a policy: "I regarded it [the policy of regime change] as improper and self-evidently unlawful."
During the spring of 2002, when Mr Blair had a crucial meeting with President George W Bush in Texas, Mr Straw said there was a "debate" taking place in government about the best way to deal with Iraq.During the spring of 2002, when Mr Blair had a crucial meeting with President George W Bush in Texas, Mr Straw said there was a "debate" taking place in government about the best way to deal with Iraq.
Before that meeting Mr Straw wrote to Mr Blair - in a letter subsequently leaked - that "regime change per se is no justification for military action: it could form part of the method of any strategy, but not a goal".Before that meeting Mr Straw wrote to Mr Blair - in a letter subsequently leaked - that "regime change per se is no justification for military action: it could form part of the method of any strategy, but not a goal".
Straw thought regime change would have been 'improper and unlawful' in spring 2002 - says it was not on UK agenda then Laura Kuenssberg Follow Laura Kuenssberg's tweetsStraw thought regime change would have been 'improper and unlawful' in spring 2002 - says it was not on UK agenda then Laura Kuenssberg Follow Laura Kuenssberg's tweets
Asked whether No 10 had "pre-empted" the Foreign Office over Iraqi policy, Mr Straw said Mr Blair was "aware" that regime change could not be a basis for acting against Iraq nor could it be "disguised" as such.Asked whether No 10 had "pre-empted" the Foreign Office over Iraqi policy, Mr Straw said Mr Blair was "aware" that regime change could not be a basis for acting against Iraq nor could it be "disguised" as such.
However, asked to what extent his views differed from the prime minister, Mr Straw said the panel must ask Mr Blair that.However, asked to what extent his views differed from the prime minister, Mr Straw said the panel must ask Mr Blair that.
Mr Straw was asked about private correspondence between Mr Blair and President Bush at the time in which Mr Blair indicated the UK "would be" with the US if diplomatic efforts failed and it came to military action.Mr Straw was asked about private correspondence between Mr Blair and President Bush at the time in which Mr Blair indicated the UK "would be" with the US if diplomatic efforts failed and it came to military action.
"Would I have written them in the same way? Probably not. I am not the same person.""Would I have written them in the same way? Probably not. I am not the same person."
But he said the letters were part of a trust-building exercise between the two leaders which ultimately led to the US agreeing to seek UN approval for further action on disarming Iraq.But he said the letters were part of a trust-building exercise between the two leaders which ultimately led to the US agreeing to seek UN approval for further action on disarming Iraq.
'Dossier error''Dossier error'
Mr Straw said the case for action against Iraq was "in no sense based on intelligence alone" and was predicated on other factors such as Saddam Hussein's history of using weapons of mass destruction and his track record of "open defiance" of the United Nations. Mr Straw said the case for action against Iraq was "in no sense based on intelligence alone" and also took into account other factors such as Saddam Hussein's history of using weapons of mass destruction and his track record of "open defiance" of the United Nations.
But he admitted the claim in the government's September 2002 dossier on Iraq's threat that chemical weapons could be used within 45 minutes should have been "much more precise" about what this referred to. But he admitted the claim in the government's September 2002 dossier on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction that chemical weapons could be used within 45 minutes of an order being given should have been "much more precise" about what this referred to.
"That was an error, an error that has haunted us ever since.""That was an error, an error that has haunted us ever since."
INQUIRY TIMELINE January-February: Jack Straw, Tony Blair and other senior Labour figures to appear before the panel February: Inquiry to adjourn ahead of the general election campaignJune-July: Inquiry to resume and hear from Gordon Brown among othersReport set to be published in late 2010 or early 2011 Iraq inquiry: Day-by-day timeline Q&A: Iraq war inquiryINQUIRY TIMELINE January-February: Jack Straw, Tony Blair and other senior Labour figures to appear before the panel February: Inquiry to adjourn ahead of the general election campaignJune-July: Inquiry to resume and hear from Gordon Brown among othersReport set to be published in late 2010 or early 2011 Iraq inquiry: Day-by-day timeline Q&A: Iraq war inquiry
Mr Straw said the UK insisted throughout on a series of pre-conditions for its backing for military action against Iraq including its approval by the UN, that it must be a last resort and such a move must be lawful.Mr Straw said the UK insisted throughout on a series of pre-conditions for its backing for military action against Iraq including its approval by the UN, that it must be a last resort and such a move must be lawful.
Mr Straw helped negotiate a UN resolution in November 2002 giving Saddam Hussein a "final opportunity" to meet its disarmament obligations but failed in efforts to get a second resolution which critics say was needed to explicitly authorise military action.Mr Straw helped negotiate a UN resolution in November 2002 giving Saddam Hussein a "final opportunity" to meet its disarmament obligations but failed in efforts to get a second resolution which critics say was needed to explicitly authorise military action.
Nevertheless, Mr Straw said Saddam Hussein had clearly failed to comply with the initial resolution in terms of co-operating with inspectors and providing full disclosure of his weapons capability.Nevertheless, Mr Straw said Saddam Hussein had clearly failed to comply with the initial resolution in terms of co-operating with inspectors and providing full disclosure of his weapons capability.
"He was given an ultimatum and did not take it," he said."He was given an ultimatum and did not take it," he said.
Ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair will appear on 29 January at the inquiry, which is looking into the run-up, conduct of and aftermath of the war.Ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair will appear on 29 January at the inquiry, which is looking into the run-up, conduct of and aftermath of the war.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he had written to the inquiry chairman, Sir John Chilcot, to say he was "happy" to appear before the panel at any time of its choosing.On Wednesday, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he had written to the inquiry chairman, Sir John Chilcot, to say he was "happy" to appear before the panel at any time of its choosing.
He is due to give evidence after the general election but opposition parties say he should appear beforehand as he played a crucial role, then as chancellor, in spending decisions.He is due to give evidence after the general election but opposition parties say he should appear beforehand as he played a crucial role, then as chancellor, in spending decisions.