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Blair says 9/11 changed Iraq view Blair says 9/11 changed Iraq view
(10 minutes later)
Britain's attitude towards the risk posed by Saddam Hussein "changed dramatically" after 11 September 2001, Tony Blair has told the Iraq inquiry.Britain's attitude towards the risk posed by Saddam Hussein "changed dramatically" after 11 September 2001, Tony Blair has told the Iraq inquiry.
The former PM said that the policy up to that point was one of "containment".The former PM said that the policy up to that point was one of "containment".
Mr Blair is facing questions in public for the first time about taking the UK to war against Iraq.Mr Blair is facing questions in public for the first time about taking the UK to war against Iraq.
Sir John Chilcot began the six hour question session by saying Mr Blair could be recalled to give further evidence if necessary.Sir John Chilcot began the six hour question session by saying Mr Blair could be recalled to give further evidence if necessary.
Sir John stressed that Mr Blair was not "on trial". He will be quizzed by the inquiry on the build-up to the 2003 invasion and is expected to give a spirited defence of his actions.Sir John stressed that Mr Blair was not "on trial". He will be quizzed by the inquiry on the build-up to the 2003 invasion and is expected to give a spirited defence of his actions.
'Risk assessment''Risk assessment'
Mr Blair said British policy towards Saddam was transformed by the terror attacks on America in September 2001.Mr Blair said British policy towards Saddam was transformed by the terror attacks on America in September 2001.
THE STORY SO FAR... In April 2002, with 9/11 still dominating the agenda, Tony Blair warns of Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destructionDespite the biggest anti-war protest in British history, in March 2003 British forces join the US invasion of Iraq after efforts to get UN backing failWith no weapons of mass destruction found attention switches to the way intelligence was used to justify warThe Hutton inquiry finds the government did not "sex up" dossier on Saddam's weaponsBut the Butler inquiry finds "serious flaws" in pre-war intelligenceAnd with public feelings still running high, Gordon Brown announces Chilcot inquiry to "learn the lessons" of the Iraq conflict. Live: Video, and text commentary Q&A: Iraq inquiry explainedTHE STORY SO FAR... In April 2002, with 9/11 still dominating the agenda, Tony Blair warns of Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destructionDespite the biggest anti-war protest in British history, in March 2003 British forces join the US invasion of Iraq after efforts to get UN backing failWith no weapons of mass destruction found attention switches to the way intelligence was used to justify warThe Hutton inquiry finds the government did not "sex up" dossier on Saddam's weaponsBut the Butler inquiry finds "serious flaws" in pre-war intelligenceAnd with public feelings still running high, Gordon Brown announces Chilcot inquiry to "learn the lessons" of the Iraq conflict. Live: Video, and text commentary Q&A: Iraq inquiry explained
He said: "I would fairly describe our policy up to September 11 as doing our best, hoping for the best but with a different calculus of risk assessment."He said: "I would fairly describe our policy up to September 11 as doing our best, hoping for the best but with a different calculus of risk assessment."
He added: "The point about those acts in New York is that, had they been able to kill more people than the 3,000, they would have.He added: "The point about those acts in New York is that, had they been able to kill more people than the 3,000, they would have.
"My view was you can't take risks with this issue.""My view was you can't take risks with this issue."
He told the inquiry Iraq had shown "10 years of defiance" and had to be brought "back into compliance".He told the inquiry Iraq had shown "10 years of defiance" and had to be brought "back into compliance".
But he said the New York atrocities were key to the change in the "assessment" of the security risk.But he said the New York atrocities were key to the change in the "assessment" of the security risk.
Families of some of the 179 British soldiers killed in Iraq are watching the evidence with others said to be joining the 200 or so anti-war protestors outside.Families of some of the 179 British soldiers killed in Iraq are watching the evidence with others said to be joining the 200 or so anti-war protestors outside.
Rose Gentle's son, Gordon, was killed by a roadside bomb in Basra in 2004, while serving with the Royal Highland Fusiliers.Rose Gentle's son, Gordon, was killed by a roadside bomb in Basra in 2004, while serving with the Royal Highland Fusiliers.
Regime changeRegime change
She said the families of the dead wanted closure and for Mr Blair to explain "in depth" to the families and and the public "why he went in" as she said he had never done that before.She said the families of the dead wanted closure and for Mr Blair to explain "in depth" to the families and and the public "why he went in" as she said he had never done that before.
The Chilcot inquiry is likely to ask Mr Blair at what stage he promised US President George W Bush Britain would support military action against Iraq.The Chilcot inquiry is likely to ask Mr Blair at what stage he promised US President George W Bush Britain would support military action against Iraq.
Some witnesses have said assurances were given in 2002 - although the then Attorney General Lord Goldsmith has told the inquiry he had warned Mr Blair that using force for regime change would be illegal.Some witnesses have said assurances were given in 2002 - although the then Attorney General Lord Goldsmith has told the inquiry he had warned Mr Blair that using force for regime change would be illegal.
Millions of British people are still asking themselves: Why did we participate in an illegal invasion of another country? Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg Tony Blair on Iraq: Key questions Send us your commentsMillions of British people are still asking themselves: Why did we participate in an illegal invasion of another country? Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg Tony Blair on Iraq: Key questions Send us your comments
Lord Goldsmith, whose legal opinion cabinet ministers and the British military depended upon before agreeing to involvement in the war, said he originally believed the United Nations had to approve the use of force and only changed his mind a month before the invasion.Lord Goldsmith, whose legal opinion cabinet ministers and the British military depended upon before agreeing to involvement in the war, said he originally believed the United Nations had to approve the use of force and only changed his mind a month before the invasion.
Mr Blair has also set up another line of questioning by saying in a recent BBC interview that he would have backed the invasion even if he had known beforehand that Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction.Mr Blair has also set up another line of questioning by saying in a recent BBC interview that he would have backed the invasion even if he had known beforehand that Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction.
'Overtly political''Overtly political'
A former head of the civil service, Lord Turnbull, told the inquiry they should question Mr Blair about this because throughout the period leading up to war, Mr Blair had been "unambiguous" that disarming Saddam of weapons of mass destruction was his primary objective.A former head of the civil service, Lord Turnbull, told the inquiry they should question Mr Blair about this because throughout the period leading up to war, Mr Blair had been "unambiguous" that disarming Saddam of weapons of mass destruction was his primary objective.
IRAQ INQUIRY TWEETS IRAQ INQUIRY TWEETS
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Different emphasis on Crawford-Blair says he went to find out what US wanted to achieve-others said he went to persuade them to go UN route 1 minute ago Power struggle between 1st questioner Roderick Lyne and TB now over - but former PM dominated - onto Baroness Prashar now 7 minutes ago TB appears to admit he made a mistake in recent BBC interview - says he did not mean he would have removed Saddam without WMD threat 13 minutes ago Interesting - TB says potential probs of war that cabinet discussed mainly about impact on Arab world - hasn't mentioned probs with legality 21 minutes ago TB says 'removing Saddam' was always an option - note he says 'removing' not disarming - will panel pick that up? 24 minutes ago What is this? TB's body language speaks volumes about his attitude to Christopher Meyer, former UK ambassador to US - not a fan 2 minutes ago Blair says he agreed with Bush on 'end and means' of dealing with Saddam at Crawford - was that a promise of military action or not? 9 minutes ago Different emphasis on Crawford-Blair says he went to find out what US wanted to achieve-others said he went to persuade them to go UN route 12 minutes ago Power struggle between 1st questioner Roderick Lyne and TB now over - but former PM dominated - onto Baroness Prashar now 17 minutes ago TB appears to admit he made a mistake in recent BBC interview - says he did not mean he would have removed Saddam without WMD threat 24 minutes ago What is this?
In his appearance, Mr Blair's former director of communications Alastair Campbell sought to address some of the questions around the key September 2002 dossier on the alleged threat posed by Saddam published in the run up to the war.In his appearance, Mr Blair's former director of communications Alastair Campbell sought to address some of the questions around the key September 2002 dossier on the alleged threat posed by Saddam published in the run up to the war.
The dossier included a foreword by Mr Blair in which he wrote that he believed the intelligence, which the inquiry has been told had many caveats attached, had established "beyond doubt" that Saddam Hussein had continued to produce chemical and biological weapons.The dossier included a foreword by Mr Blair in which he wrote that he believed the intelligence, which the inquiry has been told had many caveats attached, had established "beyond doubt" that Saddam Hussein had continued to produce chemical and biological weapons.
Mr Campbell, who drafted the first version of the foreword - ultimately approved by Mr Blair - said no-one in intelligence challenged this statement which, he added, never suggested Saddam Hussein "was able to do something terrible to the British mainland".Mr Campbell, who drafted the first version of the foreword - ultimately approved by Mr Blair - said no-one in intelligence challenged this statement which, he added, never suggested Saddam Hussein "was able to do something terrible to the British mainland".
This will be the third time Mr Blair has given evidence during an inquiry into the Iraq war.This will be the third time Mr Blair has given evidence during an inquiry into the Iraq war.
He previously gave evidence to the Hutton inquiry, the Butler review and the Intelligence and Security Committee investigation - although the latter two into the pre-war intelligence took place behind closed doors.He previously gave evidence to the Hutton inquiry, the Butler review and the Intelligence and Security Committee investigation - although the latter two into the pre-war intelligence took place behind closed doors.
Questions at the Hutton inquiry were restricted to events surrounding the death of government weapons scientist Dr David Kelly, rather than the political decisions behind the war.Questions at the Hutton inquiry were restricted to events surrounding the death of government weapons scientist Dr David Kelly, rather than the political decisions behind the war.