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Iraq war was 'right', says Brown Iraq war was 'right', says Brown
(20 minutes later)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said the 2003 war was "right", as he gives evidence to the UK's Iraq inquiry.Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said the 2003 war was "right", as he gives evidence to the UK's Iraq inquiry.
"I believe we made the right decisions for the right reasons," Mr Brown told the inquiry hearing in London. He insisted he had not been kept in the dark by his predecessor Tony Blair in the run up to the invasion.
But he said there were "lessons to learn" about decision making, international cooperation and how to build a "just peace" after wars. And he had been convinced by his own intelligence briefings that Iraq was a threat that "had to be dealt with".
He paid tribute to the servicemen and women killed in the conflict. He is expected to be quizzed for four hours. But the main issue for him was that Iraq was in breach of UN resolutions - and that "rogue states" could not be allowed to flout international law.
If the international community could not act together over Iraq, Mr Brown said he feared the "new world order we were trying to create would be put at risk".
Mr Brown, who was chancellor at the time of the war, is giving evidence weeks ahead of the UK general election, which is expected to be held in early May.Mr Brown, who was chancellor at the time of the war, is giving evidence weeks ahead of the UK general election, which is expected to be held in early May.
'Diplomatic route''Diplomatic route'
The session began with him being asked if he thought the decision to go to war had been the right one. He began the session by paying tribute to the "sacrifice" made by British servicemen and women.
Asked if it had been right to invade Iraq, he said: "I believe we made the right decisions for the right reasons."
But he said there were "lessons to learn" about decision making, international cooperation and how to build a "just peace" after future wars.
THE STORY SO FAR He may have been writing the cheques as chancellor, but Gordon Brown remained largely silent in the run-up to the 2003 Iraq warHe was thought by some to be sceptical about it. Others thought he was hedging his bets ahead of a leadership bidAfter becoming PM, he set up the Iraq inquiry to "learn lessons" from the war, although he originally wanted it held in secret and the timing ensured it would not report until after the electionEx-military leaders have given evidence at the inquiry suggesting Mr Brown kept defence spending tight during his 10 years at the Treasury with some suggesting this had a knock-on effect on forces' kitMr Brown has denied this and will want to counter any impression, as put by David Cameron, that he did not see the military as a priority until he was PM and it became politically convenient LIVE: Video and text commentary Q&A: Iraq war inquiry Iraq inquiry: Day-by-day timelineTHE STORY SO FAR He may have been writing the cheques as chancellor, but Gordon Brown remained largely silent in the run-up to the 2003 Iraq warHe was thought by some to be sceptical about it. Others thought he was hedging his bets ahead of a leadership bidAfter becoming PM, he set up the Iraq inquiry to "learn lessons" from the war, although he originally wanted it held in secret and the timing ensured it would not report until after the electionEx-military leaders have given evidence at the inquiry suggesting Mr Brown kept defence spending tight during his 10 years at the Treasury with some suggesting this had a knock-on effect on forces' kitMr Brown has denied this and will want to counter any impression, as put by David Cameron, that he did not see the military as a priority until he was PM and it became politically convenient LIVE: Video and text commentary Q&A: Iraq war inquiry Iraq inquiry: Day-by-day timeline
Mr Brown said terrorists and "rogue states" were the "two risks to the post-Cold War world" and had to be tackled. Setting out his thinking on the rationale for war for the first time in public, Mr Brown said terrorists and "rogue states" were the "two risks to the post-Cold War world" and had to be tackled.
"I met the intelligence services on a number of occasions during the course of 2002 and early 2003," he said."I met the intelligence services on a number of occasions during the course of 2002 and early 2003," he said.
"I was given information by the intelligence services which led me to believe that Iraq was a threat that had to be dealt with by the actions of the international community.""I was given information by the intelligence services which led me to believe that Iraq was a threat that had to be dealt with by the actions of the international community."
But he said the "more basic question" for him was that Iraq was in breach of UN resolutions and that both he and Tony Blair had focused their efforts on finding a diplomatic solution. But he added: "What we wanted was a diplomatic route to succeed."
"What we wanted was a diplomatic route to succeed," he said.
"Right up to the last minute, right up to the last weekend, I think many of us were hopeful that the diplomatic route would succeed.""Right up to the last minute, right up to the last weekend, I think many of us were hopeful that the diplomatic route would succeed."
He also revealed that he had spoken privately to Mr Blair about Iraq from early 2002, in addition to discussions about it in cabinet.
He said he had assured Mr Blair in the summer of 2002 that he would not rule out military options "on the ground of cost".He said he had assured Mr Blair in the summer of 2002 that he would not rule out military options "on the ground of cost".
"I said immediately to the prime minister... there should be no sense that there was any financial restraint that prevented us from doing what was best for the military," he told the inquiry."I said immediately to the prime minister... there should be no sense that there was any financial restraint that prevented us from doing what was best for the military," he told the inquiry.
He also said the cabinet was kept fully informed about efforts to get a "diplomatic solution" to prevent war.He also said the cabinet was kept fully informed about efforts to get a "diplomatic solution" to prevent war.
Post-war reconstruction was also discussed in cabinet, he told the inquiry, including involving international bodies such as the IMF, but he added: "I wish that it had been possible to follow that through more fully in the days after the battle."Post-war reconstruction was also discussed in cabinet, he told the inquiry, including involving international bodies such as the IMF, but he added: "I wish that it had been possible to follow that through more fully in the days after the battle."
Asked whether he knew what Mr Blair had said to US President George Bush at a private meeting at the US President's Texas ranch in 2002, at which some inquiry witnesses have suggested Mr Blair committed Britain to war, he said: "I didn't know the exact conversation and you wouldn't expect me to."Asked whether he knew what Mr Blair had said to US President George Bush at a private meeting at the US President's Texas ranch in 2002, at which some inquiry witnesses have suggested Mr Blair committed Britain to war, he said: "I didn't know the exact conversation and you wouldn't expect me to."
He said he had "all the information that was necessary" to make decisions about the possible financing of war and to take part in cabinet discussions about it, but added: "My role in this was not to interfere in what were very important diplomatic negotiations."He said he had "all the information that was necessary" to make decisions about the possible financing of war and to take part in cabinet discussions about it, but added: "My role in this was not to interfere in what were very important diplomatic negotiations."
He said the "decision making structures" in place in the run up to war were too informal and both he and Tony Blair had since taken steps to rectify this. But he said the "decision making structures" at the top of the British government in the run up to war were too informal and both he and Tony Blair had since taken steps to rectify this.
"We have learned lessons from the informality of the previous procedures," he told the inquiry, adding that it could be tightened up further if the inquiry recommends it."We have learned lessons from the informality of the previous procedures," he told the inquiry, adding that it could be tightened up further if the inquiry recommends it.
BallotBallot
Unlike Tony Blair when he appeared in January, Mr Brown entered the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, where the inquiry is being held, by the front entrance.Unlike Tony Blair when he appeared in January, Mr Brown entered the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, where the inquiry is being held, by the front entrance.
Only a small knot of protesters had gathered to mark his arrival.Only a small knot of protesters had gathered to mark his arrival.
As then-chancellor, inquiry witnesses have said Mr Brown played a key role in the run up to war and its aftermath. It has also been claimed he cut defence funding after the 2003 invasion.As then-chancellor, inquiry witnesses have said Mr Brown played a key role in the run up to war and its aftermath. It has also been claimed he cut defence funding after the 2003 invasion.
The inquiry is examining events from 2001 to 2009, including the decision to go to war, whether troops were properly prepared, the conflict and what planning there was for its aftermath.The inquiry is examining events from 2001 to 2009, including the decision to go to war, whether troops were properly prepared, the conflict and what planning there was for its aftermath.
The prime minister said recently Iraq's disregard for UN resolutions - not its weapons of mass destruction - was the main reason he backed the war.The prime minister said recently Iraq's disregard for UN resolutions - not its weapons of mass destruction - was the main reason he backed the war.
Originally the prime minister had been due to give evidence in public after the general election - widely expected to be held on 6 May - but it was moved forward amid some political pressure. Originally the prime minister had been due to give evidence in public after the general election but it was moved forward amid some political pressure.
Mr Brown has said he is happy to give evidence early as he did not want people to think there were any "unanswered questions".
The Times reported on Thursday that some families of soldiers who were killed in Iraq had urged the inquiry to challenge Mr Brown over funding for armed forces equipment - particularly the use of Snatch Land Rovers.The Times reported on Thursday that some families of soldiers who were killed in Iraq had urged the inquiry to challenge Mr Brown over funding for armed forces equipment - particularly the use of Snatch Land Rovers.
On Friday, in the same newspaper, former Chief of the Defence Staff Lord Guthrie accused Mr Brown of costing soldiers' lives by failing to fund the Army properly when he was chancellor.On Friday, in the same newspaper, former Chief of the Defence Staff Lord Guthrie accused Mr Brown of costing soldiers' lives by failing to fund the Army properly when he was chancellor.
"Not fully funding the Army in the way they had asked... undoubtedly cost the lives of soldiers," he told The Times."Not fully funding the Army in the way they had asked... undoubtedly cost the lives of soldiers," he told The Times.
The prime minister is expected to have a private meeting with family members of some of those killed in the conflict at some point during the day.The prime minister is expected to have a private meeting with family members of some of those killed in the conflict at some point during the day.
In previous evidence sessions former defence secretary Geoff Hoon said Mr Brown had been a key figure in the decisions that led to war.In previous evidence sessions former defence secretary Geoff Hoon said Mr Brown had been a key figure in the decisions that led to war.
WMD threatWMD threat
And the PM is likely to be asked about claims made to the inquiry by Sir Kevin Tebbit, former top civil servant at the Ministry of Defence, that, as chancellor, Mr Brown "guillotined" military spending six months after the invasion.And the PM is likely to be asked about claims made to the inquiry by Sir Kevin Tebbit, former top civil servant at the Ministry of Defence, that, as chancellor, Mr Brown "guillotined" military spending six months after the invasion.
Mr Brown has said defence spending increased to meet the challenge of the Iraq campaign.Mr Brown has said defence spending increased to meet the challenge of the Iraq campaign.
Only one family who lost a relative in Iraq has applied for seats at Mr Brown's hearing - 40 seats were reserved for families over the course of Mr Blair's day-long session.Only one family who lost a relative in Iraq has applied for seats at Mr Brown's hearing - 40 seats were reserved for families over the course of Mr Blair's day-long session.
3 Feb 2010: Sir Kevin Tebbit said Gordon Brown 'guillotined' MoD funding3 Feb 2010: Sir Kevin Tebbit said Gordon Brown 'guillotined' MoD funding
Last month Mr Brown told Tribune magazine the threat of weapons of mass destruction had not been the main reason he backed the war - it was Iraq's disregard for UN resolutions which had "put at risk" global security.Last month Mr Brown told Tribune magazine the threat of weapons of mass destruction had not been the main reason he backed the war - it was Iraq's disregard for UN resolutions which had "put at risk" global security.
He added that he wanted "my opportunity to explain what I tried to do".He added that he wanted "my opportunity to explain what I tried to do".
But the Liberal Democrats, who as a party opposed the Iraq war, dismissed Mr Brown's comments as a "shaky attempt to rewrite history".But the Liberal Democrats, who as a party opposed the Iraq war, dismissed Mr Brown's comments as a "shaky attempt to rewrite history".
Former prime minister Tony Blair gave evidence to the inquiry in January.Former prime minister Tony Blair gave evidence to the inquiry in January.
He said he had "no regrets" about removing Saddam Hussein from power and insisted the Iraq war had made the world a safer place.He said he had "no regrets" about removing Saddam Hussein from power and insisted the Iraq war had made the world a safer place.
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