Brit Iraq War Inquiry: Recall the poodle...............

MPs urge Iraq inquiry to recall Blair

2 July 2010 Tony Blair could be brought back before the Iraq war inquiry to face questions over whether he pressurised his Attorney General to change his advice and declare the invasion to be legal.

As it emerged that a period of time has been set aside in the autumn to recall witnesses, MPs last night called for the former Prime Minister to be brought back for a second cross-examination by Sir John Chilcot's panel.

Previously classified memos released this week to the inquiry hinted that the former Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, faced political pressure to reverse his opinion on the war's lawfulness.

One document disclosed that the day before Mr Blair met President George Bush to discuss the Iraq crisis – a meeting at which Mr Blair backed the invasion in principle – Lord Goldsmith warned that military action would be illegal without a second United Nations resolution. Mr Blair complained in the margin of the memo: "I just do not understand this."

Lord Goldsmith was to reverse his legal advice shortly afterwards. Continued

War inquiry hears from top ex-cop

02 July 2010 A FORMER South Yorkshire Police chief who advised Iraqi officials on policing in the country has given evidence to the Chilcott inquiry.
Ex-assistant chief constable Douglas Brand, who took up his role advising the Iraqi government in 2003, told the London hearing that post-war plans to build up the country's police force lacked resources and focus.

Mr Brand said "very few" US or UK officials realised targets for training 3,000 new police officers every two months were unrealistic due to the chaotic post-war situation in Iraq.

The inquiry is examining decisions taken in the run-up to the March 2003 invasion of Iraq, the conduct of the military campaign and the aftermath. The aim is to identify lessons that should be learnt.

Mr Brand said senior officers associated with the Saddam Hussein regime were removed after the war and there were not enough officers to train up new recruits and equip them for duty in that timescale. Continued