Iraq War: Bush and Blair Private Discussions

Private talks between Tony Blair and George Bush on Iraq war to be published

29 December 2013 - The Government is working to declassify more than 100 secret documents detailing discussions that took place between Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and George Bush in the run-up to the Iraq war. The Independent understands that, in an unprecedented move, a cache of notes from Mr Blair to Mr Bush, records of telephone conversations and meetings, as well as up to 200 minutes of cabinet-level discussions are to be published in the new year.

The release of the documents, which is likely to be in the next few months, will clear the way for Sir John Chilcot’s Iraq Inquiry to publish its long-awaited report into Britain’s involvement in the conflict.

There had been fears that Mr Blair and the US authorities would block the release of the confidential papers, which are said to provide an intimate picture of how decisions were made in the lead-up to war.

On Sunday, a government source said that “good progress” had been made towards declassifying many of the records. read more>>>

Chilcot to unmask Blair-Bush talks on Iraq war

Dec 30, 2013 - A report into British involvement in the Iraq war and its aftermath is set to disclose secret conversations between former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and former US President George W Bush.

A decade after Britain's controversial role in the US-led invasion of Iraq, the Chilcot inquiry, led by Sir John Chilcot, will finally publish a fuller account of communications between Blair and Bush.

According to The Independent, the long-awaited report into Britain’s involvement in the Iraq war will publish a cache of notes from Blair to Bush, records of telephone conversations and meetings, as well as up to 200 minutes of cabinet-level discussions in the new year.

A Whitehall source said that “good progress” had been made towards declassifying many of the records, adding that, “There will be a lot more than people were expecting."

He also noted that some of the contents of the documents will be blacked out for national security reasons and to prevent damage to US-Britain relations.

According to government sources, the papers are likely to be published within three months, clearing the way for the publication of the final report. read more>>>

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