Alastair Campbell, right-hand man to Tony Blair during the run up to the invasion of Iraq (and beyond), is today giving testimony at the Chilcot inquiry in London. The Guardian has rolling updates from his appearance at the inquiry HERE. It seems Campbell's sticking to his guns and loyally defending his old chum. 11.18am: Here are the main points so far:
* Campbell attacked Sir Christopher Meyer for what he said in his evidence about Blair's visit to Crawford. He also said Meyer was "churlish" in refusing to accept that Blair subsequently persuaded Bush to involve the UN.
* Campbell denied Blair agreed to support regime change at the meeting in Crawford. He also denied that Blair made any military commitments at that meeting.
* Campbell insisted that, up until March 2003, Blair was trying to find a peaceful solution to the crisis.
See previous posts about the inquiry HERE and HERE.
Well, I for one reckon we're getting the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, and that they're all honourable men. And none of their decisions or commitments had anything to do with sucking up to Bush.
ReplyDeleteSarcasm aside, it's a pity that the inquiry can't also be used to work out some means of clearing up the mess they've created in Iraq and Afghanistan, and compensating for the lives lost and ruined. But they'd be incapable of doing that, of course, even if they were genuinely willing.