Same judge, same jury: Blair innocent of war crimes again?

Sir John Chilcot and his inquiry committee have been chosen to "do a job for the government", say former government advisor on Iraq and legal experts.

Stop the War has already exposed what a sham the Iraq Inquiry is. The committee handpicked by Gordon Brown has no other purpose than to whitewash the politicians -- most notably Tony Blair -- who lied to take this country into an illegal war which resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and the utter devastation of a nation which posed no threat whatever to Britain.

Cartoon by Martin Rowson

Carne Ross, who was Britain's key negotiator at the United Nations from 1998 to 2002, has little doubt that this is the purpose of the Iraq Inquiry.

In 2004, Ross revealed in his evidence to the Butler Report -- an earlier attempt to whitewash war crimes -- the extent of Blair's lies.

Ross told Butler that during his posting to the UN, "at no time did Her Majesty's Government assess that Iraq's WMD -- or any other capability -- posed a threat to the UK".

Blair must have known this when he told Parliament that the war was legally justified because Saddam possessed WMDs which could be "activated" within 45 minutes and posed a threat to British interests, claims that were also made in the "dodgy" dossiers Downing Street used to justify an illegal war.

"Sexing up"

Carne Ross's evidence was suppressed until two years after the Butler Report had cleared Tony Blair of lying and Downing Street of "sexing up" the dossier.

Serving on the Butler Committee was one Sir John Chilcot, who Gordon Brown has chosen to chair the current Iraq Inquiry, which is about to begin its public hearings.

Carne Ross has no doubts as to the reasons for Brown choosing Chilcot.

"That Sir John Chilcot served on the Butler inquiry is like trying the same crime twice with the same judge and jury – not a credible standard for truth-seeking. Many of those giving evidence will have a deep interest in confirming the government's narrative, for they are deeply implicated in having implemented it."

The Observer newspaper reports that Ross's concerns about the suitability of Chilcot to chair the inquiry are shared by legal experts preparing to give evidence. Philippe Sands QC, the international lawyer, said: "Having some familiarity with Sir John's questioning... it is not immediately apparent that he will have the backbone to take on former government ministers."

Fears

Several senior figures in the legal establishment have also told the Observer of their fears that Chilcot "will do a job for the government". The relatives of British soldiers killed in Iraq are hoping for more, as they made clear when giving evidence to Chilcot in October.

Peter Brierley, whose son Shaun died in 2003 and who famously refused to shake Tony Blair's hand at a service commemorating the British killed in Iraq, said: "Members of the government that are proved to be involved in a decision to go to war should face a court charge of crimes against humanity and genocide. Saddam Hussein was tried for the deaths of 280 people in a village and he was hung for it. I think Tony Blair is responsible for a hell of a lot more than 280 people."

Eddie Hancock, whose son Jamie died in Basra in 2006, said there was "a bitterness that borders on hatred" among relatives at Tony Blair's decision to take the UK to war in Iraq. He told Chilcot he hoped his inquiry was "big enough to take down the protectionism surrounding Blair, brick-by-brick if necessary. If Tony Blair is found to be innocent he should be publicly exonerated. If he is found to be guilty and lied to the nation he should get it straight in the neck."

Karen Thornton, whose son Lee died after being shot in Basra in 2006, said: "We hope that we will get answers from the inquiry and we hope that Tony Blair is held to account for the war he has caused based on lies."

Hope

It is a hope that will almost inevitably be dashed by Chilcot, who has already said there will be no apportioning of blame for the Iraq catastrophe.

As Carne Ross says, "Look at the players, read the pre-ordained if unadmitted script, and the show that we are about to witness becomes clear – it is, after all, for our benefit. The purpose? To confirm that our democracy, Parliament and government function as they should. Government may get it wrong sometimes, and may even sometimes be dishonest, but it is ultimately perfectible and capable. The country is secure in its hands; safe can be our sleep."

Gordon Brown would not have chosen Sir John Chilcot to chair the inquiry if any other outcome was possible than for the third time, after the Hutton and Butler whitewashes, a report investigating Tony Blair's war crimes concludes that he is blameless.