Sir John Chilcot’s report is a damning indictment of the decision of Tony Blair, then Prime Minister, to send British troops to Iraq in 2003 which proved to be disastrous on several fronts: administrative, political, financial, and human (‘World’ – “Saddam posed no imminent threat in 2003: Chilcot”, July 7). More so, because of the assumptions, presumptions and perceptions about the threat posed by Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction and Saddam Hussein which were wrongly presented to Parliament. Mr. Blair would undoubtedly remain guilty forever for playing second fiddle to the U.S. and in his failure to make an independent assessment on the need and impact of the outcome of invasion.
As the report says, British intervention could not realise the stated objectives. On the contrary, it has only aggravated the situation in Iraq paving the way for more dangerous outfits like the Islamic State. To this extent even George Bush, then President of the United States, is equally culpable.
B. Harish,
Mangaluru
