Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq War

The Independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, commented on the Chilcot Inquiry report into the Iraq War which was released overnight in the United Kingdom.

“The evidence is in and it’s clearer than ever. There was simply no imminent threat from Saddam Hussein, peaceful options had not been exhausted, there was great doubt over the claims about weapons of mass destruction, a military campaign contained enormous risks and ultimately the mission was a failure.” Mr Wilkie said.

“Then Prime Minister John Howard took Australia to war on the basis of a lie and stands accused of war crimes. That he has never been held to account, and that his Foreign Minister Alexander Downer is now Australian High Commissioner to London, is quite simply outrageous.

“Moreover the Iraq debacle turbo-charged al Qaida and created the circumstances for the eventual emergence of Islamic State. In other words the terrorist danger confronting Australians to this very day is a result of Australia’s involvement in Iraq.

“Frankly the blood of the Australians killed in the 2005 Bali bombing, and in the Lindt Cafe siege and elsewhere, is on their hands.

“These matters have never been properly investigated in Australia and there remains a pressing need for an inquiry similar to Chilcot.”

Andrew Wilkie resigned from the Office of National Assessments in protest over the Australian Government’s decision to join in the invasion of Iraq in March 2003. He was the only serving intelligence official in the US, UK or Australia to dispute the official explanation for the war before the invasion.