Howard defends decision to invade Iraq

Updated

Former prime minister John Howard has stridently defended the decision to go to war against Iraq in a speech marking the 10th anniversary of the conflict.

Mr Howard told the Lowy Institute in Sydney on Tuesday night the decision was taken in the belief that Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was stockpiling weapons of mass destruction, based on intelligence at that time.

He says Australia acted out of loyalty as "a 100 per cent ally" of the United States, which feared another terrorist attack in the wake of September 11.

Timeline: war in Iraq Take a look back at the major events in Iraq since Saddam Hussein took power. Take a look back at the major events in Iraq since Saddam Hussein took power.

But Mr Howard also hit out at claims by some that he led Australia into the 2003 Iraq war on the basis of a lie.

"That claim is the most notorious one of all about the conduct of my government and of others and merits the most emphatic rejection," he said.

Mr Howard said there was a "near universal" belief that Iraq had WMDs, including from former Labor leader Kevin Rudd.

"After the fall of Saddam, and when it became apparent that stockpiles of WMDs had - to me unexpectedly - not been found in Iraq, it was all too easy for certain people to begin claiming that Australia had gone to war based on a lie," Mr Howard said.

"Not only does [that claim] impugn the integrity of the decision-making process at the highest level, but also the professionalism and integrity of intelligence agencies here and elsewhere.

"Some of their key assessments proved to be wrong, but that is a world away from those assessments being the product of deceit and/or political manipulation."

In pictures: The Iraq war

Ten years on from the 2003 invasion of Iraq, look back at some of the most striking images from the conflict. Ten years on from the 2003 invasion of Iraq, look back at some of the most striking images from the conflict.

The chants of street protesters could be heard faintly inside the city hotel where Mr Howard spoke.

The venue was switched from the nearby Lowy Institute after protestors caused a last-minute venue change.

Lowy Institute director Michael Fullilove said he was determined not to be cowed by an "anti-democratic minority" who wanted to stop Mr Howard from speaking.

Mr Howard acknowledged that his government's most controversial decision had polarised attitudes in Australia, and that time probably had not softened them.

But he said the decision was right because it was in Australia's national interests, and the removal of Saddam's regime provided the Iraqi people with opportunities for freedom not otherwise in prospect.

Mr Howard said the circumstances of the US-led invasion necessitated a "100 per cent ally, not a 70 or 80 per cent one".

He said Australia's relationship with China had since burgeoned, apparently unhindered by concerns in Beijing that "we were too close to the United States".

"I have long held the view that the Chinese 'get' our alliance with America. They understand its historical, political and cultural provenance," he said.

"If anything, our actions in Iraq reinforced the reputation of Australia as a nation that stands by its friends, even in difficult circumstances."

War 'highly likely' John Howard says 10 months out from when Australia's mission in Iraq began, war seemed "highly likely". 'Following the US' Simon Crean, who was Opposition leader when Australia went to war in Iraq, maintains it was the wrong decision. The 'right decision' Former prime minister John Howard says even though the Iraq war was difficult and unpopular, it was the right decision. Legitimacy of force Simon Crean questions the legitimacy of using force just to change a regime. Not based on 'lie' Former prime minister John Howard says the Iraq war was not based on a lie even though no weapons of mass destruction were found there. Based on 'fallacy' Former Opposition leader Simon Crean says Australia committed to the Iraq war based on a "fallacy" which was the existence of weapons of mass destruction.

ABC/AAP

Topics: howard-john-winston, unrest-conflict-and-war, world-politics, government-and-politics, history, australia, iraq

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