The UK 'accepted' in 2002 that the US would invade Iraq

[edesignuk]

The UK believed it was pointless to resist US plans for regime change in Iraq a full year before the invasion, the Iraq war inquiry has been told.

Sir Christopher Meyer, UK ambassador to the US at the time, said that by March 2002 No 10 felt trying to stop this policy was a "complete waste of time".

But the UK told the US it should seek UN approval for any action, he added.

A meeting between Tony Blair and President Bush in Texas a month later was crucial in agreeing this, he said.

Sir Christopher noted that a day after this meeting, Tony Blair mentioned the prospect of regime change for the first time in a speech.

The inquiry is looking into UK involvement in Iraq between 2001 and 2009, with the first few weeks focusing on policy in the build-up to the 2003 US-led invasion. BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8380139.stm).

[robbieduncan]

There's a big step from not trying to stop the policy and actively supporting it (as they seemed to) though...

[toontra]

There's a big step from not trying to stop the policy and actively supporting it (as they seemed to) though...

Absolutely, and then going on to lie to the British public about WMD's, no regime change, not being a lapdog to Bush (which he plainly was) for months leading up to (and after) the invasion.

[Burnsey]

I can't believe these people actually thought it was a good idea to launch a war on a sovereign nation in the middle east, so much so that they actually did everything in their power, including deception and manipulation, to make it happen.

Boggles the mind.

[toontra]

Perhaps a clue to part of their motivation was Meyer saying that he and Blair were treated like heroes in the US because of their unwavering support, and were cheered and applauded everywhere they went. Meanwhile back in the UK they were lying through their teeth to the (rightly) far more sceptical British public and politicians.