» Thursday, February 22, 2007

Iraq/Future Inquiry

The Leader, responding to a question about his earlier comments at a Press Gallery lunch, said he had heard the Prime Minister use words to the effect of what he said on other occasions. He had also pointed out at the lunch that he had recalled the occasion of the previous Franks Inquiry into the Falklands War, which had been a very short war. At that time, there were also no standing mechanisms for holding the Government to account. In relation to Iraq, aside from the Hutton Inquiry into the David Kelly tragedy, the Foreign Affairs Committee had conducted an inquiry, another had been held by the Intelligence and Security Committee and then there had been the Butler Inquiry.

Asked to explain the Government’s position on the issue of the timing, the Leader said it would be "at the appropriate moment". It was not while UK forces were active in Iraq. Mr Straw said that a large part of the task that had been fulfilled by the Franks Inquiry had already been fulfilled in respect of Iraq. But, he repeated, it was not the moment now for a further inquiry, which he had made clear in his remarks.

Responding to a further question about holding the Government to account, Mr Straw pointed out that there had been a general election in 2005. As Foreign Secretary, representing a constituency like the one he did, he had experienced every minute of the campaign that he was being held to account. He would not accept the suggestion that the Government had not been held to account.

Mr Straw added that, while there were some terrible events in Iraq as the Prime Minister had said, other positive developments were taking place there and across the wider Middle East.

Put to the Leader that his comments differed from the words used by the Prime Minister, he said he did not believe that there was any clear difference. Challenged again, he said he did not believe that there was.

Briefing took place at 15:00 | Search for related news

1 Comment »

  1. http://rattube.com/blog1/2007/02/26/the-smoking-gun-wtc7-bbc-jumps-the-gun/

    http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/february2007/260207building7.htm
    http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/february2007/270207trustanything.htm

    The BBC reported that World Trade Centre Building 7 collapsed – 20 minutes before it actually happened! How is this possible unless the BBC had prior knowledge? Please watch the videos and judge for yourself. This is dynamite!!

    Comment by BBC-Busted!! — 28 Feb 2007 on 7:48 am | Link

RSS feed for comments on this post.

Post a public comment

(You must give an email address, but it will not be displayed to the public.)
(You may give your website, and it will be displayed to the public.)

Comments:

This is not a way of contacting the Prime Minister. If you would like to contact the Prime Minister, go to the 10 Downing Street official site.

Privacy note: Shortly after posting, your name and comment will be displayed on the site. This means that people searching for your name on the Internet will be able to find and read your comment.

Downing Street Says...

The unofficial site which lets you comment on the UK Prime Minister's official briefings. About us...

Search


February 2007
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
« Jan   Mar »
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728  

Supported by

mySociety.org

Disruptive Proactivity

Recent Briefings


Archives

Links

Syndicate (RSS/XML)

Credits

Enquiries

Contact Sam Smith.

This site is powered by WordPress. Theme by Jag Singh