Brown gave backing for Iraq invasion at ’11th hour’

-09/10/06

Chancellor Gordon Brown


Brown gave backing for Iraq invasion at ’11th hour’

-09/10/06

Chancellor Gordon Brown only gave his backing to the invasion of Iraq at the 11th hour, according to his former Cabinet colleague David Blunkett.

The Guardian and Daily Mail, which are serialising Mr Blunkett’s memoirs, said that extracts to be published later this week would reveal the “chaos” and rows in Tony Blair’s war cabinet.

Blunkett also made a stunning revelation Saturday, suggesting that at the time of Iraq invasion, the British government attempted to ìrein in U.S. policy in Iraq from the outset of the March 2003 invasion but found itself powerless to do so,î

Mr Blunkett’s book, entitled My Life In The Bear Pit, is reported to reveal deep divisions within the Cabinet over the decision to go to war.

Ministers were said to have asked Mr Blair searching questions about the conflict and the lack of planning for the post-war reconstruction of Iraq.

According to the papers, Mr Brown appeared to question the point of even attending war cabinet meetings, complaining that he learned more about what was going on from the media.

Two weeks ago before the Labour party conference Gordon Brown denied he had doubts about the war in Iraq but conceded “we could have done things better” after the invasion.

Church leaders from the US, led by Jim Wallis who has been dubbed by the media “Brown’s Guru”, also had an hour long meeting with Tony Blair just before to the invasion of Iraq, and tried to persuade him that invasion was a bad idea.

Many Churches in the UK were disappointed by Brown’s apparent backing for the invasion of Iraq, and have also been disillusioned by his support for a replacement for Trident.


Brown gave backing for Iraq invasion at ’11th hour’

-09/10/06

Chancellor Gordon Brown only gave his backing to the invasion of Iraq at the 11th hour, according to his former Cabinet colleague David Blunkett.

The Guardian and Daily Mail, which are serialising Mr Blunkett’s memoirs, said that extracts to be published later this week would reveal the “chaos” and rows in Tony Blair’s war cabinet.

Blunkett also made a stunning revelation Saturday, suggesting that at the time of Iraq invasion, the British government attempted to ìrein in U.S. policy in Iraq from the outset of the March 2003 invasion but found itself powerless to do so,î

Mr Blunkett’s book, entitled My Life In The Bear Pit, is reported to reveal deep divisions within the Cabinet over the decision to go to war.

Ministers were said to have asked Mr Blair searching questions about the conflict and the lack of planning for the post-war reconstruction of Iraq.

According to the papers, Mr Brown appeared to question the point of even attending war cabinet meetings, complaining that he learned more about what was going on from the media.

Two weeks ago before the Labour party conference Gordon Brown denied he had doubts about the war in Iraq but conceded “we could have done things better” after the invasion.

Church leaders from the US, led by Jim Wallis who has been dubbed by the media “Brown’s Guru”, also had an hour long meeting with Tony Blair just before to the invasion of Iraq, and tried to persuade him that invasion was a bad idea.

Many Churches in the UK were disappointed by Brown’s apparent backing for the invasion of Iraq, and have also been disillusioned by his support for a replacement for Trident.