(UK) Iraq war revelation: There was *no* full legal advice

[Kagemusha]

(Asterixes used in place of underline - emphasis in original)

Britain went to war on the basis of a single piece of paper setting out the legality of invading Iraq, the country's most senior civil servant has revealed.

The Government's case for war appeared to be in tatters last night after the Cabinet Secretary admitted that a parliamentary answer from Lord Goldsmith, the Attorney General, was the final legal opinion on the case for war. In an astonishing admission, Sir Andrew Turnbull disclosed that no "full" legal advice on an invasion of Iraq has ever existed.

He confirmed that a short parliamentary answer by the Attorney General was the "definitive advice" on the war sent to the Prime Minister and that "there is no other version".

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=618882

--

(In other words, they've been claiming executive privilege for nearly 2 years to not have to publish a full length legal opinion that *does not exist*)

(edited to include the damn link. Sheesh)

[bpilgrim]

1. PREVENTIVE WAR is clearly ILLEGAL from the UN POV and the SAME reasoning

HITLER USED.

to the HAGUE their lot and ESPECIALLY OURS!

peace

[Kagemusha]

2. Now that I've taken the time to read the article over carefully...

This seems to be more "reality creation" and renunciation of the reality-based community. If Lord Goldsmith decides that aggressive war is legal, then it is legal, simply because he has decided it. He obviously felt that explaining why would only get him into more trouble, so he did what was necessary for the sake of the nation: he said he'd decided, and his decision was final, and that should be good enough for everyone.

It sure was good enough for Parliament and Cabinet. The idea he actually had to, you know, argue that his case was legally correct, is quaint and outdated, according to the view this is taking.

[LynnTheDem]

3. OK I admit, this one's a total shock...I'm feeling rather...

...typeless...

:wow:

[Vladimir]

4. I knew they'd get around the little matter

of not disclosing the full advice - but I hadn't quite guessed how. Only in Britain could you justify failing to supply a legal document by saying there was no legal document in the first place...

PS Any other "Yes, Minister" fans out there who are getting serious reality/fiction blur roundabout now?

[LynnTheDem]

5. *raises hand* Yep. And even worse, his opinion is 100% incorrect & he

knows it.

1. ANYONE who actual READ UN Res 678 knows he's wrong and it DOES NOT provide justification and that's just a FACT.

2. It isn't and never has been up to the USA & UK to determine how the UN Security Council will enforce the UN Security Council's own bloody resolutions.

3. Cherie Blair's legal office told them it wouldn't be legal; next time, Tony, after you're released, LISTEN to your wife when she gives you legal opinions.

4. Brits, it's time. You gave him more benefit of the doubt than he ever deserved, and made the best of the worst...but this is too much.

[leesa]

12. Just like the White Papers Blair promised us that PROVED OBLs

involvement with 9-11...never materialized...never existed.

[Moderator]

6. kick to combine

[Englander]

7. UK went to war on one page of legal advice

David Hencke, Westminster correspondent
Friday March 11, 2005
The Guardian

The cabinet secretary yesterday astonished politicians by disclosing that Britain went to war against Iraq on just one page of legal advice from Lord Goldsmith, the attorney general.

The disclosure by Sir Andrew Turnbull to MPs was described as "beggaring belief" by Charles Kennedy, the Liberal Democrat leader, and "a new twist in the spin over the war" by Clare Short, the cabinet minister who quit after hostilities had begun.

.snip

Sir Andrew's disclosure came after questioning by Tony Wright, Labour chairman of the Commons public administration committee and Gordon Prentice, a Labour backbencher. He kept repeating that Lord Goldsmith had presented his conclusions to the cabinet which had been summarised in a parliamentary answer.

Finally, after repeated questioning, he said: "There is not a longer version of that advice. This is the definitive statement of his views.

More at;
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/iraq/story/0,12956,1435310,00.html

[ktowntennesseedem]

8. Still more than what we went to war on. -eom

[kedrys]

9. Printed on flimsy onion skin paper, what? n/t

[The Backlash Cometh]

10. They got snookered by George Bush. Why don't they just say it?

[RogueTrooper]

11. It's been done on less

was the real reason on the back of the piece of paper:

"We have to do it or the Americans will destroy our economy"

[Moderator]

13. kick to combine

[chlamor]

14. Iraq War Revelation: UK Cabinet Secretary Admits No Full Legal Advice

Iraq war revelation: There was no full legal advice
Cabinet Secretary admits invasion based on single page of A4
By Marie Woolf, Chief Political Correspondent

11 March 2005

Britain went to war on the basis of a single piece of paper setting out the legality of invading Iraq, the country's most senior civil servant has revealed.

The Government's case for war appeared to be in tatters last night after the Cabinet Secretary admitted that a parliamentary answer from Lord Goldsmith, the Attorney General, was the final legal opinion on the case for war. In an astonishing admission, Sir Andrew Turnbull disclosed that no "full" legal advice on an invasion of Iraq has ever existed.

He confirmed that a short parliamentary answer by the Attorney General was the "definitive advice" on the war sent to the Prime Minister and that "there is no other version".

The renewed doubts over the legality of the conflict are a severe setback to Tony Blair, who was hoping that Iraq would fade as a general election issue.

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=618882

[jimshoes]

15. I imagine something

similar happened here. Hey Tony, Iraq isn't fading anywhere soon. You broke it, you bought it!

[daleo]

16. No legal advice to go forward? Does that make it illegal?

I think a good case can be made, that if the state has no positive legal grounds for killing innocent people, it is de facto illegal. Criminal poodles should go to the dog pound.

[emad]

17. Iraq war advice 'was coloured'

Iraq war advice 'was coloured'
12 March 2005

The Attorney General appears to have allowed pressure from Tony Blair to "colour" crucial legal advice on war with Iraq, former Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said.

Lord Goldsmith, who currently holds the post, met the head of Tony Blair's political team, Baroness Morgan, and the Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer, in No 10 before producing his final verdict.


Mr Cook, who quit the Cabinet in protest at the war, said: "There were what looks like to the outsider very much like a process of negotiation between the ladies in Downing Street and the Attorney General as to his opinion.

"I think it is very important that we restore the difference and make sure there is that detachment of the Attorney General to give independent advice not coloured by political considerations."

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/PA_NEWPOLITICSIraqsat09cookwar?source=