Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair
Declassified British government documents released on December 31 show former British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s frustration when former French President Jacques Chirac blocked military action in Iraq.
On March 20, 2003, Britain joined the US-led coalition to send troops to Iraq, despite about 1 million people marching in London protesting military intervention in the Middle Eastern country.
Previously, Mr. Chirac announced that he would veto any resolution of the UN Security Council on military action in Iraq.
On March 17, 2003, the British cabinet held an emergency meeting and British ministers said that “France’s attitude has weakened the UN mechanism to implement the will of the international community”, according to the minutes of the recent meeting. be made public.
The above minutes are among documents made public by the British National Archives. Accordingly, Mr. Blair said that “we have tried our best”, but France “is not willing to accept that if (former) Iraqi President Saddam Hussein does not comply with the UN, military action will follow”.
Britain remains determined to join the US-led military action to overthrow Saddam Hussein. Mr. Blair then emphasized accusations that the Iraqi dictator stockpiled weapons of mass destruction. The administration of former US President George W. Bush also made the above allegation at that time, although this was later proven to be false.
According to the files, then British foreign minister Jack Straw told the cabinet that “in fact, a member of the UN Security Council sabotaged the entire process”, and accused Mr. Chirac of deciding “opened up a strategic split between France and Britain”.
The last part of the above minutes reads: “The prime minister said that the diplomatic process was over, Mr. Saddam Hussein would receive an ultimatum to leave Iraq and the House of Representatives would be asked to approve the use of military action against Iraq to enforce compliance, if necessary”.
20 years after sending troops into Iraq, the US is struggling with the consequences
Subsequent British military action severely damaged support for Mr. Blair, culminating in an independent inquiry into Britain’s role in Iraq. The Chilcot investigation concluded in 2016 that Mr. Blair had deliberately exaggerated the threat from the then government in Iraq.
Mr Blair later expressed “sadness, regret and apologies” for mistakes made in planning for the conflict.
