The futility of the Iraq invasion
What most of the world had believed to be true about the rationale of the Iraq invasion, the Chilcot report has confirmed in black and white. And it is now evidently clear from comments made by John Prescott, the number two man in the labour government at that time that the war was illegal, that being launched on false pretexts. One of its chief protagonists, Tony Blair, has apologised for his actions. While apologising for ones mistake may be a noble gesture, when it costs the deaths of millions and the destruction of a society, the mistake should be atoned for.
Blair has said sorry for the 179 British soldiers killed in the Iraq war but remains conspicuously silent about half a million or so Iraqis killed since the US, along with Great Britain and its allies, invaded that country on the excuse of finding weapons of mass destruction which it never possessed.
Chilcot's report on the Iraq War substantiates claims that the consequence of the invasion has given rise to terrorism and unrest that has engulfed the region with no signs of abating. Therefore, while we think saying sorry is a welcome development we are disappointed to note that the west has not learnt any lessons from their experience in Iraq. On the contrary a flawed policy is being pursued that contains no prospect of peace to the region. Initiatives must be launched to ensure that reconciliation is brought to the fractured country that Iraq is today through meaningful engagement of all the stakeholders therein instead of a divide and rule policy.
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