Inquiry starts at 1990
by Chris Ames
The Inquiry has announced two “expert seminars”, on the run-up to the invasion and its aftermath. The first seminar goes all the way back to 1990 to track the evolution of “international policy”. This date – the year in which Iraq invaded Kuwait – is also the first year on the Digest’s timeline.
“These seminars reflect the committee’s desire to hear a wide range of views on the UK’s involvement in Iraq 2001-2009 and to get to the heart of the complex issues involved. They will help inform the committee’s approach to its work ahead of the public hearings in late November.
“The first seminar will cover The Evolution of International Policy towards Iraq 1990-2003, and Iraq and the Region on the Eve of the 2003 Invasion. The second seminar will examine The Causes and Consequences of Iraq’s Descent into Violence after the Initial Invasion.
“Panel members for the seminar on November the 5th are; Professor Michael Clarke, director of the Royal United Services Institute; Dr Toby Dodge, reader in international politics at Queen Mary University, London; Professor Charles Tripp, professor of politics at the School of Oriental and African Studies; and Dr George Joffe, research fellow at the Centre for International Studies at Cambridge University.
“Dr Dodge is also on the panel for the seminar on the 10th of November. He will be joined by Patrick Cockburn, author and Iraq Correspondent for the Independent, and Professor Gareth Stansfield, professor of Middle East Politics in the Institute of Arab & Islamic Studies at Exeter University.”
4 Responses to “Inquiry starts at 1990”
Comment from John Bone
Time November 3, 2009 at 10:56 am
And are these seminars open to the public?
Comment from Chris Ames
Time November 3, 2009 at 11:14 am
No, the seminars are not open to the public but the media are able to report them after the fact.
Comment from Iain Paton (former RAF)
Time November 3, 2009 at 9:03 pm
It might work both ways….if the government wants to claim that there was an extant UN resolution, they would have to go back to the Gulf War ceasefire resolution.
Comment from andrewsimon
Time November 2, 2009 at 12:34 am
I would sincerely hope that the Committee of Inquiry see fit to publish the transcripts (if not video footage) of the seminar sessions fairly shortly after they are held. I believe that this is very important in demonstrating the concept of the openness of the inquiry process. The example of evidence given to the House of Commons Public Administration Select Committee stands prominent in this respect.