"WASHINGTON played a key role in persuading the (UK) AttorneyGeneral that military action against Saddam Hussein in 2003 was lawful, according to an official government disclosure yesterday.
An internal note from Tony Blair that Iraq was in breach of a UN Security Council resolution also played a part in the decision to invade. Forced by Richard Thomas, the Information Commissioner, to disclose more detail about the decision, the office of Lord Goldsmith, QC, the Attorney-General, spelt out who he had consulted and relied upon for advice before declaring that an invasion was covered by international law.
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Dominic Grieve, the Shadow Attorney-General, said: “The critical thing that emerges is the impact of a written assurance from the Prime Minister that there was a material breach of 1441. It seems to confirm . . . that the Attorney-General was misled by the Prime Minister.”
Sir Menzies Campbell, the Liberal Democrat leader, said: “There is nothing here to indicate that there was new intelligence on weapons of mass destruction or legal arguments to justify the change of mind.” The “irresistible implication” was that it was from “political pressure”."
* guardian:
"(Goldsmith's) office issued a "narrative" of the attorney general's thinking over the 10-day period that confirms that he hardened his opinion that an invasion would be lawful following requests from the chief of defence staff - and others - to confirm it."
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