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Calling the government to account on Iraq

- the submitted questions

See the answers received so far for the Ten Key Questions

Go to all the other questions submitted

If you have anything you wish to say on the further questions please send your comments to iraq@ourworldoursay.org

The questions and comments made here are not necessarily the opinions of Our World Our Say

The further questions that you have asked the government

(any responses to these questions will be posted below each question)

- What is the result until now and the gain of war on Iraq?

- Why was the planning for post-war Iraq so poor?

- Why did a government minister feel it necessary to smear Mr David Kellys reputation as a qualified and respected scientist?

- There is an election due in the near future. Will the Government pledge to end its involvement in the war in Iraq by the time of the next election?

- Why was the planning for post-war Iraq so poor?

- How much has the Iraq war cost in terms of lives - British and Iraqi - and in financial terms? Has it been worth it? For what?

- How much has the UK economy benefitted from the Iraq war, especially in relation to contracts for UK businesses, the sale of arms, and oil-related revenues?

- Should Mr Blair be accused of war crimes?

- The UK government disregarded the original mandate and declaration of the UN, which in essence was, and remains "the avoidance of war". This has greatly undermined the power and potential of the UN to act as world arbiter of peace and reconciliation - the only body that exists for that noble and necessary purpose. What does the UK governement now intend to do to restore that power to the UN and honour its commitment to that original declaration?

- Children's nutrition measures to be made public.

- Why did you ignore the testimony of the UN weapons inspectors? That assessment was correct and the British government was wrong!

- Why cannot British troops be brought home now?

- What was the legal advice received by the Governement prior to the war? When will it be published?

- If the British government had not participated in the invasion of Iraq, in what ways would we currently be worse off?

- Is it not time that the electorate was given the opportunity to devise/choose the electorate's preferred constitution? The electorate and the House of Commons were deceived by the claim that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. On this basis, we embarked on an illegal and immoral war. We are guilty of the deaths of thousands of innocent Iraqis.

- Is it not time that the electorate in a supposed democracy was told the origin of this false information and the route by which it was received? If not, why not?

- It is claimed that we need to build new nuclear power stations and update our modest fleet of submarines, armed with nuclear weapons and under the ultimate control of a foreign power. Why should Iran, or any other nation, not have the same privilege?

- Why don't you change the planning laws so that we have to make our own energy instead of invading oil rich countries?

- What percentage of Iraq's basic resources, notably oil, is now held by Iraqi-owned companies? And how much of the reconstruction spend has gone to Iraqis?

- How can the UK influence the USA to stop using the words that inflame the situation? How can we ensure that peacekeeping is the only appropriate role for our army? And that it should always be through the UN?

- Are you still sure, hand on heart, that the attack on Iraq was wise?

- The illegal Iraq war has cost over ten billion pounds. Pensioners over 80 were offered a 1p rise next April. The NPC represents over 1.5 million pensioners. We will ensure that NO pensioner votes for any MP who supported th war, in the next election. We can't afford a decent state pension, we can't afford to run schools and hospitals without the help of private finance. How is it we can afford £10billion on the Iraq war, alone, to say nothing of Afghanistan (and not even to whisper about tax concessions to "fat cats")?

- Did economic and security interests make it politically too costly to defy the US in respect of the war in Iraq? I do no want a governement reply as it would be meaningless drivel. But the extent to which we can have an independent foreign policy in view of US interests remains a key question of our times. Blair was the villain of the piece, but the underlying causes ran much deeper. How far was Blair familiar with neo-con ideas, clearly articulated in Naomi Klein's 'The Shock Doctrine'?

- Who made the decision to involve British troops in the invasion of Iraq, was it Mr Blair or Mr Bush?

- What is the appropriate sanction against a government that authorises the invasion of another country without the authority of the UN and negligently fails to plan and provide for the proper administration of the defeated country?

- I read in the Guardian that our ex-Prime Minister is being considered for nomination as the President of the European Union. Let us not bring shame on Europe as we have on our own country.

- Can anyone win against Terrorism without removing the cause of suffering? Who is the main terrorist?

- Have you not inflicted sufficient damage to Britain by your senseless immigration policy, without at the same period causing irreperable harm in Iraq at the behest of the United States?

- How can you trust politicians of any party who take a country to war against the will of its own people?

- Why did the British governement ignore the 2 million people who demonstrated against the war in London in February 2003?

- Why did the governement ignore the voices of over 1 million people to make this illegal invasion of Iraq?

- When did Tony Blair decide that it was necessary to wage war on Iraq?

- How does the governement propose to make urgent and fundamental amends for the disastrous lack of a planned programme to restore normal life to Iraq?

- Are the government capable of answering any question honestly on Iraq? They seem blind to the debacle they have created - or perhaps the life of an Iraqi is of no value to the unprincipled shower we have in Westminster now.

- Did no-one foresee that our interference in Iraq would boost support for Al-Quaeda and other Islamic militants?

- Why continue with this disastrous war? Why not accept it has done nothing to reduce terrorism, both within the UK, elsewhere in Eurpoe, and beyond? British foreign policy must not be subservient to US pressures.

- How many more must die?

- How are we going to compensate Iraq and/or Iraqi people who have lost relations and property as a result of our actions? Initially we were told that the Iraq war was not for a regime change. Finally we were told that this was its aim. When and why did the aim change?

- When exactly did Tony Blair decide to support George Bush in going to war with Iraq? I do not expect a truthful reply.

- Why do you keep our troops in Iraq - it is just encouraging terrorists, who don't want foreign troops in their country? Would you want other people's armies in the UK?

- What has been the cost to the British taxpayer of the war in Iraq?

- Why are we America's "poodle"?

- What has been to date a) the financial cost of the war in Iraq and b) its total carbon emission?

- If the two bombs which devastated two Baghdad pet markets (death toll as of 2/2/08 99 and rising) on 1/2/08 and which were carried out by two "mentally disabled" women, constitues a further "descent into barbarism", how would you describe the invasion and occupation of Iraq, carried out by two "mentally impaired" men? And what steps are you taking to bring Bush and Blair to judicial account? And if you disagree with this analysis, when are you going to call a spade a spade and categorically state that the reason there is no "exit strategy" is because the ultimate aim is the US/UK permanent presence in Iraq (and Afghanistan and Iran etc.)?

- When does this government intend to indict the war criminal Tony Blair?

- Are all the relatives of the Iraqi civilians who were killed in the war to receive compensation for the loss of their loved ones? They should, as this was an illegal invasion by Britain and should be reconised as such, as the British public were wronlgy told that Saddam Hussain had weapons of mass destruction when he didn't, and the war was fought on that premise. In fact, Britain and the US wanted the oil, which is now being stolen from the people of Iraq.

- Why could I know there were no WMDs in Iraq - but Tony Blair did not - was this incompetence or corruption?

- Will the governement agree never to use cluster bombs anywhere?

- What exactly is the government trying to achieve in Iraq?

- When did Blair give Bush his backing of Bush's decision to go to war with Iraq?

- Do you really believe that Iraq is better off now than it was under Saddam Hussain? Do you really believe that terrorism hasn't increased since the start of the Iraq war?

- How is it that when over a million people could march against the war, because they foresaw the likely outcome, the governement apparently showed no sense at all?

- When do you envisage the withdrawal of British troops from Iraq?

- How can the UK government make reparation to the people of Iraq for the damage caused by the war?

- Has the killing of a million Iraqis persuaded the rest to embrace democracy?

- War breeds war and is the worst barbarism. Will you undertake not to follow the USA and pursue another war in Iran?

- If you are a right-minded person; would you see your children's future ruined in the same callous, criminal way that you have supported (against the beautiful youth of Iraq and its environs)?

- What is the total carbon footprint for 5 years of war?

- When did Mr Blair indicate to Mr Bush that the UK would join the US in attacking Iraq?

- Why did we go into this war? Was it because Israel feared an attack?

- Why did the Labour government go ahead with the Iraq war when millions of British people were so obviously against it? Why were we ignored? (e.g. protests, marches. Letters etc.) Please do not give the Commons vote as an excuse, it was decided long before this. Does the governement accept responsibility for the deaths of thousands of innocents?

- What threat do Iraq and Afghanistan prsent to the United Kingdom, singly or in comination? The military assault on them is to protect United States' cointrol of oil supplies in a strategic area. Britain continues to play the role of American poodle. How can those who voted for this cruel escapade sleep at night?

- Why can't you admit it was all a terrible mistake?

- When will Andrew Gilligan receive and pardon and compensation for delivering the truth about the dossier?

- Does the UK government believe in the authority of the UN?

- How can we justify the takeover of Iraqi oil resources when Iraq desperately needs that income in order to help its own reconstruction?

- We are told that we do not have enough money to fund a dignified old age. Why then do we have enough money to fund a war?

- Did the USA and Britain have any more moral or legal right to invade Iraq than Hitler had to invade Poland?

- Why did the government go to war with Iraq in the absence of authorisation from the United Nations?

- Why should we pay taxes to fund a war we do not support? I propose we withold the percentage of our tax spent on armaments.

- Blair stated that the war was not about oil. Does the Labour party agree with this and does the party still believe that going to war was "the right thing to do"?

- What/who gave the government the divine right to interfere in another country's internal affairs, and why did they go, despite massive opposition from the people they are supposed to represent?

- Why did you attack Iraq - you had no UN mandate to do so and it was an act of aggression.

- Why did so little thought appear to have been given to the reconstruction of Iraqi society? Surely the present chaos was predictable?

- Why did we follow the US into the Iraq war before the inspectors (Hans Blix etc.) had had time to complete their inspection? Why hasn't Tony Blair been prosecuted for taking us into a illegal war?

- What is the daily cost of the war in Iraq? In the last five years, how many children of MPs have served in Iraq, let alone lost their lives fighting?

- What help is our government giving to the many destitute Iraqi refugees?

- Can we have a thorough enquiry into how this futile war came about? Can we expect an end to this loss of life in the next 12 months? Do you think that terrorism can end without addressing issues of justice and human rights? No waffle in replies please.

- Does the government believe in the project for the 21st American Century?

- Why not break away from Bush before his successor begins to ease away from you?

- The war on Iraq was illegal because it was not authorised by a UN resolution. Will Tony Blair be therefore indicted as a war criminal for actively participating in an illegal war?

- If the aim of the war was to free Iraq of a dictator, why is it now being ruled by another, i.e. George W. Bush?

- Did the people involved in the preparation and presentation of the "dodgy dossier" on Iraq conspire to deceive parliament?

- When will the last British troops leave Iraq? Will the government resist pressure from the USA to keep troops in Iraq?

- I have seen it mooted on several occasions, e.g. in newspapers and magazines etc., that Tony Blair be arraigned before a war crimes tribunal to answer for his involvemnt in the illegal and immoral invasion of Iraq. After World War Two there was no hesitation in prosecuting wartime criminals, so why the hesitation now?

- I wasn't asked about going to war. Parliament was not asked correctly. If there was no oil, would we have invaded - we did not intervene in Darfur. Why doesn't the country decide on war? Our sons, husbands go, so why is it only the Prime Minister?

- How can you justify the money we are spending on this occupation - no it is not a war. The Iraqis are not and have never been an aggressor - please don't call it that.

- In the light of events and the discrediting of Tony Blair, how can the Prime Minister "support" Tony Blair for the presidency of Europe for which he is so blatantly unsuited?

- When are they pulling out the troops and when will we hear apologies, words of regret, convicting the responsible people? 2. Why are sanctions not used against Israel, who have nuclear weapons? Why are there different rules for different religions?

- How do you justify the slaughter of thousands of innocent people - especially children - in Iraq? The invasion of Iraq is illegal and immoral. Please end it immediately.

- The deterioration in the infrastructure of Iraq, the continuing horrendous civilian casualties, the bleak future for this war-ravaged country - can our government continue to justify our military presence in Iraq, except on purely economic grounds to benefit private companies, mainly American, who are cashing in on the country's mineral resources?

- To fight in Iraq, the government has to sell arms to Saudi Arabia, to finance the military equipment. If the house of Saud is overthrown, will Britain have to fight a country, to which it has sold arms, like Argentina in the Falklands war?

- United Nations weapons inspectors had been operating in Iraq for years, and as we saw on television, they were not just inspectors but also demolition men, flattening factories where any weapons might have been made, and throwing all who worked there out of a job. This was followed up by America and British spy planes routinely patrolling Iraqi airspace to ensure that no reconstruction was taking place. 1. Given these facts, how could the West not know that Iraq had nothing with which to defend itself, let alone threaten us? 2. How could giving the city of Baghdad a dose of "shock and awe" be justified? Is this not terrorism? (The bombers flew from an English airfield). 3. Is not the real reason for all this to ensure that Iraqi oil goes to the USA and not to China?

Calling the government to account on Iraq

- the submitted questions

Further Reading

The further questions that you have asked the government