The newly established Iraq War Inquiry Group is calling for an independent inquiry into the reasons behind Australia’s participation in the invasion of Iraq.
The case for an inquiry is set out in Why Did We Go to War in Iraq? A call for an Australian inquiry.
Launched today in Canberra by former Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser, Why Did We Go to War in Iraq includes contributions from PIAC chief executive, Edward Santow, who discusses the possible models for such an inquiry; and from the Australian National University’s Professor Ramesh Thakur, who asks ‘why an inquiry, and why now?’
The Iraq War Inquiry group consists of Australians from diverse backgrounds who are concerned that there has been little informed public discussion of the lessons to be learned from the decisions that took us to war in 2003.
‘The 2003 invasion of Iraq was a humanitarian, legal, political and strategic disaster,’ the group says.
‘It has left a trail of death and destruction and millions of refugees. It has undermined the role of international law and strengthened terrorism.
‘Australia’s role in the war raised very serious questions of government honesty and accountability. If we do not learn lessons from this episode, we are at grave risk of engaging in equally ill-founded wars in the future.’
Related media coverage:
Australia urged to hold Iraq war inquiry, Australia Network News, 16 August 2012
Australian politicians demand inquiry into Iraq invasion, The Guardian, 15 August 2012
Photo: Australian armoured vehicles in Iraq in 2007. Credit: Rob Nyffenegger