UK's Iraq policy 'a rank disaster'

Guardian

British policy in Iraq has been a "rank disaster", a former diplomat told MPs on Wednesday as he pledged to reveal secret evidence about the war.

Carne Ross - who quit the Foreign Office in protest at the war - said foreign policy should be measured on its effectiveness at relieving suffering.

"If that's your measure of policy it has been a rank disaster in terms of bloodshed," he told the foreign affairs select committee.

"By that measure, the invasion has been a much greater disaster even than Suez."

Mr Ross, who was based in the US in the years leading up to the invasion, left the Foreign Office after giving evidence to Lord Butler's inquiry.

And he told the committee that despite legal advice that it could leave him in breach of the Official Secrets Act, he would provide it with the evidence he gave.

He was giving evidence as part of the committee's examination of the Foreign Office's strategy paper.

The MPs also heard from senior ex-diplomats including Sir Jeremy Greenstock, who was the UK's ambassador to the United Nations and then Tony Blair's special envoy in Iraq.

He said Iraq had become a "great cause" that had helped terrorist groups to recruit fresh members and said the world was "not yet safer from terrorism" as a result of the invasion.

"Because of the security deficit in Iraq, terrorists are able to to operate there as they might not have done under Saddam Hussein," Sir Jeremy said. "If the situation continues or deteriorates further, there will be a longer-term opportunity for al Qaida to commit terrorist attacks in Iraq...and harden their people in battle." Read more