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Proceeding contribution from Clare Short (Independent Labour) in the House of Commons on Monday, 15 June 2009. It occurred during Ministerial statement on Iraq.


Iraq

We all welcome the demise of the Saddam Hussein regime, but the important question is: could it have been done differently? Could Saddam Hussein have been indicted, and could a lot of Iraqis have not lost their lives? We all agree that we mourn the loss of our soldiers, their injuries and the number of soldiers who are mentally ill, but should we not regret the death of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and the displacement of millions? Also, when the Prime Minister rings Prime Minister Netanyahu, could he point out to him that it is not just the expansion of the settlements that is not good enough? The settlements are illegal, and there will be no two-state solution unless the settlements are closed down. That is something that no one is talking about, but we will not get peace without a willingness to move on the settlements. Lastly, I agree with those who say that the membership of the inquiry is rather feeble. We need senior politicians who understand political decision making, and senior military people who can understand the decisions that were made. The inquiry is welcome, but surely it should be allowed to have hearings in private or in public as it sees fit, rather than having them kept completely secret.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
494 c31 
Session
2008-09
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Disclosure of information Armed conflict Development aid Elections Iraq Powers Peacekeeping operations Overseas investment Monuments Reconstruction Iraq Committee of Inquiry Iraq conflict Military aid Basra Secrecy
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk