The legacy of Iraq
Updated on 17 March 2008
Was it worth it? From Tony Benn to General Sir Mike Jackson, seven social and political voices give their views on Iraq, five years on.
"I think it's too early to call this"
General Sir Mike Jackson, former head of the British Army, believes that "to move Iraq on is something you can't do in three weeks, three years, or even five years".
Read the transcript here.
"It's an unmitigated disaster"
George Galloway, Respect MP, believes the Iraq war was a criminal venture and that "the political leaders who brought us here must be held to account".
Read the transcript here.
"Nothing good to be said about the Iraq war"
Peter Oborne, political commentator, believes "the Iraq war was one of the biggest strategic miscalculations in all of British history," and describes it as a "humanitarian calamity".
Read the transcript here.
"Loss of credibility"
Niall Ferguson, historian, comments on the expense of the Iraq war and says that "it would have been cheaper to have stayed with the original policy to contain Saddam".
Read the transcript here.
"The slow decline of the United States"
Peter Hitchens, Mail on Sunday journalist, predicts changes in the distribution of global power and "the slow decline of the United States as the main world power."
Read the transcript here.
"Damaged the confidence of many British Muslims"
Inayat Bunglawala, Muslim Council of Britain, believes the war has "badly damaged the confidence of many British Muslims in our democratic system here in the UK.
Read the transcript here.
"There is cause for optimism"
Anne Clwyd, former human rights envoy to Iraq, says "there's a feeling amongst ordinary Iraqis that there's a good future ahead of them".
Read the transcript here.
"A war crime in international law"
Tony Benn, former Labour Minister believes "both the president and the prime minister lied about the reasons for the war".
Read the transcript here.
"Agressors have no rights"
Noam Chomsky, writer and philosopher, believes we must "resolve to ensure that we are never again responsible for such terrible crimes".
Read the transcript here.
"Profoundly dishonour the UK"
Clare Short, former secretary of state, believes the effects of the Iraq war "will go on for a long time and cause more trouble".
Read the transcript here.
