7 Years In The Making, Report Finds Britain Rushed Into Iraq War

After seven years, the British have released the findings of inquiry into the Iraq War.

NPR's Lauren Frayer says that the 6,000-page report, the result of an investigation led by retired civil servant John Chilcot, found that Britain rushed to war before all peaceful means were exhausted. Lauren filed this report for our Newscast unit:

"Protesters yelled, 'Tony Blair war criminal!' outside Britain's Parliament. An investigation has concluded there was 'no imminent threat' by Saddam Hussein when Prime Minister Blair decided to invade, alongside the U.S.

It also reveals secret communications nine months before the war in which Blair told President George W. Bush, 'I will be with you whatever.'

"Blair decided to invade before all the evidence was in, the report says. Families of the 179 British troops who died in Iraq are weighing lawsuits.

"Blair issued a statement in his defense, saying he made the decision to go to war 'in good faith.' "...
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/07/06/484964871/7-years-in-the-making-report-finds-british-rushed-into-iraq-war?ft=nprml&f=1001