Comment on expert seminars

05 November 2009

The Iraq Inquiry today held the first of a series of seminars in order to hear a wide range of views from experts on Iraq.

The first seminar covered The Evolution of International Policy towards Iraq 1990-2003, and Iraq and the Region on the Eve of the 2003 Invasion. Panel members were; Professor Michael Clarke, director of the Royal United Services Institute; Dr Toby Dodge, reader in international politics at Queen Mary University, London; and George Joffe, a lecturer in the Department of Politics and International Studies at Cambridge University.

Sir John Chilcot commented;

“As I have said before, the Iraq Inquiry Committee come to our work with open minds. We are keen to hear a broad spectrum of opinions on the UK’s involvement in Iraq. Today was valuable in this respect giving us fresh insights into the complex issues surrounding the subject. I am grateful to all our panellists and participants for taking the time from their busy schedules to come and share their knowledge with us.”

The Iraq Inquiry asked the panellists at the event to set down their views in a series of articles. These submissions represent the opinions of the writers and should not be taken to represent or imply the views of the Inquiry Committee.