Blair - Iraq Flashcards
What was the long-term impact of the special relationship?
it meant that there were already established close ties between the US and the UK
What was the impact of the first Gulf War?
Left the UK and US with unfinished business. By not pushing on into Iraq did Major and the rest of the coalition miss an opportunity to legitimately remove a brutal dictator? In turn, could the much more prolonged and ultimately destabilising Iraq War of 2003 been avoided?
What was the impact of Kosovo?
After NATO successfully intervened in Kosovo, Blair believed that it would have to step in as an international peacekeeping force when the UN’s overly bureaucratic structure left it hamstrung and slow to respond.
What was the Blair doctrine?
Set out in the 1999 Chicago speech. Blair made it clear he felt that the West was morally obligated to use force to cajole aggressor states into action when diplomacy failed.
What was the impact of 9/11?
Twin towers, killed 3000 people, gave Bush the justification to launch a military attack on Afghanistan, starter what is later known as the “War on Terror”
What was said in the dossier?
Claimed Saddam Hussein had WMDs that could attack the UK within 45 minutes.
How was the dossier criticised?
BBC cast doubt on the accuracy of its claims, with weapon expert David Kelly later revealing that it was “sexed up”. His suicided in July 2003 was suspicious under the circumstances, leading to conspiracy rumours
What was the Resolution 1441?
A resolution unanimously passed by the UN security council, which required Saddam Hussein to prove to UN weapons inspectors that he had abandoned his WMD project. The resolution did not explicitly authorise military force.
What happened with Blair’s vote on the law?
25% of Labour MPs opposing the motion, it passed through the Commons.
What opposition did Blair face
Mass anti-war demonstrations were held in London and other cities. Robin Cook, former foreign secretary, resigned from the Cabinet in protest at the invasion.
What happened on 20th March 2003?
US and British forces began the invasion of Iraq without formal UN sanction.
What happened on 9th April 2003?
The government of Saddam Hussein loses control over Iraq’s capital Baghdad, with the advance of US forces into the centre of the city.
What happened on 30th June 2009?
UK forces lower their flag over the city of Basra to signify the end of their combat operations.
What was the “stop the war” campaign?
Formed and led by Jeremy Corbyn, focused on trying to bring an end to wars and preventing further conflicts through mass demonstrations.
Who was George Galloway?
Rebel Labour MP who resigned to set up his own anti-war party, Respect, believed that the PM was the initiator rather than the follower in his relations with the president.
