Not the Chilcot Report by Peter Oborne Book Review

Not the Chilcot Report is arguably the best current affairs book surrounding the disastrous Iraqi war back in 2003. The author, Peter Oborne demonstrates his knowledge from his prestigious career in journalism which includes being currently an associate editor at The Spectator and formerly Chief Political Commentator at The Daily Telegraph, and complies his knowledge of the Iraqi war and political backgrounds of the 2003 era, into this well detailed account surrounding the controversy.

The timing couldn’t be better to publish such a book. Recently, the long awaited Chilcot Report was published on 6th July 2016, and concluded that Saddam Hussein did not pose an imminent threat to British interest. Also, peaceful alternatives such as the continuation of UN supported inspections wasn’t completely exhausted which potentially means, the war was preventable and thousands of lives might not have been destroyed.

In the foreword section, Oborne writes “I started to ponder this book when repeated delays and obstructions meant that it had become doubtful whether Sir John Chilcot’s report would ever appear in a worthwhile form”, the purpose of repeating the quote is to grasp the expectations everyone had prior to the publication of Sir John Chilcot’s report. Commentators and newspaper columnists alike said they expected a white-washed report, refusing to blame the real culprits, Tony Blair and his Government. However, the report did the complete opposite and provided a damning and shocking detailed report into numerous failures that resulted in the deaths of 179 British Soldiers, whom should be still alive today, if war was the last resort and UN inspections were carried out successfully.

I want to show another quote from the foreword that specifically describe the purpose of the book and what the reader is expected to learned after completing the book. He writes “I have asked four keys questions: Did Tony Blair lie to the British people ahead of the war? Was the war lawful? Did Tony Blair and George W. Bush reach a secret agreement when they met at Crawford in 2002? Has the Iraqi War left Britain a safer place, as was promised?”. Oborne answers all four questions throughout the book, and it’s breathtakingly grotesque to see all the mistakes carried out during the war. As always with such devastating and horrific disasters, patterns emerge and take shape, leading to the war. One such thing was the American and British close relationship. It has been documented and rumoured that Tony Blair was persisted in forging a closely knit relationship with the US which wasn’t bad necessarily, but contributed the UK going to war with the US against Iraqi because Tony Blair sacrificed integrity and principle in order to metaphorically show off our country to the US. When instead, could of convinced George W. Bush to perhaps rethink his strategy in going to war, and take the peaceful route instead.

I also want to respond to the last question suggested in the quote above “… Has the Iraqi War left Britain a safer place, as was promised?” I simply say no. We almost seen instant repercussions thanks to entering Iraqi illegally and two years later that was the July 7/7 London bombings, resulting in 52 innocent civilian deaths and over 700 non-fatal injuries. Thirteen years later after the Iraqi war; Britain, America, and Europe are still suffering consequences and repercussions through the rise of Islamic State threatening ideology against Western Democracy and Liberal values. After Saddam Hussein fell from power, Iraqi was left without an effective and legitimate Government, creating a dangerous power vacuum that sadly could only be filled by terrorists like Islamic State, resulting in an actual threat toward the West.

Overall, Not the Chilcot Report elegantly demonstrates and details the wrongdoings surrounding the controversial decision and aftermath of the Iraqi War using the author’s knowledge, experience, and well-placed sources to conduct such a comprehensive book. The book has made me learn what mistakes were made and whom was responsible for them. Hopefully, one day, Tony Blair will be brought to justice for the consequences he has sown and are all still facing them today. If you want to learn more about the surrounding of the Iraqi war, I highly recommend you purchase and read this book because you’ll have more insight into the topic at hand.