Preston Squaddie McLaughlin

When I met Steven McLaughlin I would not have guessed he was an ex rifleman to Iraq. I'd never met a soldier before, at least not till a few weeks before and he certainly didn't come across as someone I could picture in an army uniform with a gun in his hand. His casual attire and composed demeanour did not exactly spell out soldier.

When I first spoke to him on the phone I had deduced he was a man who had battled more than the unknown enemies on Iraqi soil, someone with very strong opinions and a recently published book that said it all. I was trawling across the internet for squaddies in the public eye when I tripped over a mention of his book, 'Squaddie, A Soldior's Story.

I got in touch with the publisher who passed on his details and soon I was sitting in the radio booth in the department newsroom struggling to hear what he was saying about the secrecy, the former prime minister and why he thought this inquiry was a waste of tax payers money, over a crackly phone line. The call left me curious about why the name Al Sadr was not a name I'd heard before and wondering whether Iraq was really heading towards a new dictatorship. I realised that he probably did have some useful insights that I could use and a trip up to Preston might just be worth my while.

And so, a few weeks later there I was seated face to face with the Squaddie himself at Preston public library, feeling like an undercover agent as we talked in hushed whispers and lowered voices inviting suspicious looks from passers by as we discussed Iraq , the war and the current controversy surrounding the inquiry and the speculation of a whitewash inquiry that had been making headlines of late.

I wasn't sure how much of the interview I would be able to use without breaching libel and slander laws that make the media laws in this country so stringent (but are crucial to ensure objective and impartial reporting) and how I could present his views without making the piece sound like a sounding board for anti-war and anti-Blair camp opinions. It was going to be a challenge I would have to deal with soon enough but for now I was going back to London with my interview and my copy of Squaddie which I hoped would shed some light on what happened in Iraq and the barracks, things the public couldn't see.....and it did in a sense.

So if you want a colourful but real look at the life of a Squaddie then Squaddie a Soldier's Story might be of interest.

See: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Squaddie-Soldiers-Story-Steven-McLaughlin/dp/1845961455

Consequences for the US?

This inquiry could have implications across the Atlantic. Professor Michael Codner military expert at RUSI London said there are two ways this inquiry could progress which would determine whether or not it has any impact on the United States.

Listen here to what he feels the possible outcomes could be for the US

US-UK 'special relationship'

Many politicians have expressed the need for the inquiry to examine the so called 'special relationship' between the United States and the United Kingdom.

Prof. Michael Codner, Director of Military Sciences at the Royal United Services Institute, London explains why the 'special relationship' is key to the Iraq war decision.

Inquiry Impact on Mr Blair?

In an interview with Professor Michael Codner the Director of Military Sciences at the Royal United Services Institute London I asked him what he felt this inquiry would mean for Tony Blair. He didn't think at the time that it would have much of an impact on his life.
"He’s obviously got his middle east envoy position , but that may be the sort of thing which might be difficult for him to continue doing if international arena he is portrayed as someone who did immoral or illegal things while he was in that position but that’s a matter for him and whichever entity he is involved in. It certainly rather discredits his charitable trust that he's set up but people live through all of that.He’ll need to write a book" said Codner.

Listen here to what he said...

Inquiry Impact on Brown's career

Before the Inquiry began and the General Election was still many months away I asked Professor Michael Codner at the Royal United Services Institute London what he felt the repercussions of this inquiry would be for Gordon Brown who was Prime Minister at the time. He felt that would depend on the outcome of the inquiry which could be.....

Listen here to Michael Codner's anecdote...

More about the panel and Q's?

The inquiry panel includes
- war historian Sir Martin Gilbert
- historian of recent conflicts and strageic analyst Sir Lawrence Freedman
- Chairman of the Joint Human Rights Committee Baroness Usha Prashar
- former British Ambassador to Moscow Sir Roderic Lyne.

Experience
Some of the members have previously commented on the war and none of them have military or governmental experience. MP William Hague said he sees potential problems with that because "much of the inquiry's scope will be either military in nature" or it will examine "decision making processes at the highest level of government".

But Michael Codner the Director of Military Sciences at RUSI said it would be difficult to be find the right military person because those who would have the requisite experience and expertise to carry out such an investigation have been "heavily embroiled in criticising the government". He felt that having historians is useful because it will help put the issues into a broader context.

Expertise
There have been concerns raised about the lack of legal expertise on the panel. Professor Nick Grief said, "I would have liked to see the inquiry chaired by someone like Lord Bingham, the retired law lord".

He said the legal aspect is crucial because no inquiry has yet come to any conclusion about the legality of the war.But the panel will have experts to advise them and Sir John has already started identifying people who he feels have the requisite knowledge to assist them in their investigation.

End of the Iraq chapter?

This inquiry may not close the lid on the Iraq discussion for Britain say experts. Nick Grief, professor of international law at the University of Bournemouth said " historians will go on writing and thinking about and discussing iraq for many years come".

He said the Iraq war decision will be studied by law students as a case for examining the importance of the rule of law. The Iraq war was a major invasion by the only remaining super power in the world and some of its closest allies which he believes 'lacked the necessary legal authority', which he said is why it won't be forgotten.
 
Evidence 
The Inquiry has launched its own website so anyone who feels they have information which may help can contact the panel. It also provides background information about the Inquiry. Chairman of the panel Sir John Chilcot says 'this inquiry is aiming for maximum transparency' and 'are hoping to televise the hearings through streaming on the internet'. The evidence received will be out in the open for people to see. Journalist Chris Ames said this could help verify the authenticity of evidence already in the public domain by way of leaks.

Conclusion?
What the inquiry's conclusion will be is something we'll have to wait till after the general election to see.