The attorney general’s legal opinion before the invasion of Iraq in 2003 resulted from a failure to understand the American attitude to law in general, and international law in particular, and a confusion between advice and advocacy.The American legal mind regards law not as a thing that gets applied but as a process that never [...]
• First law chief said second UN vote needed • Then Bush lawyers changed his opinion• Eve of battle revision to give troops clear yesLord Goldsmith, attorney general at the time of the Iraq war, acknowledged today that he changed his advice on the legality of the invasion twice in the five weeks leading up [...]
The inquiry was drawn into a detailed discussion on a number of key words and phrases which played central role in Lord Goldsmith’s argument that there was a legal basis for the warThe inquiry was drawn into a detailed discussion on a number of key words and phrases which played central role in Lord Goldsmith’s [...]
The attorney general’s testimony offers a revealing insight into decision-making in the Blair governmentIn almost six hours of evidence to the Chilcot inquiry, only rarely did the former attorney general Lord Goldsmith come across as a witness struggling under a challenging cross-examination. But extensive new insight into the key events in the run-up to the [...]
Former attorney general admitted to changing his mind over necessity of further justification for military actionLord Goldsmith at the Iraq war inquiry – liveLord Goldsmith, the government’s attorney general at the time of the Iraq war, has told the Chilcot inquiry that he believed in 2002 there was no imminent threat from Saddam Hussein’s regime [...]
Follow the action as the former attorney general gives evidence to the Chilcot panel11.18am: Here, courtesy of the Press Association, is the full quote from Goldsmith when he was talking about the letter he sent to Blair in the summer of 2002 saying Blair would need a UN resolution to justify war.I did it of [...]
Former attorney general to give evidence to Chilcot inquiry a day after panel is told Straw ignored warnings invasion was illegalThe former attorney general Lord Goldsmith has received legal advice from public funds to help him prepare his evidence tomorrow to the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war, the Guardian has learned.His request for help [...]
Andrew Sparrow on Lord Goldsmith, former attorney general, who is to give evidence at Iraq inquiryAndrew Sparrow
In two days’ time Tony Blair appears before the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war. Today his former attorney general gives evidence. Andrew Sparrow, who’s been live blogging from the inquiry, outlines some of the main questions
Lady Scotland will consider whether the five-year minimum sentence imposed on brothers was unduly lenientThe attorney general is to review the sentences imposed on two young brothers who subjected a pair of boys to an attack involving “prolonged sadistic violence” and sexual humiliation in Edlington, South Yorkshire.Lady Scotland has called for the papers on the [...]