8.8.1   Different Scope of the Chilcot Report

(This is an archived page, from the Patterns of Power Edition 3 book.  Current versions are at book contents).

Sir John Chilcot's Report of the Iraq Inquiry "set out in detail the decision-making in the UK Government covering the period from when the possibility of military action first arose in 2001 to the departure of UK troops in 2009" [6].  Its scope therefore included the conduct of the war, whereas Patterns of Power Edition 2 only dealt with taking the decision to go to war.

The Inquiry scope was restricted to the UK government's role in the invasion of Iraq, whereas Patterns of Power: Edition 2 sought a broader perspective – including the role of the US government and global security considerations.

The Inquiry was given access to information which was available to the UK government but was not in the public domain at the time of the invasion, notably reports to the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) of the UK Parliament.