The 1994 inquiry by Lord Justice Scott into the scandal of Britain’s illegal supply of weapons to Saddam Hussein produced memorable moments. There was Mark Higson’s detailed description of “a culture of lying” at the Foreign Office, where he was the Iraq Desk Officer. And there was the anxious moment when it seemed that Margaret Thatcher might walk out. “Lady Thatcher,” said His Lordship, “we’ll try and trouble you with as few papers as possible”.
The Scott inquiry produced a mountainous report and opaque conclusions. No politician was prosecuted; a few reputations were ruffled. The English establishment is expert at this. Tim Laxton, an auditor who examined the books of two British arms companies, believes that if there had been a full and open inquiry, “hundreds” would have faced criminal prosecution. “They would include,” he said, “top political figures, very senior civil servants throughout Whitehall: the Foreign Office, the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Trade and Industry… the top echelon of government.”
The Hutton inquiry into the circumstances of Dr David Kelly’s death has its memorable moments, too. The warning of Jonathan Powell, the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, not to “claim that we have evidence that [Saddam] is a threat”, points directly to Blair’s lying. However, that was exceptional. What is emerging is a pattern
— source johnpilger.com | John Pilger | 24 Aug 2003