Many in Britain have long been shamed and angered by their participation (with America) in the Iraq War. Now a seven-year-long investigation of it has concluded with a two million word assessment that condemns the involvement. The report is so sweeping that, technically, criminal charges could be lodged against government leaders of the time. That would be a mistake, the leaders acted in what they believed were the good faith interests. But the report itself is a democratic treasure. By contrast, the U.S. has never held anyone’s feet to the fire for sending nearly 4,500 troops to their death in a conflict ongoing since 2003.
TOM TIEDE