Iraq Inquiry: Key Points From Chilcot Report
Tony Blair's relationship with George Bush and the preparedness of the military are heavily criticised in the long-awaited report.
Wednesday 6 July 2016 11:16, UK
Here are the key points from Sir John Chilcot's 2.6 million-word report into the Iraq War:
On Tony Blair
:: The former prime minister led the UK into the Iraq War before "peaceful options for disarmament had been exhausted" and military action was "not a last resort" at the time
:: His claims that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) were made "with a certainty that was not justified"
On Mr Blair's relationship with George W Bush
:: Mr Blair wrote to the US president to say he would be with him "whatever" eight months before the invasion began, without discussion or agreement from his Cabinet
:: He "overestimated his ability to influence US decisions on Iraq"
On the UK's decision to invade Iraq
:: Policy on Iraq was "made on the basis of flawed intelligence and assessments"
:: Saddam Hussein posed "no imminent threat" at the time of the invasion
:: The consequences of the invasion were underestimated despite "explicit warnings"
:: Circumstances leading up to the then Attorney General's controversial advice that the war was legal without a second UN resolution were "far from satisfactory"
On the UK's planning for Iraq occupation
:: Preparation for after the overthrow of Saddam was "wholly inadequate"
:: The military "did not have the resources" to successfully fight conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan simultaneously
On the military
:: The UK military role in Iraq "ended a very long way from success"
:: The Armed Forces experienced "some serious equipment shortfalls" when operations began in Iraq - with "key gaps" in helicopters, intelligence gathering and targeting assets
:: Delays in providing better-protected patrol vehicles "should not have been tolerated"
:: The Ministry of Defence was "slow in responding to the threat from Improvised Explosive Devices"
On those who served
:: Sir John Chilcot: "Service personnel, civilians who deployed to Iraq and Iraqis who worked for the UK, shows great courage in the face of considerable risks. They deserve our gratitude and respect"