The Dutch decision to join the Anglo-American invasion of Iraq in 2003 was insufficiently supported by an international mandate, according to an independent commission which investigated the political process leading to the decision. Committee chairman Willibrord Davids presented the findings in a 350-page report on Tuesday.
Parliament was insufficiently informed about the cabinet's decision-making in the run-up to the invasion, the investigators wrote. They also said that Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende failed to show leadership in the debate over the Netherlands' involvement in the Iraqi war, allowing Foreign Minister Jaap de Hoop Scheffer to handle the matter on his own.
The report may have political consequences if the lower house decides to follow it up with a formal inquiry. The committee itself did not pass any political judgement.
Committee Chairman Willibrord Davids (ANP Photo)
Committee Chairman Willibrord Davids (ANP Photo)
Email this Article
Printer-friendly version
I don´t think any of CDA politicians should be blamed for the false information that USA gave. Bush was a big bully, face facts! Bush said either you are for us or against us, and we all saw what he did to Iraq claiming Iraq had weapons of mass destruction that never were found or ever existed. Bush and Cheney should be charged with international war crimes.
"Bush and Cheney should be charged with international war crimes."........You left out Mr. Blair. It was the British who fed the Americans false information. I guess while we are pointing fingers of guilt, we shouldn't forget the Dutch. They got on the bandwagon and are just as guilty. { Saddam, his sons and cousins, and his military murdered an entire city with poisionous gas. That should have been enough for the UN to go into Iraq but it didn't. Why? Because they, supported by the French (Chirac) and Germany, were greedy for oil, too. { I wonder how many you find up-standing Dutch people would yell for the US's help if you were treated as Saddam and sons treated his own people by your government. The Dutch would be the first to cry out. { The Europeans are the biggest criminals of all of them. They will attack smaller countries in Eastern Europe but ran with their tails between their legs when Russia attacked Georgia. Sorry, I forgot. The Russians are stronger and have a whole lot natural gas. It's amazing how the Europeans will turn a blind eye to the crimes of another state for gas. { I think if you are start finding people guilty, the Dutch should be at the top of the list.
Post new comment
Please be reminded all comments must be in English, short and to the point - guideline 250 words. Abusive and inappropriate comments will be removed.