Iraq Inquiry facts for kids

The official logo for the Iraq Inquiry.

The Iraq Inquiry was a big investigation in the United Kingdom. It looked into why the UK got involved in the Iraq War. This inquiry is also known as the Chilcot Inquiry. It was named after its chairman, Sir John Chilcot.

The inquiry was announced by the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, on June 15, 2009. At first, it was going to be a secret investigation. But many people and politicians in the House of Commons were unhappy about this. So, the government changed its mind, and the inquiry became public.

On July 6, 2016, Sir John Chilcot announced that the report was ready. This was more than seven years after the inquiry started. News channels often called it the Chilcot report. The report said that Saddam Hussein was not an immediate danger. It also stated that the Iraq War was not necessary.

What Was the Iraq Inquiry?

The Iraq Inquiry was a special investigation. Its main goal was to understand the UK's part in the Iraq War. It looked at decisions made before, during, and after the war. The inquiry wanted to learn lessons for the future. It aimed to make sure similar mistakes would not happen again.

Why Was the Inquiry Needed?

Many people in the UK had questions about the war. They wanted to know if the government had good reasons to join the war. They also wondered if the war was handled well. The inquiry was set up to answer these important questions. It gathered evidence from many people. This included politicians, military leaders, and experts.

How the Inquiry Worked

The inquiry team spent many years collecting information. They interviewed over 150 witnesses. They also looked at more than 150,000 government documents. This included secret letters and reports. The team worked hard to be fair and thorough. They wanted to present a complete picture of what happened. The final report was very long. It had 12 volumes and was over 2.6 million words.

Key Findings of the Report

The Chilcot report shared several important findings. It said that the UK chose to join the invasion of Iraq before peaceful options were fully explored. It also stated that the threat from Saddam Hussein was not as urgent as it was presented. The report found that the UK's planning for the time after the invasion was not good enough. These findings led to much discussion in the UK.

Images for kids

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  Tony Blair and George W. Bush on July 28, 2006.

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  Sir John Chilcot Chairman of the inquiry.
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  Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman A military historian who was a member of the inquiry.
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  Sir Martin Gilbert A historian and member of the inquiry.
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  Baroness Usha Prashar A member of the inquiry and the Joint Committee on Human Rights.

See also

In Spanish: Informe Chilcot para niños