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UK Iraq policy a 'rank disaster' UK Iraq policy a 'rank disaster'
(10 minutes later)
A high ranking British diplomat, who quit over the war with Iraq, has called policy in the region a "rank disaster".A high ranking British diplomat, who quit over the war with Iraq, has called policy in the region a "rank disaster".
Carne Ross told MPs the intelligence presented to the public about weapons of mass destruction was "manipulated".Carne Ross told MPs the intelligence presented to the public about weapons of mass destruction was "manipulated".
He also added that "the proper legal advice from the Foreign office on the legality of the war was ignored".He also added that "the proper legal advice from the Foreign office on the legality of the war was ignored".
Mr Blair has always defended the war's legality and the Butler inquiry said there was no evidence of "deliberate distortion" of intelligence on WMD.Mr Blair has always defended the war's legality and the Butler inquiry said there was no evidence of "deliberate distortion" of intelligence on WMD.
During his 45-minute evidence session Mr Ross also attacked the "politicisation" of the diplomatic service, and claimed promotion depended on agreeing with Mr Blair.During his 45-minute evidence session Mr Ross also attacked the "politicisation" of the diplomatic service, and claimed promotion depended on agreeing with Mr Blair.
Mr Ross, who said he had been a friend of weapons scientist Dr David Kelly, said he accepted the prime minister was ultimately responsible for foreign policy. Mr Ross, who said he had been a friend of weapons scientist Dr David Kelly and had a hand in drawing up one of the government's weapons dossiers, said he accepted the prime minister was ultimately responsible for foreign policy.
But he added: "Policy making in the run up to the Iraq was, I think, extremely poor in that I don't think the proper available alternatives to war were properly considered.But he added: "Policy making in the run up to the Iraq was, I think, extremely poor in that I don't think the proper available alternatives to war were properly considered.
"I think the presentation of intelligence to the public on weapons of mass destruction was manipulated and I think that the proper legal advice from the foreign office on the legality of the war was ignored.""I think the presentation of intelligence to the public on weapons of mass destruction was manipulated and I think that the proper legal advice from the foreign office on the legality of the war was ignored."
'Creeping politicisation''Creeping politicisation'
Mr Ross, who was head of strategy for the UN mission in Kosovo, and also played a leading role in devising policy on Iraq and Afghanistan, said there was a "political element at work in promotions to the most senior levels of the foreign office". Mr Ross, who was head of strategy for the UN mission in Kosovo, and also played a leading role in devising policy on Iraq and Afghanistan, said decision-making power was concentrated in the hands of too small a group.
And he had also noticed a growing tendency for officials "to tell ministers what they wish to hear in order to advance one's own individual prospects". And there was a "political element at work in promotions to the most senior levels of the foreign office".
He said he had also noticed a growing tendency for officials "to tell ministers what they wish to hear in order to advance one's own individual prospects".
He told MPs: "There is a kind of subtle and creeping politicisation of the diplomatic service that in order to get promoted you have to show yourself as being sympathetic in identifying with the views of ministers and, in particular, the prime minister.He told MPs: "There is a kind of subtle and creeping politicisation of the diplomatic service that in order to get promoted you have to show yourself as being sympathetic in identifying with the views of ministers and, in particular, the prime minister.
"Secondly, and this was the case in the Conservative government before Labour took office, decision-making powers have become increasingly concentrated in Number 10... the Foreign Office has become subsidiary to Number 10.""Secondly, and this was the case in the Conservative government before Labour took office, decision-making powers have become increasingly concentrated in Number 10... the Foreign Office has become subsidiary to Number 10."
On Iraq, he said the measure of success in foreign policy should be "minimisation of suffering" and "if that is your measure, our policy has been a rank disaster in the last few years in terms of blood shed".On Iraq, he said the measure of success in foreign policy should be "minimisation of suffering" and "if that is your measure, our policy has been a rank disaster in the last few years in terms of blood shed".
By that measure that invasion has been a much greater disaster even than Suez," he added.By that measure that invasion has been a much greater disaster even than Suez," he added.
Mr Carne said Foreign Office officials had been split over the invasion of Iraq. Mr Ross said Foreign Office officials had been split over the invasion of Iraq.