Why we went to war in Iraq remains a secret as Straw blocks the release of cabinet minutes

[cal04]

• Freedom of information disclosure vetoed
• Justice secretary denies circumventing act
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/feb/25/cabinet-minutes-iraq-war


The government took the unprecedented decision yesterday to block the release of cabinet minutes about the invasion of Iraq on the grounds that it would undermine democratic decision-making, the very argument used by freedom of information bodies which had ordered their disclosure.

Jack Straw, the justice secretary, told MPs the government had decided to use its veto powers under the Freedom of Information Act because publication "risked serious damage to cabinet government".

He argued that the potential damage "far outweighs" any potential public benefit of publication and added that the decision to go to war had already been examined "with a fine-toothed comb" in several inquiries.

Straw denied he was trying to "circumvent" the FOI Act and said he had finally come to the decision on Monday afternoon, after the "final cabinet discussion of the matter". There had already been at least four inquiries into the war and the prime minister would consider the case for a further inquiry once the troops were home, he said. "Confidentiality serves to promote thorough decision-making. Disclosure of the cabinet minutes in this case jeopardises that space for thought and debate at precisely the point where it has its greatest utility."

[HowHasItComeToThis]

1. THEY WANT TO SHIELD B.P.

[yurbud]

2. yep