They knew they were doing something illegal, so they tried to create conditions to make it appear legal. They knew they were doing something neither the British nor the American public wanted, so they "fixed" intelligence to create a compelling case.
The UK Cabinet level document notes that "US military planning unambiguously takes as its objective the removal of Saddam Hussein's regime," and lists among its conditions necessary for British participation "the preparation of domestic opinion."
Without irony, the document states that "US views of international law vary from that of the UK and the international community" and acknowledges that invasion for the purpose of regime change "per se" is illegal, a clear indication that this was, in fact, the purpose of the invasion. But, it further notes,
regime change could result from action that is otherwise lawful. We would regard the use of force against Iraq, or any other state, as lawful if exercised in the right of individual or collective self-defence, if carried out to avert an overwhelming humanitarian catastrophe, or authorised by the UN Security Council.The document also notes the failure of exit-planning.
A post-war occupation of Iraq could lead to a protracted and costly nation-building exercise. As already made clear, the US military plans are virtually silent on this point.And, finally, the need for lies.
Time will be required to prepare public opinion in the UK that it is necessary to take military action against Saddam Hussein...This will need to give full coverage to the threat posed by Saddam Hussein, including his WMD, and the legal justification for action.
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