The former prime minister, John Howard, has defended his government’s 2003 decision to join the US-led invasion of Iraq.

Howard held a press conference today, in response to the UK’s Chilcot report on the war that characterised the invasion as ill-conceived and based on faulty intelligence.

The essence of Howard’s defence was that no lies were told at the time and that it is only in retrospect that the decision can be faulted. He said he was on record as having criticised aspects of the invasion, particularly the dismantling of the Iraqi army. [Read more…]