For Their Eyes Only

摘要

Ever since Britain joined the American-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, those opposed to the war have explored all avenues to discover just how the decision to do so was reached. One of those avenues has now been blocked. On February 24th the government vetoed rulings by official freedom-of-information watchdogs that it should release the minutes of two cabinet meetings just before the invasion.rnIt is the first time since the Freedom of Information Act came into force in 2005 that the government has invoked a clause allowing it to refuse to comply with a ruling of the Information Tribunal. Even Labour mps had slunk from the House of Commons by the time the decision was announced. No appeal against the veto is possible, although there is a slim chance that a judicial review may be sought.rnCampaigners had hoped to learn more about cabinet deliberations on the lawfulness of invading Iraq without un authorisation. At around the time of the two crucial meetings, the attorney-general provided two separate legal opinions, ten days apart. The first expressed reservations; the second was more gung-ho. How much did ministers know about Lord Goldsmith's initial caveats? How free were they to question the basis for his opinions?