Blair responsible for Britain’s failure in Iraq: Report

The reports contain transcripts of frank classified interviews in which senior British Army commanders vent their frustration and anger with Ministers and Whitehall officials.

The need to conceal this from Parliament and all but “very small numbers” of officials “constrained” the planning process — the result was a “rushed” operation “lacking in coherence and resources” which caused “significant risk” to troops and “critical failure” in the post-war period.

Operations were so under-resourced that some troops went into action with only five bullets each; others had to deploy to war on civilian airlines,taking their equipment as hand luggage; and some troops had weapons confiscated by airport security,the reports have revealed.