The Cost Of War

Written by Vincent Cable MP and published in Richmond Informer on Sun 15th Feb 2004

Last week's high drama in Westminster over student tuition fees and the Hutton report helped restore parliament to its proper, central, role in political life.

Yet there is a striking contrast between the way most of us saw these events and the public reaction. On Hutton, it was clear that the Prime Minister was vindicated on the specific issue of Dr Kelly's suicide and he humiliated his parliamentary critics, notably Mr Howard. But the public remains unconvinced.

The major reason is that the war in Iraq still leaves a sour taste in many mouths. Even with Saddam Hussein in jail, the killing goes on. Another British soldier, the 54th, died last week; the Americans have lost ten times that number; and very many innocent Iraqis continue to be killed. There is growing anger because the Americans refuse to agree to an election which would probably be won by representatives of Muslin clerics from the Shia south.

I keep asking Gordon Brown and his ministers how much the war occupation and reconstruction will cost. If we stay for two more years as the Prime Minister suggests, the cost could rise from £3 billion - so far - to £7 billion. In the first Gulf War, 80% of the cost was paid for by other, friendly, countries. But, this time, because we went ahead without UN backing, British tax payers will have to foot the bill.

There is a growing demand for a proper independent inquiry into why we went to war. As someone who voted against the war I have long wanted such an inquiry. But we need to look forward as well as back and prepare an exit strategy which protects our troops and also leaves the Iraq in better shape than we found it.