From behind his opulent taxpayer-funded desk, seated in an extravagantly comfortable leather office chair, little Johnny deemed it necessary to commit our troops to battle. The controversy surrounding the war persists, fueled by revelations that the purported reasons were nothing but a smokescreen, concealing the true motivations. It appears that, in the eyes of many, John Howard submitted to Bush, and by proxy, committed what some argue are war crimes.

Despite the passage of time, Howard is not too old to be held accountable. Enter the National Accountability Commission (NACC). However, skepticism abounds regarding their willingness to take action. The hope for justice is further dampened by the convenient lack of transparency surrounding the cabinet papers, attributed to "apparent administrative oversights" by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet under Scott Morrison's leadership. How convenient indeed.

The toll of the war is undeniable. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqi lives lost, a sectarian conflict unleashed, and a long shadow cast over the country. Australia, too, paid a considerable price over six years of combat deployment - two lives lost, 27 injured, 243 veterans diagnosed with PTSD, and a financial cost exceeding $2.4 billion, with counting still ongoing.

Deaths, injuries, disabilities, and a staggering financial burden exceeding two and a half billion dollars - the toll of Howard's decisions cannot be ignored. The question that echoes through the corridors of our collective conscience is when will we hold those who wield power over our country accountable for their actions?

As we ponder this, it wouldn't be surprising if figures like Peter Dutton consider John Howard too soft. The shadows of the past loom large, and it's time to demand answers and accountability from those who once steered the ship of our nation.

References:

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/cabinet-papers-on-iraq-war-decision-mia-20231231-p5eueu.html

Tags: John Howard, War