Skip to main content
The poisonous propaganda behind the Iraq war still has purchase today
IAN SINCLAIR takes a look at the lasting damage done by the lies that took us to war at a time Labour is again embracing militarism
NO PLACE TO HIDE: Protesters outside at the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq War

As the famous quote — commonly attributed to US writer Mark Twain — goes: “a lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes.”

It shouldn’t be surprising, then, that while the case for the 2003 Iraq war has been largely discredited, an unnerving amount of propaganda spread by the US and UK governments at the time still has some purchase today.

For example, Gerd Nonneman, Professor of International Relations and Gulf Studies at Georgetown University Qatar, recently tweeted about Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD): “Saddam’s aim was to keep everyone at home & abroad guessing.” Similarly, a November Financial Times review by Chief Political Correspondent Philip Stephens of two books on UK intelligence matters noted the then Iraqi leader “believed his domestic authority in Iraq rested on a pretence that he still had WMD.”

Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
Features / 16 April 2025
16 April 2025
Despite liberal whining that Trump threatens the ‘international rules-based order,’ the historical record shows Western nations have repeatedly overthrown democracies, backed genocides and violated sovereignty, writes IAN SINCLAIR
The Palisades Fire that started in the City of Los Angeles,
Books / 1 April 2025
1 April 2025
IAN SINCLAIR draws attention to the powerful role that literature plays in foreseeing the way humanity will deal with climate crisis
In this photo provided by Ukraine's 24th Mechanized Brigade
Features / 29 March 2025
29 March 2025
Detailing the deluge of delusion and dishonesty pushed by the pro-war camp, IAN SINCLAIR identifies four key tactics corporate journalists use to confuse audiences and suppress opposition to the proxy war in the east
Album reviews / 24 March 2025
24 March 2025
New releases from Black Country, New Road, Anouar Brahem, and Jaywalkers
Similar stories
Features / 30 December 2024
30 December 2024
Britain’s state broadcaster is facing major internal discontent about its reporting on the Israel-Gaza conflict. Journalists are claiming it is systematically biased and frames events in a misleading way, writes MARC VANDEPITTE
ARCHITECTS OF SLAUGHTER : Jonathan Powell (right)and Alastai
Features / 23 November 2024
23 November 2024
The British press has welcomed Keir Starmer’s new National Security Adviser without any mention of his deep, central involvement in the criminal invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan — but history remembers, writes IAN SINCLAIR