Sir John Chilcot’s report into the Iraq war has provided British politics with a long-awaited moment of catharsis, a stinging condemnation of Tony Blair and his push to take the UK into the conflict. Maybe the report does not provide the basis for a war crimes trial that the former prime minister’s fiercest critics had hoped for, but in the clipped tones of the British establishment it lays out a verdict that will probably define his reputation.
By contrast, it might seem as if the US has already moved on. In a passionate election year, the Iraq war has not been one of the main flashpoints. Even Bernie Sanders, the one consistent critic of the invasion, was always much more eager to talk about the economy.
Yet surface impressions can deceive. Make no mistake: the legacy of the war continues to shape US politics and this year’s elections. Just as the emotions around the 2003 invasion are alive in the UK, they also provide the background music for much of the turbulent politics this year.