Respecting the Role of the Legal Adviser: Conclusions Drawn from the Suez Crisis and Iraq War

Abstract

This essay critiques the British government’s mind-set towards government legal advisers in the lead up to the Iraq War and Suez Crisis. In both these uses of force situations, decision makers ignored or prolonged the process of receiving legal advice. In general, the legal adviser’s role in tendering informed legal opinions is vital to the government’s public and international reputation. The government neglected the legal adviser’s role, relying instead on pre-formed policies. However, this directly resulted in international law violations. Therefore, it is in the government’s best interests to seriously consider legal advice in order for it to garner domestic and international respect. The essay argues that a mentality change within the British government is required to avoid future violations.