British PM testifies at war inquiry

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown defended his decision to engage in the Iraq war. He made the statement while testifying before an inquiry on the war and said deposing Saddam Hussein was the right thing to do.

In testimony before a looming national election, Brown praised the sacrifices of those who fought and died before immediately addressing a critical question: Did he agree with Britain's choice of going to war?

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said, "I believe we were making the right decision for the right cause. I believe I had sufficient information before me to make a judgment."

Gordon Brown: War in Iraq was 'right decision'

Brown insists all diplomatic efforts had been exhausted before the decision was made.

He denied suggestions his predecessor Tony Blair and US President George W. Bush had effectively decided to go to war before the British cabinet was given a chance to debate the matter.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said, "The final decision was made in the end by the cabinet after the diplomatic option was exhausted. I kept in regular touch with Tony Blair and I knew what the options were. And until it was exhausted, there was no decision made about going to war."

Brown dismissed claims that as treasury chief during the Iraq war, he choked military budgets, sending British soldiers to war without adequate equipment.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said, "My role in this was first of all, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, to make sure funding was there was what we had to do - and we did make sure that happened. Every request the military commanders made to us for equipment was answered. No request was ever turned down."

The inquiry is Britain's third and widest-ranging examination of the conflict, which triggered huge protests and left 179 British troops dead before the country's forces withdrew from Iraq last year.

The inquiry won't apportion blame or establish liability, but will offer recommendations on how to prevent errors in future conflicts.