However, the problem now is that that the mistakes that were made in the period leading up to the conflict are being repeated in the post-conflict situation.
In particular, the UN mandate necessary to bring into being a legitimate Iraqi Government is not being supported by the UK Government.
This, I believe, is damaging to Iraq's prospects, will continue to undermine the authority of the UN and directly affects my work and responsibilities."
The situation in Iraq under international law is that the coalition are occupying powers in occupied territory.
Under the Geneva Convention of 1949 and the Hague regulations of 1907 the coalition has clear responsibilities and clear limits to its authority.
It is obliged to attend to the humanitarian needs of the population, to keep order and keep civil administration operating.
The coalition is legally entitled to modify the operation of the administration as much as is necessary to fulfil these obligations but is not entitled to make major political, economic and constitutional changes.
The coalition does not have sovereign authority and has no authority to bring into being an interim Iraqi Government with such authority, or to create a constitutional process leading to the election of a sovereign government.
The only body that has the legal authority to do this is the UN Security Council.
I believe it is duty of all responsible political leaders right across the world, whatever view they took on the launch of the war, to focus on reuniting the international community in order to support the people of Iraq in rebuilding their country, to re-establish the authority of the UN and to heal the bitter divisions that preceded the war.
I am sorry to say that the UK Government is not doing this.
It is supporting the US in trying to bully the security council into a resolution that gives the coalition the power to establish an Iraqi Government and control the use of oil for reconstruction with only a minor role for the UN.
This resolution is unlikely to pass but if it does it will not create the best arrangements for the reconstruction of Iraq.
The draft resolution risks continuing international divisions, Iraqi resentment against the occupying powers and the possibility that the coalition will get bogged down in Iraq.
I believe the UK could and should have respected the attorney general's advice, told the US this was a red line for us and worked for international agreement to a proper UN-led process to establish an interim Iraqi Government, just as was done in Afghanistan.
This would have been an honourable and wise role for the UK and the international community would have united around this position.
It's also in the best interests of the US.
In both the run up to the war and now, I think the UK is making grave errors in providing cover for the US mistakes, rather than helping an old friend, which is understandably hurt and angry about the events of September 11, to honour international law and the authority of the UN.
American power alone cannot make America safe. Of course we must all unite to dismantle the terrorist networks and, through the UN, the world is doing this.
But undermining international law and the authority of the UN creates the risk of instability, bitterness and growing terrorism that will threaten the future for all of us.
I am ashamed that the UK Government has agreed the resolution tabled in New York and shocked by the secrecy and lack of consultation with departments with direct responsibility for the issues referred to in the resolution.
I'm afraid this resolution undermines all the commitments I have made in the House and elsewhere about how the reconstruction of Iraq will be organised.
Clearly this makes my position impossible and I have no alternative than to resign from the government.
