The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
877.
An annex to
the paper stated that enhancement of Intelligence
Surveillance
Reconnaissance
capability had emerged as “a priority Op TELIC
lesson”.
878.
On 1
September, MND(SE) produced a Forces and Resources Review to
examine
the
resources required in MND(SE), for both short‑term and enduring
operations.464
879.
The Review
reiterated the requirement for greater surveillance capability. It
stated:
“The
evolving threat from terrorism in Basra City leads to the urgent
requirement for
airborne
surveillance of urban areas. Force protection measures limit the
ability to
observe a
situation from the ground, or to track vehicles/people along busy
streets,
or to
observe the situation remotely. Airborne surveillance would clearly
enhance
both force
protection and the ability to catch or kill terrorists … A
surveillance
capability
… could be fitted to the existing allocation of helicopters on Op
TELIC.”
880.
On UAVs, the
Review cited the USUR submitted to PJHQ in May. It
added:
“The
increasing significance of the international borders and the need
for pylon
line
surveillance has re‑emphasised the importance of this capability.
In addition,
counter-terrorist
operations in urban areas and more focused operations
against
both border
activity and organised crime indicate that HQ MND(SE) will confirm
the
value of
redeploying Phoenix once the weather becomes sufficiently
accommodating
in the
Autumn.”
881.
The Review
also identified a protected mobility requirement which is
addressed
earlier in
this Section.
882.
Major General
Robin Brims, the Deputy Chief of Joint Operations,
provided
a written
update to the Chiefs of Staff on the Forces and Resources Review
on
2 September.465
He wrote
that one of the “key elements” was the enduring
requirement
to
“increase force protection, commence ICDC [Iraqi Civil Defence
Corps] training and
to improve
the ISTAR capability in MND(SE)”.
883.
Maj Gen Brims
recommended the Chiefs agree that “DEC(ISTAR) should do
all
that is
possible to accelerate the introduction of a new UAV, Desert Hawk,
not currently
believed to
be available until Dec 03 at the very earliest”. Phoenix UAVs would
be
deployed in
the interim when the weather conditions became
“appropriate”.
884.
On 4
September, Mr Hoon’s Private Office sent a letter to
Mr Matthew Rycroft,
Mr Blair’s
Private Secretary for Foreign Affairs, informing him of the outcome
of the
Forces and
Resources Review.466
464
Paper
MND(SE) [junior officer], 1 September 2003, ‘HQ MND(SE) Forces and
Resources Review’.
465
Minute
SECCOS to PSO/CDS, 1 [sic] September 2003, ‘OP COS paper: Op TELIC
– UK Force and
Resources
Review An Update’ attaching Minute Brims, 2 September 2003, ‘Op
TELIC – UK Force and
Resources
Review – An Update’.
466
Letter
Williams to Rycroft, 4 September 2003, ‘Iraq: UK Forces and
Resources Review’.
150