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The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
Delays caused by duty of care obligations were “unavoidable”, but the Iraq
experience would help streamline the process in future.
Part of the problem in Basra had been uncertainty about what was needed and
“requests bounced about quite a bit. It would have made sense to have a senior
post‑conflict reconstruction expert in Basra working to Hilary Synnott, defining
needs from the outset.” 150
218.  On communications equipment, Mr Buck explained that a secure communications
package and engineer had been deployed to the British Office Baghdad at the outset
and a full Firecrest151 system had been ready to be shipped with the flat pack Embassy
in May. Firecrest systems were designed for a large network of posts. Because of the
changing set of posts in Iraq, installation in Baghdad and Basra had been delayed until
October. The delay had been a “major disadvantage” that made it “difficult for the FCO
to establish authoritative leadership”. Part of the answer lay in secure laptops. A new
position had been created “to co‑ordinate and improve emergency deployment of secure
IT and communications”.
219.  Mr Buck advised that most of those points had been fed into the FCO‑led review
of post‑conflict reconstruction (see Section 10.3).
220.  Sir Michael Jay commented:
“I agree with this. There are many lessons to learn from the – wholly unprecedented
– Iraq experience; but I don’t think Hilary Synnott’s criticisms are entirely fair.” 152
221.  On 26 October, the al‑Rashid Hotel in the Green Zone of Baghdad, used as a
Coalition military base, was hit by a number of rockets.153
222.  The attack killed a US soldier, and injured 15 other people. US Deputy Defense
Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, who was staying in the hotel, escaped unhurt.
223.  One UK civilian seconded to the CPA was seriously injured.154
224.  Sir David Manning, British Ambassador to the US, described the attack as
“the bloodiest 48‑hour period in Baghdad since March”.155
225.  Sir Jeremy Greenstock, the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Iraq,
commented: “Terrible news. This is the first time a CPA civilian has been killed in Iraq,
a fact that will have serious repercussions.” 156
150  Minute Buck to PS/PUS [FCO], 16 February 2004, ‘FCO Response to Iraq’.
151  The FCO ICT system.
152  Manuscript comment Jay on Minute Buck to PS/PUS [FCO], 16 February 2004, ‘FCO Response
to Iraq’.
153  BBC News, 26 October 2003, US shocked at Iraq hotel attack.
154  Briefing [unattributed], 30 October 2003, ‘Briefing for Foreign Secretary: Cabinet: 30 October’.
155  Telegram 1426 Washington to FCO London, 28 October 2003, ‘Iraq: US Views 28 October’.
156  Telegram 231 IraqRep to FCO London, 26 October 2003, ‘Rocket Attack on Al Rasheed Hotel’.
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