The Report of the Iraq Inquiry

170. Sir David Manning continued to pursue the UK proposals for “smarter sanctions”

in his contacts with Russia.94

171. Sir Jeremy Greenstock told the Inquiry that although the focus on Afghanistan

and terrorism “overshadowed discussions on Iraq … there were intensive efforts …

to re-establish P5, and especially Russian support, for a revised Goods Review List

resolution”.95 That included three meetings between the Mr Straw and Mr Igor Ivanov,

the Russian Foreign Minister, and discussion on the telephone between Mr Blair and

President Putin.

172. Mr Patey told the Inquiry that there had been British efforts “to sweeten the deal

for the Russians”.96

173. Mr Blair met President Bush on 7 November, primarily to discuss

Afghanistan.

174. Sir Christopher Meyer sent Mr Straw a letter, ‘America after 11 September’, on

5 November.97 That drew attention to President Bush’s anxiety about the anthrax attacks.

175. Commenting on the balance between multilateralism and unilateralism,

Sir Christopher wrote that the US had a historic preference for “informal alliances

and coalitions of the willing, over the sovereignty-limiting provisions of international

conventions”. The UN was “usually an exercise in damage limitation, save where

the organisation can advance US interests, as in providing Article 51 cover to fight

terrorism”. The best Europe could hope for was “the continued predominance of

mainstream pragmatists in the conduct of US foreign policy”, but “even that” was

“not guaranteed”.

176. Sir Christopher added that Mr Blair, Mr Straw and Mr Hoon had leveraged UK

popularity “brilliantly to influence the conduct of the war on terrorism”. The “real test” of

that influence would be “whether we can generate a recalibrated and more energetic US

policy towards the Middle East, and stop the Americans doing something self-defeating

in Iraq or elsewhere”.

177. Sir Christopher concluded:

“The Americans are very good at compartmentalising their sentimental and sincere

affection for Britain from the single minded pursuit of national interest. It is a gap

we have to close …”

178. Mr Blair visited Washington on 7 November for talks with President Bush, primarily

about Afghanistan.98

94 Minute McKane to Manning, 2 November 2001, ‘Iraq’.

95 Statement, November 2009, page 5.

96 Public hearing, 24 November 2009, page 46.

97 Letter Meyer to Straw, 5 November 2001, ‘America after 11 September’.

98 Letter Manning to Rice, 8 November 2001, [untitled].

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