The Report of the Iraq Inquiry

688. Mr Campbell told the Inquiry that he disagreed with Sir Christopher Meyer’s

analysis that Mr Blair’s position had shifted from a policy of containment and

disarmament to one of regime change.259 He described Mr Blair’s policy, before

Crawford, at Crawford and afterwards as “to pursue disarmament of Saddam Hussein

through the United Nations”.

689. Mr Powell told the Inquiry that the policy:

“… was to persuade the Americans to take a multilateral approach, to put the focus

on the UN, to give Saddam a chance to comply with the UN Resolutions and to force

the issue there … the only way you can get Saddam’s attention is by the threat of

military force.”260

690. Mr Powell added that it was “a shift to a policy of disarmament through the UN”,

leading to military action and regime change, “If that is what was necessary to remove

the threat of weapons of mass destruction”.

691. Asked whether he thought “the Foreign and Defence Secretaries were trying to pull

back on the Prime Minister’s reins in giving advice”, Sir David Manning told the Inquiry:

“Yes, I think probably I did. How far, I’m not sure, but … certainly the Foreign

Secretary was keen … to make it very clear there were risks … and not to be more

forward than was wise for the Government, especially when he didn’t know exactly

where the policy was going to take us … I think it probably was an attempt to say

let’s just see where the Americans are going on this. It’s a position I would certainly

sympathise with.”261

692. In the context of a reference during his evidence about his visit to the US in March

2002, to his strong personal view that the issue was disarmament not regime change,

Sir David Manning was asked how much he was trying to influence Mr Blair.262 Sir David

responded that he:

“… certainly argued strongly for the UN route with the Prime Minister, and

subsequently argued very strongly that we needed two resolutions. I also argued

very strongly with him that we needed more time.”

693. Sir David added, “that’s what you are paid for”. Mr Blair had wanted to know what

he thought.

259 Public hearing, 12 January 2010, pages 22-23.

260 Public hearing, 18 January 2010, page 67.

261 Private hearing, 24 June 2010, page 30.

262 Private hearing, 24 June 2010, page 29.

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