3.4 | Development of UK strategy and options, late July to 14 September 2002

“If Bush takes this route, it will transform the way we can approach and handle the

Iraq issue.”

174. The record of that discussion was sent only to Mr Straw outside No.10.

175. The British Embassy Washington reported that in a further speech in San Antonio,

Texas, on 29 August, Vice President Cheney had “toned down the line on the return of

UN inspectors”; describing them as “not an end in themselves”.59 He had “called more

clearly for Iraq to comply with UNSCRs [UN Security Council resolutions] by disarming

fully”, but had “underlined concerns that Saddam would nonetheless continue to plot to

develop WMD”.

On 29 August 2002, President Bush signed the national security document, ‘Iraq: Goals,

Objectives, Strategy’.60

The stated goal of the US was to free Iraq in order to:

• eliminate WMD;

• end Iraqi threats to its neighbours;

• stop the Iraqi government tyrannising its own people;

• cut Iraqi links to terrorism; and

• “Liberate the Iraqi people from tyranny and assist them in creating a society

based on moderation, pluralism and democracy.”61

The document stated that “the United States is prepared to play a sustained role in

the reconstruction of post‑Saddam Iraq with contribution from and participation of the

international community”, and that it would work closely with the Iraqi opposition to liberate

and build a new Iraq.62

176. In his memoir, President Bush wrote that the possibility of war was “an

all‑consuming” news story in Washington and recalled that he had spent much of

August 2002 in Crawford, reflecting on the “next decision” he faced:

“… how to move forward on the diplomatic track. One option was to seek a UN

resolution calling on Saddam to readmit weapons inspectors. The other was to issue

an ultimatum demanding that he disarm – and rally a coalition to remove him if he

did not comply.”63

59 Telegram 1104 Washington to FCO, 29 August 2002, ‘Iraq: Visit by Stephen Wright, DUS, to

Washington, 29 August’.

60 Bowen SW Jr. Hard Lessons: The Iraq Reconstruction Experience. U.S. Government Printing

Office, 2009.

61 Feith DJ. War and Decision. Harper, 2008.

62 Bowen SW Jr. Hard Lessons: The Iraq Reconstruction Experience. U.S. Government Printing

Office, 2009.

63 Bush GW. Decision Points. Virgin Books, 2010.

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