10.1 |
Reconstruction: March 2003 to June 2004
436.
A draft
version of the list of 10 to 15 outstanding, practical issues
requested by
Mr Blair
on 3 June, produced by the IPU, was considered by the 5 June
meeting of the
AHMGIR,
chaired by Mr Straw.243
437.
Mr Straw
wrote to Mr Blair later that day:
“We [the
AHMGIR] fully shared your view that an enormous amount of work
remains
to be done.
We were concerned that the US was not showing the same
energy,
focus and
drive in the reconstruction effort that they did in the military
campaign.
“Colleagues
also felt strongly that the US must not be allowed to take UK
support
for
granted. Otherwise, as the US ultimately called the shots, we
risked being
caught in a
position of sharing responsibility for events in Iraq without
holding the
corresponding
power to influence them. In that context, the Treasury
expressed
worries
about the provisional arrangements for disbursing oil revenues from
the
Development
Fund for Iraq …”244
438.
Mr Straw
attached a revised IPU paper, which he described as “setting out
what
needs to be
done to make reconstruction work, containing ideas which would make
a big
difference
to the people of Iraq”. He highlighted the importance of preventing
looting and
criminality
and turning the CPA into an efficient, functioning organisation,
adding:
“Unless we
put these two foundation stones in place, reconstruction will
continue
to
falter.”
439.
The IPU paper,
entitled ‘Iraq Reconstruction: 30 Day Priorities’, stated that the
US
and UK
needed:
•
a clear,
coherent strategic plan;
•
a timetable
for delivering it; and
•
regular
contact between Mr Blair, President Bush and Ambassador
Bremer
to review
progress and agree next steps.
440.
The IPU
proposed “some specific targets we [the US and UK] should now
set
ourselves,
for delivery within 30 days”, in six areas:
“1.
Restore security …
2. Agree
and implement a strategic plan for the CPA
a) Agree
specific targets for reconstruction direct with Bremer, and agree
the
resources
needed to deliver them. And then let him get on with his
job.
…
243
Minutes, 5
June 2003, Ad Hoc Group on Iraq Rehabilitation
meeting.
244
Letter
Straw to Blair, 5 June 2003, ‘Iraq: Winning the Peace’ attaching
Paper IPU, 5 June 2003,
‘Iraq
Reconstruction: 30 Day Priorities, 5 July 2003’.
79