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

356. Mr Blair also agreed to a request from President Putin for the information on Iraq’s

WMD that had formed the basis of his remarks in his press conference on 3 September.

357. Mr Straw and Mr Blair met the Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Saud, on

6 September. They discussed concerns about the effect on the solidarity of the

international coalition on terrorism of the current speculation about military action in Iraq

and the dangers in the region if military action was taken without some improvement

in the situation of the Palestinian people. Mr Blair agreed to reflect those points in his

discussions with the US.112

358. No decision on a possible UK military contribution to US operations was

taken before Mr Blair’s meeting with President Bush, but the MOD advised that

there could be a need for tough decisions within two weeks of that.

359. Mr Blair told Mr Hoon and Mr Straw that he did not expect President Bush

imminently to commit the US to military action.

360. Mr Hoon had cautioned Mr Blair about the potential impact of a firefighters’ strike

in the MOD advice of 26 July.113 The strike and its impact on the development of military

options in the MOD are addressed in Section 6.1.

361. The MOD’s assessment of the implications of having to earmark military personnel

to provide cover during a firefighters’ strike (Op FRESCO) was set out in a letter to

Sir David Manning on 28 August.114 The letter said that Mr Hoon considered:

“… it particularly important that we guard against any false assumptions that

the US might make about the UK’s potential contribution to any military action …

Explaining the impact … to the US would … serve to focus US planners on the real

practical limitations we would face, were political decisions taken to join the US

in military action.”

362. Sir David Manning commented to Mr Powell that he was not clear where the

firefighters’ issue stood; and that he would be “grateful for a word ab[ou]t what to say to

Washington and when”.115

112 Letter Wechsberg to McDonald, 6 September 2002, ‘Iraq/MEPP: Prime Minister’s Meeting with

Saudi Foreign Minister’.

113 Letter Watkins to Rycroft, 26 July 2002, ‘Iraq’.

114 Letter Williams to Manning, 28 August 2002, ‘Iraq – Potential UK Contribution and a Fire Strike’.

115 Manuscript comment Manning to Powell, 30 August 2002, on Letter Williams to Manning,

28 August 2002, ‘Iraq – Potential UK Contribution and a Fire Strike’.

157