The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
…
“… I
entirely agree that the danger of inaction … far outweighs the
danger of action.”
198.
Mr Elfyn
Llwyd (Plaid Cymru) asked if Mr Blair had “given the United
States any
commitment
that the United Kingdom would support unilateral action against
Iraq”.
199.
Mr Blair
replied that it was:
“…
important to recognise that in the event of the UN’s will not being
complied with
we must be
prepared to take that action. We are not at the point of decision
yet, but
no one
should be in any doubt that it is important to express very clearly
that should
the UN’s
will not be resolved through the weapons inspections and
monitoring, it has
to be
resolved in a different way.”
200.
Other points
made by Mr Blair included:
•
There was
“no point in the UN taking charge … again unless we are precise
and
clear about
what we expect the Iraqi regime to do”.
•
A fresh
resolution was needed to focus on disarmament and for
the
“international
community to reassert its will very clearly”.
•
Experience
suggested the Americans were “right to be cautious about
believing
that it
[Iraq] intends to comply”.
•
“In fact, I
am sure that the regime does not intend to comply at all, although
it
may be
forced to do so. Therefore, it is important that we make it clear
that the
pressure is
there all the time. The purpose of any new UN resolution should
be
focused on
disarmament because that is where the UN has expressed its
will
clearly.”
•
“… it is
perfectly natural to look at the history of Saddam Hussein and what
he
has done
and to be sceptical about whether we shall be able to get a
weapons
inspection
regime back in there that will be able to do its job
properly.”
•
“… in my
judgement, if we do not deal with the proliferation of weapons of
mass
destruction
and their retention by highly unstable states, often with
dictatorial
regimes,
then perhaps not this year or next, but in the not too distant
future,
that
problem will explode on to the consciousness of the world. I
believe that
passionately,
which is why, whatever the issues in relation to Iraq … it
is
important
to take a stand now and say that, when we have made
determinations
on behalf
of the international community, we will see them through. If we do
not,
the message
to Saddam and anyone else will be that they can develop
these
weapons
with impunity and that the international community lacks the will
to deal
with
them.”
•
“I have no
doubt that if the weapons inspectors are able to do their job
and
we are
effectively able to disarm Iraq, that will change the whole nature
of the
regime. Our
ability to do so has to depend on the United Nations being
prepared
234