The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
231.
Following the
agreement between Mr Blair and Mr Straw on 23 September,
there
were
further intensive discussions between the US and the UK in pursuit
of agreement
on a draft
text which the US and UK might co‑sponsor. That included further
discussions
in New
York,67
several
telephone calls between Sir David Manning and
Dr Rice,68
advice
from
Washington,69
and
telephone calls between Mr Straw and Secretary
Powell.70
232.
The UK was
adamant that Iraqi non‑compliance in relation to the
proposed
declaration
of its holdings should not itself be a trigger for military
action:
“It was
essential that inspectors got onto the ground before any
irrevocable
233.
Mr Blair
spoke to Mr Annan after the Parliamentary debates on 24
September,
telling him
that “a new, strong, clear resolution, focused on disarmament
without
extraneous
issues, was essential”.72
Mr Blair
said that it “was a critical moment for the
UN and for
persuading the US that the UN could deal with these issues”. There
were
concerns
that Saddam Hussein would play games and the inspectors would not
find
any material.
234.
Speaking about
the Parliamentary debate, Mr Blair stated:
“People
accepted that the threat had to be dealt with. It was important
to
demonstrate
that military action was a last resort.”
235.
A letter from
Mr Straw to Mr Blair on 24 September recorded Sir
Jeremy
Greenstock’s
concern that the draft “will not be seen as credible, it will be
seen
67
Telegram
1827 UKMIS New York to FCO London, 24 September 2002, ‘Iraq
Resolution: Where We
Stand on
24 September’.
68
Letter
Manning to McDonald, 23 September 2002, ‘Iraq: Conversation with
Condi Rice’; Letter Manning
to
McDonald, 25 September 2002, ‘Iraq: Conversation with Condi Rice’;
Letter Manning to McDonald
[second
letter], 25 September 2002, ‘Iraq: Conversation with Condi
Rice’.
69
Letter
Brenton to McDonald, 25 September 2002, ‘Iraq: Security Council
Resolution’.
70
Telegram
497 FCO London to Washington, 25 September 2002, ‘Iraq: Foreign
Secretary’s Conversation
with
US Secretary of State, 25 September’.
71
Minute
Ricketts to Secretary of State [FCO], 24 September 2002, ‘Iraq:
Resolution’.
72
Letter
Rycroft to Sedwill, 24 September 2002, ‘Iraq: Prime Minister’s
Conversation with
UN Secretary General,
24 September’.
73
Letter
(handwritten) Straw to Blair, 24 September 2002,
[untitled].
242