The Report of the Iraq Inquiry

562. Sir Michael asked colleagues for advice on possible successors to Ambassador

Olsen. Sir Michael commented that, while he could “see the arguments” for a British

replacement, the UK should “at least consider” appointing someone other than a US or

UK citizen, to demonstrate the international dimension to Iraq’s reconstruction.

563. Mr Neil Crompton, Mr Chilcott’s successor as Head of the IPU, replied on 9 July.307

He recalled that Sir Michael had discussed the question of whether to seek a British or

international replacement with Mr Chaplin and others, and had concluded that the FCO

should seek a British replacement. That conclusion had strong support across Whitehall:

“… where there is desire for a leader with strong political and managerial skills, who

can gain Bremer’s trust, and lead the whole operation in the British AOR.”

564. Mr Crompton identified a number of possible candidates for Ambassador Olsen’s

successor, including Sir Hilary Synnott.

565. The Annotated Agenda for the 10 July meeting of the AHMGIR invited Ministers

to note and agree that the UK should:

“… increase our effort in CPA (South) as required. This should include

replacing Ambassador Olsen with a suitably strong UK figure.” 308

566. The AHMGIR agreed:

• Secondments to the CPA should be maintained at “approximately the current

level”, but matched more closely to requirements, with more specialist than

policy staff.

• The UK effort in CPA(South) should be increased “as required”, including

through the appointment of a “suitably strong UK figure” to replace Ambassador

Olsen.309

567. Multi-National Division (South-East) (MND(SE)) was formally established on

12 July, coinciding with the handover from 1 (UK) Div to 3rd (UK) Mechanised

Division.310

568. The 16 July Chiefs of Staff meeting commented:

“Although mindful of the Prime Minister’s imperative for exemplar operations in the

South, the strong advice from UK representatives in the CPA was for the UK to

spread its influence and thus avoid being left to run the South without strong links

to US resources.”311

307 Minute Crompton to FCO [junior official], 9 July 2003, ‘Iraq: Replacement for Ambassador Olsen’.

308 Annotated Agenda, 10 July 2003, Ad Hoc Group on Iraq Rehabilitation meeting.

309 Minutes, 10 July 2003, Ad Hoc Group on Iraq Rehabilitation meeting.

310 Report Lamb, 30 January 2004, ‘Post Operational Tour Report – Version 1 Operation Telic 2/3 11 July

to 28 December 2003’.

311 Minutes, 16 July 2003, Chiefs of Staff meeting.

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