The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
110.
In response to
a question from Mr Doug Henderson (Labour) about whether
action
without the
express authority of the UN would lack “international political
legitimacy” and
“severely
damage” the UN and NATO, Mr Blair responded that it “would all
depend on
the
circumstances”. In Kosovo, action had been taken “outside the UN
because there
was an
unreasonable blockage against action being taken”. Mr Blair
did not believe that
the
Security Council would “get to that point” on Iraq: “The countries
that signed up to
the deal at
the United Nations know that if there is a breach by Saddam we have
to act.”
111.
Asked by
Mr Alan Simpson (Labour) for an assurance that, before he
committed
“any
British troops or support to such a war” Mr Blair would seek a
specific mandate
through the
UN and a specific vote in advance from the House of Commons,
Mr Blair
replied
that Mr Straw would “deal with both points” in the debate on
resolution 1441 later
that
day.
112.
In response to
a question from Mr Tam Dalyell (Labour) about the effect
of
discussion
in the Security Council and if it would have “the final judgement”,
Mr Blair
replied
that it would “be for the weapons inspectors to say whether there
is a breach”,
and that
there would then be “a discussion about the seriousness of that
breach”.
“All that”
the UK had been “saying throughout” was that “the implication is
that if there is
a
significant breach, there must be action”. There was an
“international consensus” that
it was “not
sensible to tie ourselves down to every single set of
circumstances, that we
want to
keep some freedom of manoeuvre and that we should keep maximum
pressure
on
Saddam”.
“President
Bush made a principled and difficult decision to go through the
United
Nations. He
was right to do that. We supported him strongly and we are now
obliged
to ensure
that the UN route works. I believe that we can do it in a way that
avoids
conflict,
if at all possible.”
114.
Mr Blair’s
statement was repeated in the House of Lords.36
No major
issues on Iraq
were
raised.
115.
An Oral
Question on the UK’s policy on Iraq had been answered earlier
that
afternoon
when a number of issues, including who would be responsible for
determining
a material
breach, the potential consequences in the region of military action
in Iraq, and
the need
for an effective and well‑planned exit were raised.37
36
House of
Lords, Official
Report, 25
November 2002, columns 597‑604.
37
House of
Lords, Official
Report, 25
November 2002, columns 557‑560.
24