The Report of the Iraq Inquiry

“So, in or out? In I concluded. And, if in, better in fully and not partly. I still thought it

possible to avoid war. I still thought it possible that other alternatives, diplomatic or

through a coup, of some sort (there was much private Arab talk about such a thing),

could be available to avoid conflict. I was determined at the least, to try to persuade

the Americans to get more time. But I had said I would be with them, and if conflict

could not be avoided, I would be in with the whole and not half a heart.”

425. The UK’s policy objectives in relation to Iraq were published by Mr Straw

on 7 January.

426. Mr Blair’s Note of 4 January was discussed at Mr Blair’s Monday morning meeting

with No.10 staff on 6 January.151

427. Subsequent discussions and decisions on the military plan, and planning for

humanitarian assistance and a post‑conflict Iraq, are addressed in Section 6.

428. Mr Campbell wrote in his diaries:

“TB was pretty sure there would be a war, or that in any event Saddam would go,

and war remained the likeliest if not the only way of that coming about.”

429. Mr Campbell added:

“On Iraq, pretty much everyone was emphasising how little support there was, how

little understanding there was of a real threat, but he [Mr Blair] was in pretty defiant

mood on that too, said the threat was real and people would come round.”

430. Mr Campbell wrote that he had talked to Mr Blair and then agreed in a conference

call that the policy objectives should be published. In Mr Campbell’s view: “These

strategy papers were as much about internal understanding as publicity.”

431. Mr Bowen informed the FCO on 6 January that Mr Blair had decided to publish

the policy objectives for Iraq.152

432. The objectives were published in a Written Ministerial Statement by Mr Straw

on 7 January.153

433. Mr Straw stated that he had “made clear to the House on a number of occasions”

that the policy on Iraq was “to ensure that Iraq” complied “with its obligations under

151 Campbell A & Hagerty B. The Alastair Campbell Diaries. Volume 4. The Burden of Power: Countdown

to Iraq. Hutchinson, 2012.

152 Letter Bowen to McDonald, 6 January 2003, ‘Iraq’ attaching Paper, January 2003, ‘Iraq: Policy

Objectives’.

153 House of Commons, Official Report, 7 January 2003, columns 4‑6WS.

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