The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
crisis
diplomatically”. A “vocal minority, including the Democratic …
leadership” did not
support
President Bush.
876.
Separately,
the Embassy reported that President Bush had decided to
publish
the names
of nine Iraqis who were regarded as either war criminals or having
decisive
command and
control responsibilities.313
877.
Mr Naji
Sabri, the Iraqi Foreign Minister, rejected the US
ultimatum.314
878.
On the morning
of 17 March, Mr Campbell had written to Mr Bartlett
setting out the
planned
timetable for announcements, and commenting that: “By tonight,
things will be
879.
Mr Campbell
predicted that the debate in Parliament the following day
would
be
difficult: “the rebellion looks bigger than last time”. He warned
Mr Bartlett of the
potential that:
“If our MPs
wake up to ‘Bush tells Saddam: go into exile or face war’ we’ll
hold most
of our
people. If they wake up to ‘Bush: we’re at war’ with the ultimatum
drowned
out, with
no mention of humanitarian, or MEPP etc, we’ll be in trouble. It’ll
be hard
for the
President to win people back for us, but he could push some of our
wobblers
over the
edge.”
880.
Mr Blair
wrote in his memoir that the ultimatum had the UK’s “changes all
taken on
board”, and
that it was “balanced not bellicose”, “strongly supportive of the
Iraqi people”;
“And,
critically for me, it played up the Middle East Peace
Process.”316
881.
In response to
a formal request from President Bush, “shortly after 0600
local
time”, for
Australia to participate in any military intervention in Iraq
should Saddam
Hussein not
respond to the ultimatum and an “immediate” meeting of the
Australian
Cabinet,
Mr Howard announced that a decision had been taken to commit
Australian
troops, and
that:
“… the
Government strongly believed the decision taken was right, it was
legal,
it was
directed towards the protection of the Australian national
interest.”317
882.
Mr Howard
also stated that the Iraq issue was one of morality and not
just
legality.
He agreed to table immediately in Parliament the text of the legal
advice to the
313
Telegram
353 Washington to FCO London, 18 March 2003, ‘Iraq: Top
Crooks’.
314
BBC
News, 17 March
2003, Iraq crisis
hour-by-hour: 16-17 March.
315
Letter
Campbell to Bartlett, 17 March 2003, [untitled].
316
Blair
T. A
Journey.
Hutchinson, 2010.
317
Telegram 34
Canberra to FCO London, 18 March 2003, ‘Iraq: Australia
Commits’.
556