The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
domestic
electoral politics. Despite Bush’s throw away line to the Prime
Minister in
December
(that he would hand over the communications operation to us if it
had
not been
sorted out by now), Condi Rice will not admit failure; Bremer would
resist
strongly;
and Bush will not in fact hand us a baton which could be of such
political
importance
to him.
“So we must
make the best of a bad job. The work our press officers are
doing
on the
development and implementation of the different [CPA] sectoral
strategies,
and our
assistance to IMN [Iraqi Media Network/Al Iraqiya], are the most
valuable
contributions
we can make.”
931.
The FCO paper
was passed to Mr Blair on 12 February, under a covering
note
from
Mr Cannon.541
Mr Cannon
commented:
“… our
resources cannot match those of the Americans. Things at last seem
to
be moving
in the right direction … So we recommend that we continue to
support
the US
effort rather than taking over full responsibility for the media
strategy.
Do you agree?”
932.
Mr Blair
commented on this recommendation: “Yes but at the end of Feb I
want
an update
and if necessary, will move in.”542
933.
The FCO
provided No.10 with a further update on efforts to improve the
CPA’s
media
operation and Al Iraqiya on 1 March.543
The CPA now
had a tighter grip, and
was undertaking
more strategic planning. The FCO concluded:
“There
remains a lot of ground to make up, and the focus is still heavily
on the
domestic US
audience. But things are moving in the right direction, and
more
systemic
thought is being given to the Iraqi audience.”
934.
Mr Cannon
wrote to the FCO on 10 March:
“As you
know, the Prime Minister wants to improve the presentation of Iraq
policy
in the UK
and international media. He would like us to work for more broad
and
positive
coverage of Iraq …”544
Mr Cannon
listed a number of actions to improve the presentation of Iraq
policy,
and
reported that Mr Blair considered that it could best be
delivered by a short-term
strengthening
of the No.10 Press Office.
935.
Mr Cannon’s
letter did not respond to the issues raised in the FCO’s 1
March
update
regarding the CPA’s media and communications effort.
541
Minute
Cannon to Blair, 12 February 2004, ‘Iraq: Media and
Communications’.
542
Manuscript
comment Blair to Cannon on Minute Cannon to Blair, 12 February
2004, ‘Iraq: Media and
Communications’.
543
Letter Owen
to Cannon, 1 March 2004, ‘Iraq: Media and
Communication’.
544
Letter
Cannon to Owen, 10 March 2004, ‘Iraq: Media and
Communications’.
162