4.2 | Iraq WMD assessments, July to September 2002

519. Mr Campbell wrote that Mr Blair:

“… has also read my draft Foreword, which I enclose (he will want another look

at it before finally signing it off but I’d appreciate your views at this stage).”

520. The draft Foreword was sent to Mr Scarlett by Mr Campbell’s office.261

521. The original version of the final paragraph had been amended to read:

“I believe that faced with the information given to me by the JIC in recent months,

the UK Government has been right to support the demands that this issue be

confronted and dealt with. We must ensure that he does not get to use the weapons

he has, or get hold of the weapons he wants.”

522. Mr Scarlett sent suggested changes to the draft Foreword to Mr Campbell

on 18 September.262 The changes included:

• The first sentence was revised to state: “The document published today is

based, in large part, on the work of the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC), which

is chaired by the Cabinet Office …”

• The second sentence of the second paragraph was revised to make clear that

it was the Government, not the JIC, which was publishing the document.

• The fifth sentence of the fourth paragraph was amended to remove the reference

to Mr Blair and Ministers having been briefed on the sources of intelligence

and having been satisfied as to the authority of their information. It was

amended to state: “I and other Ministers have been briefed in detail on the

intelligence and are satisfied as to its authority.”

• A new final sentence was added to the fifth paragraph stating: “I also believe

that, as stated in the document, Saddam will now do his utmost to try to conceal

his weapons from the UN inspectors.”

• A new final sentence was added to the eighth paragraph stating: “I am quite

clear that he will go to extreme lengths, indeed has already done so, to avoid

giving them up.”

• The reference to information from the JIC “in recent months”, in the first

sentence of the final paragraph, was replaced by the words “over the past

three years”.

523. Mr Scarlett also wrote:

“For me the key points are the references to the JIC and the use of intelligence.

I am now seeking views of JIC colleagues on this amended text and will revert as

soon as possible.”

261 Email Blackshaw on behalf of Campbell to Scarlett, 17 September 2002, ‘Views Please’; Email Hatfield

on behalf of Campbell to Scarlett, 17 September 2002, [untitled].

262 Email Scarlett to Campbell, 18 September 2002, ‘PM’s dossier foreword’.

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