4.2 | Iraq WMD assessments, July to September 2002

529. Sir David Omand told the Inquiry that he did not recall the JIC discussing the text

of the Foreword at its meeting on 18 September.267

530. Mr Webb recorded that he had asked for the reference to [JIC] “papers” in the

draft to be replaced by “work”, “to reduce the risk of a FOIA [Freedom of Information Act]

action succeeding”.268

531. The Inquiry has not seen comments from any JIC members other than Sir David

Omand and Mr Webb.

532. Sir David told the Inquiry that he had “highlighted bits that needed polishing” and

“sent it back” to Mr Scarlett.269 Some of his comments had been incorporated and some

had not.

533. Comparison of the draft texts shows that almost all Sir David Omand’s comments

were reflected in a further version of the draft Foreword sent by Mr Scarlett to

Mr Campbell on 19 September.270

534. Mr Campbell replied to Mr Scarlett on 19 September:

“Re the foreword, I don’t like the first sentence which makes him sound a bit

James Bond-y. Can we discuss?”271

535. In the published version of the Foreword, the first sentence did not include

Sir David Omand’s proposed amendment.272

536. Mr Scarlett sent a “final draft version of the dossier” to Mr Campbell on

20 September.273 He wrote that the Prime Minister’s Foreword was “now incorporated

within the overall document”.

537. In his letter to Mr Blair of 4 June 2003, Mr Scarlett wrote:

“The Foreword was drafted by you. I and some JIC members, commented on your

draft before it was finalised.”274

267 Public hearing, 20 January 2010, page 19.

268 Minute Webb to PS/Secretary of State [MOD], 20 September 2002, ‘Iraq Dossier’.

269 Public hearing, 20 January 2010, page 22.

270 Email Scarlett to Campbell, 19 September 2002, ‘Dossier Foreword by TB’.

271 Email Blackshaw [on behalf of Campbell] to Scarlett, 19 September 2002, [untitled].

272 Iraq’s Weapons of Mass Destruction. The Assessment of the British Government, 24 September 2002,

page 3.

273 Minute Scarlett to Campbell, 20 September 2002, ‘Iraqi WMD: Public Presentation of Intelligence

Material’ attaching draft dossier, ‘Iraq’s Weapons of Mass Destruction: The Assessment of the British

Government’.

274 Minute Scarlett to Prime Minister, 4 June 2003, ‘September 2002 Iraq Dossier’.

213