10.2 | Reconstruction: July 2004 to July 2009

• economic development. DFID was making good progress “in helping to get the

economic framework right. But hardly anyone thinks that the ordinary Iraqi will

see a major dividend before the elections in January.”

72. During his visit, Sir Nigel met Prime Minister Allawi, who stated that the political,

economic and capacity-building strands were linked; he hoped for significant progress

in each before November.32 A copy of the record of that meeting was sent to Mr Benn’s

Principal Private Secretary.

73. Mr Benn told Cabinet on 9 September that during his visit to Baghdad and Basra, he

had been able to “feel the difference” since the transfer of sovereignty.33 Sunni outreach

was needed in the South, where the mood was one of “persistent victimisation”.

Reconstruction activity was continuing, but had been adversely affected by the

security situation.

74. During his video conference with President Bush on 9 September, Mr Blair raised

both the need to accelerate Iraqiisation and for enhanced capacity within the IIG, without

which “too much fell on Allawi himself”.34 The existing timelines for improved security and

services were “too long” and risked delaying the election.

75. Mr Quarrey wrote to Mr Benn’s Principal Private Secretary on 14 September,

responding to Mr Benn’s 3 September visit report:

“The Prime Minister believes that we must continue to do all we can on this

[reconstruction], and particularly to make sure that ordinary Iraqis see a more

tangible benefit before the elections. We have a particular responsibility to deliver

in the South. We agree that it is sensible to focus UK resources on bilateral

programmes while the multilateral Trust Funds remain ineffective.” 35

76. Mr Blair chaired a meeting of the Ad Hoc Ministerial Group on Iraq on

16 September.36

77. Mr Blair’s Chairman’s Brief stated that one purpose of the meeting was to:

“… galvanise the key departments and ensure they give Iraq their full attention

in the next 5 months, in order to achieve the necessary results on the ground

in the run-up to elections”.37

32 Letter Quarrey to Owen, 9 September 2004, ‘Iraq: Nigel Sheinwald’s Meeting with Allawi, 8 September’.

33 Cabinet Conclusions, 9 September 2004.

34 Letter Phillipson to Adams, 9 September 2004, ‘Prime Minister’s VTC with President Bush,

9 September’.

35 Letter Quarrey to Malik, 14 September 2004, ‘Iraq: Your Secretary of State’s Visit’.

36 Record, 16 September 2004, Ad Hoc Ministerial Group on Iraq meeting.

37 Briefing Cabinet Office, 16 September 2004, ‘Ad Hoc Ministerial Group on Iraq meeting to be held in the

Cabinet Room on Thursday 16 September 2004 at 0830: Chairman’s Brief’.

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