The Report of the Iraq Inquiry

78. The Group agreed that the MOD, DFID and the FCO would produce specific

suggestions for how progress could be made in Iraq which Mr Blair could put to

President Bush when they next spoke:

“• MOD to make recommendations on how ISF capacity will develop …

• DFID to advise on where blockages can [be] removed to speed up the impact

of reconstruction funding.

• FCO to advise on what political strategy Allawi should be pursuing and his

capacity to deliver it.” 38

79. Sir Nigel Sheinwald met Dr Rice during his visit to Washington from 16 to

17 September.39 He reported to Mr Blair that he had raised the continuing criticisms of

the pace of the US reconstruction effort. Dr Rice had said that she did not understand

why, after many enquiries, there were still blockages. Sir Nigel commented that “there

was no sense that the NSC [National Security Council] was chasing this down, or that

anyone else was”.

80. Prime Minister Allawi visited London on 19 and 20 September.40

81. Mr Quarrey’s briefing for Mr Blair advised that he might:

• offer whatever support Prime Minister Allawi needed for his office;

• encourage him to see reconstruction and development as “integral to his wider

political strategy”;

• encourage him to associate the IIG very visibly with successes on the ground;

• reassure him of UK support for debt relief. Iraq might not get the 95 percent

relief that the IIG and US were pushing for, but the UK wanted relief to be well

above 80 percent; and

• encourage him to press the UN and Member States for a substantial increase

in support.41

82. During his private meeting with Mr Blair on 19 September, Prime Minister Allawi

outlined his four-point strategy for Iraq covering the political process, the economy,

security (the most important aspect of the strategy and his personal focus) and

institution building.42

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

39 Minute Sheinwald to Prime Minister, 20 September 2004, ‘Visit to Washington’.

40 Letter Sheinwald to Adams, 19 September 2004, ‘Iraq: Prime Minister’s Meeting with Prime Minister

Allawi, Sunday 19 September’.

41 Minute Quarrey to Prime Minister, 18 September 2004, ‘Iraq: Your Meeting with Allawi’ attaching Briefing

Cabinet Office, [undated], ‘Briefing Notes for Allawi Visit’.

42 Letter Sheinwald to Adams, 19 September 2004, ‘Iraq: Prime Minister’s Meeting with Prime Minister

Allawi, Sunday 19 September’.

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