The Report of the Iraq Inquiry

155. President Bush and Mr Blair spoke by video conference on 30 November.

Mr Blair’s briefing stated that he should raise Prime Minister Allawi’s concern that

humanitarian and reconstruction assistance was not getting into Fallujah and other key

spots quickly enough.86

156. During the video conference, Mr Blair said that Fallujah “had gone well” and the

story of what US forces had found there – including evidence of torture chambers –

should be put into the public domain.87 He suggested that the operation had “sent a clear

message that the insurgents could not win”.

157. The record of the video conference did not include any reference to the

humanitarian and reconstruction effort in Fallujah or other “key spots”.

158. Ms Margaret Aldred, Deputy Head Overseas and Defence Secretariat in the

Cabinet Office, advised Sir Nigel Sheinwald on 1 December, in the context of a

report on the situation in Fallujah, that she had received reports that a DFID adviser

and a DFID‑funded consultant attached to the Cabinet Reconstruction Committee

were beginning to make a difference.88 Those individuals had been re-deployed from

within Iraq.89

159. A second DFID-funded consultant, Dr Gilbert Greenall, had arrived in Iraq that day

to advise Lt Gen Kiszely on the phased return of IDPs to Fallujah.90

160. Mr Suma Chakrabarti, the DFID Permanent Secretary, and Mr Drummond reported

to Mr Benn on 13 December:

“DFID provides the core of Allawi’s co-ordination team on Fallujah …

“Fallujah demonstrates that neither the IIG nor the US thought through the

humanitarian aspects of military actions, though they had allocated money for

reconstruction. For the next few weeks we need to have immediate post-conflict

expertise in the DFID Office in Baghdad …” 91

161. Mr Benn told the 16 December meeting of the Ad Hoc Ministerial Group on Iraq

that the IIG, with the support of DFID advisers, had put together a package of basic

humanitarian support and funds for the reconstruction of homes in preparation for the

return of IDPs.92 Ministers agreed to follow developments closely.

86 Minute Phillipson to Prime Minister, 29 November 2004, ‘VTC with President Bush, 1220 – 1300

30 November’.

87 Letter Quarrey to Owen, 30 November 2004, ‘Prime Minister’s VTC with President Bush, 30 November:

Iraq, Syria and Iran’.

88 Minute Aldred to Sheinwald, 1 December 2004, ‘Iraq’.

89 Letter Cabinet Office [junior official] to Asquith, 3 December 2004, ‘Iraq Senior Officials Group’.

90 Minute Aldred to Sheinwald, 1 December 2004, ‘Iraq’.

91 Minute Chakrabarti/Drummond to Secretary of State [DFID], 13 December 2004, ‘Iraq Visit,

6-8 December’.

92 Minutes, 16 December 2004, Ad Hoc Ministerial Group on Iraq meeting.

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