The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
95.
Military
liaison officers with CENTCOM in Tampa, Florida, focused on
operations in
Afghanistan
and the No‑Fly Zones over Iraq, were aware that a policy of
‘NOFORN’ (no
disclosure
of information to anyone who was not a US citizen; a foreigner)
planning on
Iraq was
under way. Rumours about CENTCOM planning on Iraq had been reported
to
Lt Gen Pigott
on 8 March:
“It is
clear that planning is being conducted, and enablers are being put
in place
for a major
air and land campaign in Iraq. It is clear that no political
decisions have
yet been
made. Furthermore, temperatures over the summer and an
apparent
6 month+
timescale for reconstitution of … stocks suggest a start date not
before
96.
General Reith
told the Inquiry that he had “about 40 people … working
with
CENTCOM,
about 20 as embedded staff and 20 with my liaison
team.”42
97.
The UK’s
deployments to Afghanistan in early 2002 are addressed in
the
Box below.
The United
Nations Security Council adopted resolution 1386 on 20 December
2001.43
That
recognised that the responsibility for providing security and law
and order throughout
Afghanistan
resided with the Afghans themselves. The resolution noted the
reported
request
from the Afghan authorities for a United Nations authorised
international security
force, and
authorised the establishment of an International Security
Assistance Force
(ISAF) in
Afghanistan for six months. It also welcomed the UK offer to lead
in organising
and
commanding the Force.
ISAF’s role
was to assist the Afghan Interim Authority in the maintenance of
security
in Kabul
and its surrounding areas.44
The British
contribution was known as Operation
The Force
was initially commanded by Major General John McColl and became
fully
operational
from 18 February 2002.46
The UK
provided an infantry battlegroup based
in Kabul
and, until March 2002, a subordinate headquarters provided by 16
Air Assault
Brigade.
On 18
March, the Force comprised more than 4,600 personnel from 18
nations, including
some 1,600
UK troops deployed on Operation VERITAS.
In
addition, and in response to a formal US request for forces to join
military operations
against Al
Qaida and the Taliban, Mr Hoon announced the separate
deployment of a
further
battlegroup, built around 45 Commando Royal Marines, of up to 1,700
personnel
41
Minute
Reith to DCDS(C), 8 March 2002, ‘CENTCOM Planning on
Iraq’.
42
Private
hearing, 15 January 2010, page 2.
43
UN Security
Council resolution 1386 (2001).
44
UN Security
Council Press Release, 20 December 2001, Security
Council Authorises International
Security
Force for Afghanistan; Welcomes United Kingdom’s Offer to be
Initial Lead Nation.
45
The
National Archives, [undated], Operation
Veritas – British Forces.
46
House of
Commons, Official
Report, 18 March
2002, columns 38‑39.
190