6.1 | Development of the military options for an invasion of Iraq

238. In relation to military planning, Sir Christopher reported that he had been told by

a senior official in the State Department that:

• The timeframe discussed between Mr Blair and President Bush was still valid:

the first quarter of next year was “realistic” for action against Saddam Hussein.

• CENTCOM was hearing from British military sources that we were

contemplating contributing an armoured division.

239. In discussions with Dr Rice on Iraq, Sir David Manning was assured that the UK

would be brought into the planning process at a very early stage, once such planning

got under way.120

240. One significant and potentially awkward fact emerged from a meeting with

Mr Richard Armitage, US Deputy Secretary of State, when Sir David Manning was

told that a report that “a UK officer at Tampa had said that the UK would provide

an armoured division” was “dropped into the conversation” of the most senior US

policy‑makers.121

241. On the record of the meeting in the Chief of the Defence Staff files, a handwritten

comment to Adm Boyce said: “This could unstitch your line with the PM tomorrow.”122

242. Mr Hoon’s Private Office sent a note to Adm Boyce’s office on 21 May, recording

that the Defence Secretary was “surprised and concerned” by this report:

“Given the very close hold under which contingency planning for Iraq has been

conducted and the fact that no options have yet been presented to Ministers, the

Secretary of State would be grateful for any light which can be thrown upon this

story. Is the UK team in Tampa party to the current work on Iraq?”123

243. Adm Boyce’s office replied that “the UK team in Tampa is not party to current

MOD work on Iraq” and:

“… our investigations indicate that there has been no authenticated or officially

recorded message passed to General Franks, or anyone else at Tampa, that the

UK ‘would’ provide a division. We can only assume that this is speculation based

on UK’s contribution to the Gulf War 1991 which has been misinterpreted.”124

244. A manuscript note to Mr Hoon on the document states “we can assume the point

has been made”.

120 Letter Rycroft to McDonald, 18 May 2002, ‘David Manning’s Visit to Washington, 17 May; Iraq’.

121 Letter Rycroft to McDonald, 18 May 2002, ‘David Manning’s Visit to Washington, 17 May Iraq’.

122 Manuscript comment [unattributed] on Letter Rycroft to McDonald, 18 May 2002, ‘David Manning’s

Visit to Washington, 17 May Iraq’.

123 Minute Williams to PSO/CDS, 21 May 2002, ‘David Manning’s Visit to Washington 17 May – Iraq’.

124 Minute Shirreff to APS/Secretary of State, 31 May 2002, ‘David Manning’s Visit to Washington

17 May – Iraq’.

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