6.1 |
Development of the military options for an invasion of
Iraq
303.
Sir David
Manning commented to Mr Powell: “We certainly need much
greater
304.
Mr Powell
replied that he believed there was “a danger of getting ahead
of
ourselves
here unless this is absolutely necessary to get us into detailed
military
planning
with the US”. He recommended discussing the issue with
Mr Blair.142
305.
Sir David
Manning asked Mr McKane to “confirm that it is now
absolutely
necessary
to get into the detailed planning with the US”. He added: “I
suspect it is if
we are
to have a voice.”143
306.
Mr McKane’s
advice on the legal issue and the UK position on the objective
of
regime
change are addressed in Section 3.3.
307.
The US
agreed to discussions on military planning in late
June.
308.
Mr Blair
asked for advice on the steps that would be needed to keep open
the
option of a
making a large scale military contribution by the end of the
year.
309.
Gen Myers
confirmed that he had received a “green light to set up the
necessary
mechanism
for a UK input into Iraq planning” on 19 June.144
310.
Sir David
Manning responded to Mr Hoon’s letter of 31 May on 25 June,
recording
that
Mr Blair had:
“… asked
for further advice on precisely what steps would have to be taken
now,
including
financial commitments … to keep open the possibility of deploying a
large
scale force
by the end of the year – bearing in mind that we may not get six
months’
311.
Sir David
wrote that it was “encouraging that following the Rumsfeld visit,
our
military
planners have now been invited to discussions with the US”. He
added:
“It will be
important, as the Defence Secretary acknowledged in his minute,
to
make clear
the conditions for UK involvement in military action set out by
the
Prime Minister
…”
141
Manuscript
comment Manning on Minute
McKane to Manning, 18 June 2002, ‘Iraq’.
142
Manuscript
comment Powell on Minute
McKane to Manning, 18 June 2002, ‘Iraq’.
143
Manuscript
comment Manning on Minute
McKane to Manning, 18 June 2002, ‘Iraq’.
144
Minute
Shirreff to PS/SofS [MOD], 27 June 2002, ‘Iraq
Planning’.
145
Letter
Manning to Watkins, 25 June 2002, ‘Iraq’.
221