The Report of the Iraq Inquiry

312. Mr Watkins wrote to Sir David Manning on 26 June reporting that the US was

understood to be seeking:

“• the removal of the Hussein regime;

• the neutralisation of WMD within Iraq;

• the elimination of a safe haven for terrorists;

• an acceptable new government.”146

313. Mr Watkins stated that the US goals:

“… broadly align with the objective previously agreed by the Foreign and Defence

Secretaries … although Mr Hoon understands that Mr Straw, rightly, sees removal of

Saddam as a way point – if necessary and justified – to the final outcome rather than

an objective in its own right.”

314. Mr Watkins indicated that a small MOD team would be going to Washington and

CENTCOM HQ in Tampa, Florida “immediately”.

315. The letter concluded that Mr Hoon believed Ministers would need clarity on:

“• whether the Prime Minister’s conditions are likely to be met;

• the viability of the proposed military action;

• the policy and legal framework in which military action is justified;

• overall, whether the prospective outcome looked worth the risks, costs

and losses.”

316. The draft planning order from CENTCOM was released to the Permanent Joint

Headquarters (PJHQ) on 25 June.147 Lt Gen Reith was briefed by a US officer from

CENTCOM on the state of US planning on 26 June.

317. Gen Reith told the Inquiry that he had been phoned by Maj Gen Wilson “on 4 or

5 June to say that we had been offered the opportunity to participate in the American

planning for a potential invasion of Iraq”.148 He had informed Lt Gen Pigott the following

day. It was not until 25 June that he “got authority [through MOD] for planning with

CENTCOM, but without commitment” and he “didn’t start any formal planning until

25 June”.

318. Lt Gen Pigott, AM French and Mr Bowen visited Washington and CENTCOM from

27 to 29 June 2002.149

146 Letter Watkins to Manning, 26 June 2002, ‘Iraq’.

147 Minute Fry to MA/DCDS(C), 26 June 2002, ‘Comments on US Planning for Possible Military Action

Against Iraq’.

148 Private hearing, 15 January 2010, pages 7‑8.

149 Minute Fry to MA/DCDS(C), 26 June 2002, ‘Comments on US Planning for Possible Military Action

Against Iraq’.

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