The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
325.
Mr Bowen
sought agreement for PJHQ to send a six‑man team to Tampa to
join
US planning
on 2 July.153
326.
Mr Hoon
agreed the deployment, but asked Adm Boyce to ensure, before
the
team’s
departure, that Gen Myers:
“…
understands when they meet tomorrow in Brussels that this is on the
basis that
no
political decisions have been taken in the UK on our participation
in an operation;
and then
follow up in writing.”154
327.
On 3 July, Adm
Boyce met Gen Myers.155
Gen Myers
was reported to have
“sympathised”
with the UK government’s condition, and agreed that Adm Boyce
would
write
formally to him to reiterate the point.
328.
Adm Boyce and
Gen Myers discussed a northern option. There were
differences
of view
within the US military about a possible attack from the North
although the
importance
of control of the northern oilfields was recognised. Adm Boyce took
the view
that
Gen Myers “showed his petticoat” in so far as he indicated
that that was where the
UK might be
involved.
329.
Adm Boyce also
reported that “it appeared that military planning was taking
place
in a
political void”.
330.
On 4 July, Adm
Boyce wrote to Gen Franks, stating:
“My Defence
Secretary wishes me to record that our involvement in planning is
on
the basis
that no political decisions have been taken in the UK on our
participation
in an
operation against Iraq.”156
331.
Maj Gen Wilson
informed the Inquiry that action through Turkey would
have
required
the participation of the US European Command (EUCOM) in addition
to
332.
Lord Boyce
told the Inquiry: “It was made absolutely clear that every time
we
spoke to
the Americans that no commitment was guaranteed until a political
tick had
333.
Lord Boyce
added that:
“The
reaction of the Americans was always ‘Yes, I hear what you say but
come
the day,
we know you will be there’, until right towards the
end.”
153
Minute
Bowen to PS/SofS [MOD], 2 July 2002, ‘Iraq’.
154
Minute
Watkins to DG Op Pol, 2 July 2002, ‘Iraq’.
155
Minute
MA/CDS to PS/SofS [MOD], 3 July 2002, ‘CDS Discussion with CJCS,
General Myers –
3 Jul 02’.
156
Letter CDS
to CJCS, 4 July 2002, [untitled].
157
Public
hearing, 4 December 2009, page 6.
158
Public
hearing, 27 January 2011, page 21.
224