The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
429.
Mr Watkins’
note is described in more detail in Section 3.3.
430.
Adm Boyce
was advised that the UK should agree to explore the
northern
option with
the US, including being prepared to consider offering to lead
land
forces.
431.
Separate
advice from Lt Gen Pigott for Adm Boyce stated that the
choice was
“between
‘Embedded’ and ‘Distinctive’” options.187
The former
were “fine” for maritime
and air
components, but the latter were “better” for land and Special
Forces, “largely
for logs
[logistic]/deconfliction reasons”.
432.
Lt Gen Pigott
also wrote that strategic thinking on a “Northern Axis” was
“still
immature”
in relation to “Timelines/Practicality?”.
433.
On the “Way
Forward”, the UK should:
•
“Agree
[the] Intent” to offer enablers, maritime and air forces at medium
scale,
and “up to”
a division (minus) to US planners, “with provisos on
deployment/
employment
clearly spelt out”.
•
“Agree to
explore” the “Northern Option” with the US “as a matter of
urgency”.
The UK
should also:
{{“Be
prepared to consider Framework Nation lead of a Land
Component
within this
option.”
{{“Be
prepared … to scope possible role for HQ ARRC.”
•
“Agree to
scope” Special Forces involvement.
•
“Agree to
Implement” invisible UORs now, and be prepared to advise
Ministers
later on
visible UORs.
•
“Agree to
identify” other essential preparations for submission to
Ministers
“against
“Window 1 timelines”.
434.
Mr Blair’s
meeting on 23 July did not take firm decisions.
435.
The record
of the meeting stated that the UK should work on the
assumption
that it
would take part in any military action and Admiral Boyce could tell
the US
that the UK
was considering a range of options.
436.
Mr Blair
commissioned further advice and background material on
all
the issues.
437.
Mr Blair
discussed Iraq with Mr Straw and Mr Hoon, Lord
Goldsmith,
Sir Richard Wilson,
Adm Boyce, Sir Richard Dearlove, Sir Francis Richards
(Director
of the
Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ)), Mr Scarlett,
Mr Powell,
187
Minute
DCDS(C) to DPSO/CDS, 22 July 2002, ‘Iraq: Update on Key
Issues’.
240