6.1 |
Development of the military options for an invasion of
Iraq
485.
Discussions
about expenditure, on UORs and other preparations for military
action
are
addressed in Sections 6.3 and 13.1.
486.
A minute to
Sir David Manning on 1 August advised that, with US assets
returning
from
Afghanistan, the coalition was “reasserting control over all the
southern No‑Fly
487.
At a
meeting on 2 August, the UK informed CENTCOM that, while
no
decision
had been taken for action in Iraq, the most obvious option for a UK
land
contribution
was through Turkey. The UK needed more information on what
effect
was desired
and further guidance on the political context.
488.
Mr Hoon
received a submission from PJHQ on 26 July outlining
themes
Maj Gen Wilson
might use at the CENTCOM meeting on 2 August.204
489.
When Adm Boyce
spoke to both Gen Franks and Gen Myers on 29 July,
about
Afghanistan
and Iraq, he stressed that the UK’s input to planning on Iraq was
heavily
490.
The record of
the discussions reported US interest in both UK participation in
the
North and
the potential contribution from HQ ARRC.
491.
On 30 July, an
MOD official provided Mr Hoon with a “best estimate” of
the
equipment
enhancements that might be necessary in order to deliver the
potential UK
492.
The official
reported that there was a shortfall of essential NBC equipment
for
Packages 1
and 2 that would be required to treat casualties in the event of an
Iraqi
biological
attack. The MOD had “low confidence” that it could be obtained
within
six months.
It could take “up to nine months” to procure certain stocks from
industry but
further
work was needed to identify other possible sources.
493.
For Package 3,
the MOD had “lower confidence” in the ability to deliver
measures
for tanks
“for the fully sustained war‑fighting role”, which it judged “would
take around
ten
months”. There would also be a shortfall in NBC protection and
biological detectors
if Package
3 were to be adopted. Further work was being done to see how
quickly this
could be
acquired.
203
Minute Dodd
to Manning, 1 August 2002, ‘Iraq’.
204
Minute PJHQ
Hd of J9 Pol/Ops to PS/Secretary of State [MOD], 26 July 2002,
‘Iraq: Themes for
Maj Gen Wilson’s
talk to the CENTCOM Component Commander’s Conference’.
205
Minute
DPSO/CDS to PS/Secretary of State [MOD], 29 July 2002, ‘Telecons
CDS/Gen Franks
(CINCCENTCOM)/Gen Myers
(CJCS) – 29 Jul 02’.
206
Minute
Sec(O)1a to PS/SofS [MOD], 30 July 2002, ‘Iraq – Enhancements
Required for Potential
UK Contribution’.
249