The Report of the Iraq Inquiry

In response to hostile acts against Coalition aircraft monitoring the southern No‑Fly Zone,

US aircraft, with UK aircraft in support, attacked an Iraqi air defence facility in western

Iraq on 5 September, prompting press speculation that it was a prelude to Special Forces

attacks and more general military action.248

619. Mr Blair cautioned President Bush about his assumption that the UK would

be ready to lead a strike into northern Iraq. But he told President Bush that the UK

would take a significant military role if it came to war with Iraq.

620. Mr Blair told Mr Hoon that he had been alarmed by the US expectations that

the UK would lead the northern axis and there should be no visible preparations

for a month or so. But Mr Hoon was not sent a copy of Sir David Manning’s record

of the discussions at Camp David.

621. Mr Blair met President Bush and Vice President Cheney at Camp David on

7 September.249

622. Before his meeting with Mr Blair, President Bush held a meeting of his National

Security Council at Camp David which was given a briefing by Gen Franks, who

introduced his concept of a campaign comprising five simultaneous “operational fronts”

in Iraq.250

623. The meeting between Mr Blair and President Bush, the press conference which

preceded it, and President Bush’s decision to take the issue of Iraq to the UN, are

addressed in Section 3.4.

624. In relation to the discussion at Camp David on military action, Mr Blair said that he

was in no doubt about the need to deal with Saddam Hussein; and that the likelihood

was that this would mean military action at some point:

“If it came to force, we could hope that we would secure the relatively quick

overthrow of Saddam. But even if we did, we would, still be faced with the big issue

of what followed his departure.”251

248 Daily Telegraph, 6 September 2002, 100 jets join attack on Iraq.

249 Minute Manning to Prime Minister, 8 September 2002, ‘Your Visit to Camp David on 7 September:

Conversation with President Bush’.

250 Franks T & McConnell M. American Soldier. HarperCollins, 2004.

251 Minute Manning to Prime Minister, 8 September 2002, ‘Your Visit to Camp David on 7 September:

Conversation with President Bush’.

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