The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
urgent” and
if it was not acknowledged publicly, there was “a clear risk of the
information
leaking,
leading to accusations that we have been less than open with
Parliament”.
690.
The letter
made no reference to a possible UK contribution to post‑conflict
military
operations.
691.
Copies of
Mr Watkins’ letter were sent to the Private Offices of
Mr Straw,
Mr Brown
and Sir Andrew Turnbull, and to Mr Bowen.
692.
Mr Blair
and Sir David Manning had reservations about the viability and
costs
of the MOD
proposal.
693.
Sir David
Manning advised Mr Blair:
“The
possibility that the military could make a land contribution in the
North is
a surprise.
Until recently we were being told that covering the firemen’s
strike
(Operation
FRESCO) would make this impossible. Now, suddenly it isn’t.
The
(militarily
mouth‑watering) prospect of being given tactical leadership of
the
campaign in
the North … may have something to do with this volte
face.”273
694.
Sir David
advised Mr Blair to “register extreme caution” and to address
a number
of
questions; in particular:
•
How this
was suddenly possible?
•
What
confidence there was that the Turkish angle would be sorted
out?
•
Whether the
UK could sustain the numbers and, if so, for how long?
695.
Sir David
advised that Mr Blair should:
•
give the
MOD the “go ahead” provided the conditions they had identified
were
met,
including that CENTCOM should “produce a parallel plan without a
UK
contribution”
which “may well not be forthcoming”; and
•
agree to
the replacement of key units allocated to OP FRESCO.
“As
discussed. Be careful of this Land idea …”274
697.
In a
meeting with Mr Hoon on 23 September, Mr Blair agreed
limited
contingency
preparations for a land option, but asked for publicity to
be
minimised.
698.
Following
the discussion, the MOD informed the US that the UK was
still
considering
a land option.
273
Minute
Manning to Prime Minister, 22 September 2002, ‘Iraq: Possible UK
Military Contribution’.
274
Manuscript
comment Blair on Minute
Manning to Prime Minister, 22 September 2002, ‘Iraq:
Possible
UK Military
Contribution’.
278