6.1 | Development of the military options for an invasion of Iraq

969. Asked if the argument was that it would sustain morale in the Army had been

a factor in the decision, Mr Powell told the Inquiry:

“The military indicated to us that it would be important for morale that we were

involved properly, yes.”382

970. Asked about Mr Powell’s evidence to the Inquiry on morale, General the Lord

Walker, Chief of the General Staff from April 2000 to February 2003, told the Inquiry

that that was “not something” he had had “any anxiety about”. There might have been

“expressions of exasperation” at the “lower levels” in the Army if it was not involved, but

it was not an issue as far as he was concerned.383

971. Asked how important the issues of morale and the standing of the British Army had

been in terms of not wanting to be left out of a major campaign, Gen Jackson told the

Inquiry that, if it had gone ahead without a land component, he thought “the army would

have been, to put it mildly, rather disappointed”.384

972. Asked if the issue had been discussed by the Army Board, Gen Jackson stated

that he could not remember precisely, but he had “very little doubt that the Army Board’s

view would have been as I have just outlined”. He had been “mystified” in relation to

the thinking behind the “opening offer”, but over the autumn [of 2002] a “more balanced

contribution came into being”.

973. Asked whether the impact of Army morale had been a factor which had been put

to him, and through him to Mr Blair, Mr Hoon replied:

“I don’t recall the argument being put to me in quite those terms. I … was well aware

of the tremendous qualities of our Armed Forces and their desire to be used and …

participate.

“So there was a sense, particularly amongst the Army, that they didn’t want to be left

out. But … I wouldn’t have regarded that … as something that you put on the table

and say it was a major factor in the decision‑making.”385

974. Mr Hoon added that there was a sense that the Army “wanted to play their part”,

and that made the decision easier because they were saying “if necessary we can play

our part”.

975. Mr Hoon’s own comments on that point in the minute he sent to Mr Blair, which

differed from the MOD position, approved by Adm Boyce, set out in Mr Johnson’s advice

of 11 October, supports that position.

382 Public hearing, 18 January 2010, page 91.

383 Public hearing, 1 February 2010, page 7.

384 Public hearing, 28 July 2010, pages 10‑12.

385 Public hearing, 19 January 2010, pages 48‑49.

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