The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
643.
Mr Blair told
his colleagues that he had called the Cabinet because “an
impasse”
had been
reached at the United Nations.226
644.
The Government
had tried its “utmost”, and had “tabled a draft …
resolution,
amended it,
and then been prepared to apply tests against which Iraq’s
co-operation
… could be
judged”. Although the UK had been “gathering increasing support
from
members of
the Security Council”, the French statement “that they would veto
a
resolution
in all circumstances had made it impossible to achieve a new …
resolution”.
France,
with Russia in support, “were not prepared to accept” that if
Saddam Hussein
“did not
comply with the United Nations obligations, military action should
follow”. The
UK was in a
situation it had “striven to avoid”: “There would be no second
resolution and
military
action was likely to be necessary … to enforce compliance by Saddam
Hussein
with Iraq’s
obligations.”
645.
The points
made during discussion included that, in conducting military
operations,
it would be
important to show “we wished to protect civilians, seek the
surrender of Iraqi
conscripts,
and protect religious and cultural sites”.
646.
Mr Blair
concluded that:
“… the
diplomatic process was now at an end. Saddam Hussein would be
given
an
ultimatum to leave Iraq; and the House of Commons would be asked to
endorse
the use of
military action against Iraq to enforce compliance, if
necessary.”
647.
The Cabinet:
“Took note.”
648.
The discussion
in Cabinet is addressed in Section 3.8.
649.
In an “Address
to the Nation” at 8pm Eastern Standard Time on 17
March,
President
Bush stated that “the final days of decision” had been reached and
issued
an
ultimatum giving Saddam Hussein and his sons 48 hours to leave
Iraq.227
650.
In a message
to Iraqis, President Bush stated:
“If we must
begin a military campaign, it will be directed against the lawless
men
who rule
your country and not against you … The day of your liberation is
near.
“… It is
not too late for the Iraqi military to act with honor and protect
your country
by
permitting the peaceful entry of Coalition Forces to eliminate
weapons of mass
destruction
…”
226
Cabinet
Conclusions, 17 March 2003.
227
The White
House, 17 March 2003, President
says Saddam Hussein must leave within 48 hours.
490