The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
previous,
more fragmented, arrangement, but less of a “step-change” than it
might
have been.
477.
Mr Tansley
agreed with that assessment.273
478.
Section 9.4
describes planning and preparations for the transfer of
lead
responsibility
for security in Muthanna and Maysan to the Iraqi authorities
(scheduled
for May
2006).
479.
Mr Patey
issued his annual review of the state of Iraq on 10
January.274
He
characterised
2005 as a “year of democracy”, despite the persistent violence.
The
development
of the Constitution and elections had diverted attention from
establishing
“effective
governance”, and in a number of areas Iraq had
regressed:
“The year
ended with Baghdad on three hours of power a day and falls in oil
exports.
The
Government did just enough (courtesy of a high degree of
flexibility from the
IMF and
much help from us) to achieve an interim SBA [Stand-By Arrangement]
that
keeps the
debt relief programme in track but there is not much else to report
by way
of
achievements.”
480.
Mr Straw
visited Iraq on 6 and 7 January. His report to Mr Blair
focused on
progress in
forming a new Iraqi Government but also highlighted the need to
consider
how to
increase international engagement.275
481.
The key would
be to persuade the UN to play a more active role. The UK and
US
were
working on the problem of providing the UN with air assets and
security. The UK
also needed
to persuade the US “to take the UN more seriously into its
confidence”:
the US
had been receptive at official level but the message needed to be
reinforced
at a political
level.
482.
In discussion
with President Bush on 10 January, Mr Blair said that it
would
help to
unlock outstanding aid pledges if the new Iraqi Government set out
a “forward
programme”
covering security, coalition posture and reconstruction, which the
UN and
coalition
could get behind.276
483.
The 12 January
meeting of DOP(I) discussed Mr Straw’s report.277
273
Public
hearing, 22 June 2010, page 101.
274
eGram
384/06 Patey to FCO London, 10 January 2006, ‘Iraq: Annual
Review’.
275
Letter
Straw to Prime Minister, 11 January 2006, ‘Iraq: Post-Elections and
Government Formation’.
276
Letter
Quarrey to Siddiq, 10 January 2006, ‘Prime Minister’s VTC with
President Bush: Middle
East Issues’.
277
Minutes, 12
January 2006, DOP(I) meeting.
276