The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
397.
The other
issues listed were:
•
whether the
UK wanted to lead on justice;
•
the role of
the UN; and
•
UK
commercial involvement.
398.
Before the
meeting, Mr Bowen advised Sir David Manning that:
“The Prime
Minister will … want to seek Clare [Short]’s engagement in the
potential
humanitarian
relief operation and reconstruction – which will need funding and
the
commitment
of human resources as a priority.”186
399.
The No.10
briefing note for Mr Blair stated that the purpose of the
meeting was
to discuss
“humanitarian aspects of developments in Iraq”, but that there also
needed
to be
“quick agreement on a US/UK policy for a post-conflict Iraq, so
that plans can be
400.
Those wider
issues were not addressed.
401.
At the
meeting, Mr Hoon reported on his Washington
visit.188
402.
Ms Short
commented on the scale of the potential humanitarian crisis,
stressed
that
military assets should not be used for humanitarian operations and
suggested that
NGOs would
want to see a UN role.
403.
In response to
a question from Mr Blair about whether the UK should “take the
lead
on
humanitarian action in the southern zone”, Ms Short said that she
was in favour. The
UK could do
an “exemplary job” in the zone on both military and humanitarian
fronts.
404.
The No.10
record of the meeting stated that Mr Blair
concluded:
“•
The UN must
play a key role, both to reassure the NGOs and also for
political
reasons, to
avoid the impression of a US takeover of Iraq. He asked DFID,
FCO
and MOD to
co-ordinate advice so that he could discuss with President
Bush.
•
We should
seek to take the lead on humanitarian issues in the southern
zone
of Iraq.
•
We must
work up a strategy for mobilising other contributors on the
humanitarian
side:
France and Germany could play a role, as could Japan.”
405.
No further
instructions were sent to departments by No.10.
186
Minute
Bowen to Manning, 13 February 2003, ‘Meeting on Iraq: Humanitarian
Follow-up’.
187
Minute
Cannon to Prime Minister, 13 February 2003, ‘Iraq: Humanitarian
Planning’.
188
Letter
Cannon to Bewes, 13 February 2003, ‘Iraq: Humanitarian
Issues’.
378