6.5 | Planning and preparation for a post-Saddam Hussein Iraq, January to March 2003

• to “provide an exit strategy”; and

• to re-unite the international community.

937. The record of the 11 March FCO Iraq Morning Meeting stated that: “US Principals

still seem to be moving in the right direction on ‘Day After’ thinking. No.10 will be asked

to hurry along the injection of our Phase IV advice.”393

938. On 12 March, Mr Chaplin updated heads of key FCO posts abroad on progress

“as we enter the endgame”.394 He reported that the post-conflict phase “should offer

opportunities to rebuild a degree of international consensus after the blood spilled

over the second SCR”. Guidance would issue separately (the Phase IV Core Script),

but heads of post could already stress to interlocutors the principles guiding the UK

approach, including a major role for the UN and giving clear responsibility to the Iraqi

people (not just exiles) to decide the constitution and institutions they wanted.

939. On 13 March, Sir Michael Jay informed FCO staff in London and at posts abroad

that the FCO Emergency Unit would be open from 0900 on 14 March and the Consular

Crisis Centre from 17 March.395

The FCO Emergency Unit, responsible for co-ordination of all aspects of FCO Iraq policy

during the military campaign, opened on 14 March.

The FCO Consular Crisis Centre opened on 17 March.

Both operated 24 hours a day throughout the military campaign.

Sir Michael Jay informed FCO staff on 13 March that the FCO Emergency Unit would be

open from 0900 on 14 March and the Consular Crisis Centre from 17 March.396 Sir Michael

explained:

“This does not imply that military action is inevitable, or that a date has already been

set for its start should it become unavoidable. We continue to work flat out to secure

a further UN resolution that will lead to Iraq’s disarmament. But we must be prepared

for all contingencies, and events are moving fast.

“Peter Ricketts … together with William Ehrman … is co-ordinating the FCO’s overall

response to the crisis. Edward Chaplin … is Deputy Crisis Co-ordinator. They will

continue to work from their current offices. Charles Gray … has been appointed

Crisis Manager.

“As well as political and briefing sections … the EU [Emergency Unit] will also include

a Pol Mil [politico-military] Section … which will be responsible for liaison with the

MOD. There will also be a member of Consular Division embedded in the Unit, who

will liaise with the Consular Crisis Centre. The Emergency Unit will work in close

393 Minute Tanfield to PS/PUS [FCO], 11 March 2003, ‘Iraq Morning Meeting: Key Points’.

394 Telegram 33 FCO London to Riyadh, 12 March 2003, ‘Iraq: The Endgame’.

395 Telegram 130 FCO London to Abidjan, 13 March 2003, ‘Opening of FCO Emergency Unit’.

396 Telegram 130 FCO London to Abidjan, 13 March 2003, ‘Opening of FCO Emergency Unit’.

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