6.5 |
Planning and preparation for a post-Saddam Hussein Iraq, January to
March 2003
action led
to the collapse of Saddam Hussein’s regime, the UK’s goal would be
“to
transform
Iraq along the lines set out in the UK’s ‘Vision for Iraq and the
Iraqi people’,
launched at
the Azores Summit”.
1098.
Once most of
Iraq had been stabilised, ORHA would take on supervision of
the
civil
administration, calling itself the International Transitional Civil
Authority (ITCA): “We
hope that
the vast majority of the Iraqi public sector will remain in place
and be able to
carry on
its work, albeit under ITCA’s overall direction.” In the first
weeks, the Coalition’s
task would
be to provide a secure environment for the delivery of humanitarian
relief by
UN agencies
and NGOs.
1099.
After “some
weeks”, the UN should appoint a Special Co-ordinator for Iraq
and
set out a
mandate for the international community’s presence in the country,
leading
to the
establishment of an IIA under the “light supervision” of the
Special Co-ordinator.
The IIA
would establish a constituent assembly along the lines of the Bonn
Conference
on
Afghanistan to agree a constitution. The constitution would be put
to a referendum
and lead to
the election of a “broad-based, representative
government”.
“Providing
the conditions for success exist – a legal basis for action from
the UNSC
and a
secure environment in which to act – we would expect all the
traditional
nation-builders
to take part. The aim will be to introduce widespread
economic
and
political reforms, as well as improvements in the functioning of
the public
administration.”
1101.
The core
script concluded:
“An
important objective for HMG is to ensure a level playing field for
UK companies
to compete
for commercial opportunities that arise in the reconstruction of
Iraq.”
1102.
The core
script made no reference to the role of the Iraqi opposition or
Iraqi exiles
in
post-conflict arrangements.
1103.
In his
speech to the House of Commons on 18 March, Mr Blair restated
the
importance
of bringing sustainable development, democracy, human rights
and
good
governance to Iraq.
1104.
Mr Blair
did not explain how, other than by seeking a UN resolution, the
UK
would
contribute.
1105.
The motion
tabled by the Government on 18 March stated that:
“… this
House … in the event of military operations requires that, on an
urgent basis,
the United
Kingdom should seek a new Security Council resolution that would
affirm
Iraq’s
territorial integrity, ensure rapid delivery of humanitarian
relief, allow for the
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