The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
938.
Mr Miliband
visited Baghdad and Erbil in mid-April.550
He wrote to
Mr Brown on
29 April:
“However
unfortunate its genesis, Maliki’s operation in Basra has created
an
opportunity
to reshape our approach there and set a new direction
towards
transition.
2009 is the year we will need to move from a Basra military
strategy to
an Iraq
political and economic strategy.”
939.
The Iraqi
Government was “for the first time since 2003” giving full
attention
to Basra.
In support of that, the US had committed “serious assets” to
strengthen
MND(SE).
Those combined US, UK and Iraqi resources would “accelerate the
rate of
positive
change in Basra”, paving the way for a “proper and respectable end”
to the UK’s
role as
“lead partner in the coalition” in the course of 2009.
940.
Mr Miliband
identified seven goals towards which substantial progress would
need
to be made
if the UK was to make that “final transition”,
including:
•
“reconstruction
clearly under way; sturdy green shoots of economic
revival;
•
the BIPA
and BDF [Basra Development Fund] well-established;
•
the airport
on its way to be a development and business hub and transport
hub;
•
Umm Qasr
port better managed and with development plans in place”;
and
•
the start
of “a broad-based and natural relationship with the new Iraq, the
‘whole
Iraq
policy’ which we have long wanted”.
941.
Maj Gen
White-Spunner reported on 1 May that:
“What is
becoming increasingly evident, as our situational awareness
improves, is
just what a
poor state the city is in, with basic services non-existent in some
areas
and a
serious problem with raw sewage and mounds of rubbish on the
streets.” 551
942.
Mr Brown
hosted a reception at No.10 on 28 April, to raise the profile of
southern
Iraq as an
investment destination and enhance Iraqi Government interaction
with
943.
Mr Brown
was subsequently advised that between 25 and 30 companies,
including
BP and
Shell, had expressed a serious interest in exploring investment
opportunities.553
944.
Mr Brown
met Gen Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker in London on 1
May.554
Mr Miliband,
Mr Browne, Mr Alexander and senior officials
attended.
550
Letter
Miliband to Prime Minister, 29 April 2008, ‘Iraq’.
551
Minute
White-Spunner to CJO, 2 May 2008, ‘GOC MND(SE) Weekly Letter – 1
May 2008’.
552
Minute
Cabinet Office [junior official] to Prime Minister, 25 April 2008,
‘Basra Investors’ Reception,
No10: 28
April 2008’.
553
Minute
Cabinet Office [junior official] to Prime Minister, 30 April 2008,
‘Iraq: Meeting with Petraeus and
Crocker, 1
May 2008’
554
Minute
Cabinet Office [junior official] to Prime Minister, 30 April 208,
‘Iraq: Meeting with Petraeus and
Crocker, 1
May 2008’.
348