The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
556.
Lt Gen Reith
listed six components of the UK military’s approach to Phase
IV:
“a. Phase
IV UK Strategy. While our Phase IV contribution will be governed
largely by
immediate
events in theatre, it is essential that our Phases IVb/c
contribution is set
within a
wider ‘Ends’ driven strategy …
b.
Improved
International Support. We need to create the conditions for
improved
international
engagement for Phase IV. An outline strategy has already
been
developed
for this … While looking for early
support in
Phase IVa we should not
make
premature assumptions that it will be easily
forthcoming.
c.
Early
Reduction. (May/Jun 03 tbc). We should identify and be prepared
to
withdraw at
speed (tbc) any capabilities which have Phase III utility only
…
d.
Staged Draw
Down. (Jun–Sep 03 tbc). We should then plan to draw down
the
balance of
components to the autumn 03 steady state against clear
criteria.
e.
Enduring
Steady State. (Sep 03–Mar 05). Subsequently, we should be
prepared
to maintain
the steady state until at least Spring 04 and scope out to Spring
05.
f. Branch
Planning. A strategic estimate should be conducted to consider
large scale
presence
continuing through Mar 04 reducing then to medium scale until Mar
05.”
557.
Sir Kevin
Tebbit commented on the draft Phase IV military planning
guidance:
“Creeping
larger commitment. I am not clear where the idea of a large scale
force
until April
04 comes from – as distinct from large scale until the
autumn.” 336
558.
It is not
clear to whom Sir Kevin addressed his comments, but he was
present
when the
paper was discussed by the Chiefs of Staff on 26
March.337
559.
The Chiefs
of Staff discussed the tensions between the UK’s desire to
reduce
troop
levels to a divisional headquarters and one brigade by the autumn,
the
potential
scale of the Phase IV task and US expectations about the size of
the
UK contribution.
560.
Lt Gen Pigott
briefed the Chiefs of Staff on his Phase IV planning guidance
paper
561.
ACM Squire
commented that Lt Gen Pigott’s paper “highlighted the
possibility
that Phase
IV would be a larger political and military task than had been
originally
envisaged”.
336
Manuscript
comment Tebbit on Minute COSSEC to PSO/CDS, 25 March 2003, ‘OP COS
Paper:
Subject –
Op TELIC
– Phase IV
(Post Conflict): Military Planning Guidance’.
337
Minutes, 26
March 2003, Chiefs of Staff meeting.
338
Minutes, 26
March 2003, Chiefs of Staff meeting.
100