8 | The
invasion
642.
Mr Watkins’
record of the conversation between Mr Hoon and Secretary
Rumsfeld
on 15 April
stated that, as expected, Secretary Rumsfeld had said he was
approaching
the UK and
Poland to ask if each could lead a division in Phase
IV.369
In
response:
“Mr Hoon
said that we were aiming to reduce our forces in Iraq to one
divisional
headquarters
and one brigade by the late summer. The balance [perhaps
two
brigades]
would need to be provided by other countries … Mr Hoon pointed
out that,
for
constitutional reasons, a number of countries needed some form of
UN cover
before they
could deploy major contingents.”
643.
In early
April, Mr Blair approved the creation of a new Cabinet
committee,
chaired by
Mr Straw, to formulate UK policy for post-conflict
Iraq.
644.
Shortly
afterwards, Ministers considered the need to align military
sectors
and ORHA
regions.
645.
The UK
remained concerned that US policy in Iraq would not be
consistent
with the
UK’s understanding of the rights and responsibilities of an
Occupying
Power.
646.
In early
April, Mr Blair agreed that a new Cabinet committee should be
established
“to
formulate policy for the rehabilitation, reform and development of
Iraq”.370
Mr Straw
would
chair; other members would be the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the
Defence
Secretary,
the International Development Secretary and the Trade and
Industry
Secretary.
647.
The committee
would be supported by a group of officials, chaired by
Mr Bowen.
648.
Mr Straw
chaired the first meeting of the Ad Hoc Ministerial Group on
Iraq
Rehabilitation
(AHMGIR) on 10 April.371
The meeting
agreed that the UK should increase
its support
to ORHA.
649.
The creation
of the AHMGIR and Mr Straw’s responsibilities as Chair
are
addressed
in Section 10.1.
650.
On 15 April,
Mr Straw recommended to Mr Blair that the UK should
significantly
increase
its political and practical support to ORHA.372
Mr Straw
explained that the US’s
intention
was:
“… that
ORHA will oversee the Phase IV humanitarian and reconstruction
effort and
restore
normal functioning of Iraqi ministries and provinces, with the aim
of phased
369
Letter
Watkins to Manning, 15 April 2003, ‘Iraq: Conversation with
Rumsfeld’.
370
Letter
Turnbull to Straw, 7 April 2003, ‘Iraq:
Rehabilitation’.
371
Minutes, 10
April 2003, Ad Hoc Group on Iraq Rehabilitation
meeting.
372
Letter
Straw to Prime Minister, 15 April 2003, ‘Iraq: Office for
Reconstruction and Humanitarian
Assistance
(ORHA)’.
115