The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
400.
Mr Benn
visited Baghdad from 17 to 19 September and reported that
neither
Ambassador
Bremer nor the GC wanted to set a timetable for the transfer of
power from
the CPA to
an Iraqi administration. He added, “Interestingly, none of the
Iraqis we talked
to raised
this issue.”230
401.
Mr Benn
thought that the UK should continue to explore the potential for
transition
steps, as
suggested by Sir Jeremy Greenstock. Interim Iraqi ministers had by
now
begun work.
Ambassador Bremer talked about handing over power to them but
seemed
“reluctant
to let go”.
402.
Mr Benn’s
experience contrasted with that of Secretary Powell, whose own
visit
was
reported by Sir Jeremy Greenstock to have included “a meeting with
the IGC during
which IGC
members made a strong pitch for immediate transfer of
sovereignty”.231
403.
Sir Jeremy
also reported that the GC had been “very active”. It had agreed
a
package of
economic reforms (including bank regulations, measures to
encourage
foreign
investment and new tax rates), approved a new nationality law and
visited Najaf
where it
had taken action to protect holy shrines.
404.
The activities
of the GC’s High National De-Ba’athification Commission
are
recorded in
Section 11.1.
On 20
September, Dr Aqila al-Hashemi, a member of the GC, was ambushed
and shot
while
driving near her home in Baghdad.232
The GC’s
Secretary General had been targeted in a similar – but unsuccessful
– attack
two days
earlier.
Dr
al-Hashemi died of her injuries on 25 September.233
Sir Jeremy
Greenstock commented to the FCO in London that the attack
on
Dr
al-Hashemi:
“… brings
into sharp relief the need for professional and effective Iraqi
security
forces. An
early UK gesture of help would be widely noticed and
appreciated.”234
He
explained that it seemed likely that Dr al-Hashemi had been
deliberately targeted
as she
lived “in a neighbourhood surrounded by ex-Ba’ath party members and
had
received
many warnings that she was being watched.” Sir Jeremy reported that
Dr Ahmad
Chalabi had
expressed strong concerns to the CPA “over the personal security of
all
230
Minute Benn
to Prime Minister, 20 September 2003, ‘My visit to Iraq: 17-19
September’.
231
Telegram
174 IraqRep to FCO London, 18 September 2003, ‘Iraq: Governing
Council Roundup’.
232
Telegram
176 IraqRep to FCO London, 21 September 2003, ‘Iraq: assassination
attempt on Governing
Council
member’.
233
Telegram
181 IraqRep to FCO London, 25 September 2003, ‘Iraq: Governing
Council roundup: death of
Aqila
Hashemi: security’.
234
Telegram
176 IraqRep to FCO London, 21 September 2003, ‘Iraq: assassination
attempt on Governing
Council
member’.
274