9.4 |
June 2005 to May 2006
294.
In order to
repair the UK position following the Jameat incident, the MOD and
the
FCO were
asked to work up a form of words “to draw a line under this issue
and enable
future
co-operation”.
295.
Mr Straw
was asked to lead on drawing together and monitoring
the
implementation
of the political strategy.
296.
On security,
Mr Blair looked forward to regular reports from Dr Reid,
including
analysis of
the effectiveness of the new Iraqi forces. Mr Blair was
concerned that the
poor state
of the IPS would be a drag on further progress and Sir Nigel
wrote:
“It is
clear that we need to review whether our police training strategy
in the
South‑East
is working, and whether the national policing strategy knits
together.”
297.
Sir Nigel
reported that Mr Blair agreed Sir Ronnie Flanagan should be
asked to
visit Iraq
and that he wanted a UK Minister to take ownership of the overall
policing
strategy,
including liaison with the US over national strategy, supported by
a dedicated
team in
London.
298.
On the Red
Team Report, Sir Nigel wrote:
“The
‘ink-spot strategy’ … may not be exactly right. But it highlights
the vulnerability
of our
efforts so far to reclaim key cities from the terrorists. It also,
rightly in the
Prime
Minister’s view, stresses the importance of co-ordinated
implementation,
involving
both the Coalition and the Iraqis …
“There is
still some uncertainty over the fate of the Red Team Report. We
should
press
Khalilzad and Casey to agree an authoritative plan for the next few
months,
working
with UK counterparts.”
299.
Dr Reid was
asked to oversee the overall security strategy. A video
conference
involving
President Bush, Mr Blair, Gen Casey and Lt Gen Brims,
Ambassador Khalilzad
and
Mr Patey would be held in the week of 10 October to “help
focus on some of
these issues”.
300.
The minute
said that Mr Blair was planning a major speech on Iraq, and
that No.10
Press
Office would co-ordinate other Ministerial media activity. A key
challenge was to
communicate
that substantial troop withdrawals were planned in 2006, provided
that
Iraqi
capabilities built up as planned.
301.
On structures,
Sir Nigel reported that Mr Blair planned to chair a meeting of
DOP(I)
every
fortnight if possible. Sir Nigel would chair weekly meetings of
senior officials.
Mr Straw
and Dr Reid were also to chair regular Ministerial meetings in
their areas.
302.
Sir Nigel
would also be discussing more effective ways for the UK to join up
with
the US
system, including the creation of a joint working group on
political strategy in the
run up to
elections.
539