9.4 |
June 2005 to May 2006
We
therefore need a candid analysis of the gap between current
capabilities and
future
requirements … and a plan
for closing
the gap. Action:
MOD
––
Backing the
Baghdad security and electricity plans … Action:
MOD/DFID.
–– Turning
around the situation in Basra,
following the Prime Minister’s private
conversation
with Maliki. This will require
–– a
political understanding with parties representing the spectrum of
political
opinion
there;
–– a
package of UK and international reconstruction
assistance;
–– a larger
role and presence for the Iraqi forces, working alongside
UK
forces.
–– The
Prime Minister has asked that a senior individual be tasked with
taking this
process
forward in Basra, working with designated interlocutors from the
Iraqi
government.
Action:
FCO/MOD/DFID/BCG Basra. The Prime Minister hopes
that the
Defence Secretary will personally supervise the military
aspects
of this.
––
Promoting international
support for the new
government … Action:
FCO.
The
Prime
Minister would like the Foreign Secretary to personally direct this
work …
–– Stepping
up our outreach
activities
to both Sunni and Shia militants, to ensure
that they
are given opportunity and incentives to participate in the
political
process.
Action:
FCO.”
748.
Sir Nigel’s
letter alerted members of DOP(I) that Mr Blair was likely to
want to
discuss
these issues when next they met.
749.
After leaving
Baghdad, Mr Blair visited the US to make a speech at
Georgetown
University
in which he called for reform of the UN. On 25 May he met President
Bush for
talks on a
range of foreign policy issues at the White House.366
750.
On withdrawing
troops from Iraq, Mr Blair thought that the way forward was to
“give
an
indication of our intentions, but make sure they were conditions
based”. Mr Blair said
it was
important that there was no hint of “cutting and running”. Security
and electricity
supply were
key, but above all the momentum must be kept going.
751.
Mr Blair
proposed a conference in the autumn to get support from the
international
community
for the effort in Iraq. There was “a prospect of a new deal for
Iraq, including
withdrawal
of the MNF”.
752.
Mr Blair
and President Bush held a joint press conference in which
Mr Blair told
reporters
he had left Iraq “thinking the challenge is still immense” but he
was “more
certain
than ever that we should rise to it”.367
366
Letter
Phillipson to Hayes, 26 May 2006, ‘Prime Minister’s Talks with
President Bush: 25 May’.
367
CNN, 26
May 2006, Bush,
Blair: Iraq war not as smooth as hoped.
613