9.5 |
June 2006 to 27 June 2007
268.
In addition,
Mr Blair argued that a “whole Middle East” strategy was needed
which
would frame
the debate on Iraq in terms of the whole region and expose the
hostile
intent of
Iran. Mr Blair wrote:
“The huge
benefit in Iraq, of such a strategy, is that it gives us more than
what
is
happening day to day in Iraq to talk about. That is our problem: it
is all events,
ghastly and
bloody, unconnected to the underlying strategic
cause.”
269.
President Bush
and Mr Blair spoke by video conference the next day joined
by
Vice
President Dick Cheney, Mr Hadley, Mr Jonathan Powell and
Sir Nigel Sheinwald.155
270.
Mr Blair
set out his view that the UK and US should focus on supporting
Prime
Minister
Maliki to achieve a national political compact, accelerate
assistance to the
ISF,
improve the Iraqi Government’s ability to “deliver resources” and
bring regional
assistance
to bear more effectively.
271.
Mr Blair
suggested that Prime Minister Maliki should set out his political
and
security
plans in a way that demonstrated he was in the lead, ideally before
the Iraq
Study Group
reported, and in such a way that allowed the US and UK to
respond
positively.
272.
On 13
November, Mr Blair discussed Iraq with ACM Stirrup, Sir Nigel
Sheinwald,
Mr McDonald,
C, Ms Aldred and officials from No.10.156
273.
Mr Blair
told those present that “the major challenge was ensuring that
Maliki had
an
effective government apparatus around him, underpinned by capable
security forces”.
274.
ACM Stirrup
said that “the US had given a lot of thought to the latter point”
and had
“a coherent
plan” to train the ISF.
275.
Mr Blair
commissioned Sir Nigel Sheinwald to co‑ordinate a plan, drawing
on
departmental
expertise, which would “set out the detail underpinning the Prime
Minister’s
four point
strategy for Iraq, together with a clear sense of who would be
responsible for
operationalising
each element”. Mr Blair recognised that it would need Iraqi,
US and
wider
international support.
276.
That evening,
Mr Blair spoke at the annual Lord Mayor’s banquet in
London’s
Guildhall.157
He
described the growing pressure from terrorism in Iraq and
said:
“Just as
the situation is evolving, so our strategy should evolve to meet
it.
“Inside
Iraq we should empower the Iraqi leadership that wants to take
responsibility
– that
knows that they, not us, must lead and win the fight against
terrorism.
155
Letter
Banner to Hayes, 10 November 2006, ‘Prime Minister’s VTC with
President Bush, 10 November:
Middle
East’.
156
Letter
Banner to Siddiq, 14 November 2006, ‘Iraq’.
157
Prime
Minister’s Guildhall speech, 13 November 2006.
53