The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
870.
In a speech at
the National Museum of the US Air Force in Ohio on 27
March,
President
Bush said:
“Prime
Minister Maliki’s bold decision – and it was a bold decision – to
go after the
illegal
groups in Basra shows his leadership, and his commitment to enforce
the law
in an
even-handed manner.”428
871.
On 27 March,
Brig Free reported to Lt Gen Houghton on an “unexpectedly
busy
week” in
Basra.429
Gen Mohan
had returned to Baghdad to present his three-phase
security
plan for Basra to the Basra Planning Conference, chaired by Dr
Rubaie and
Gen
Petraeus, on 22 March. The following day, the plan was presented to
Prime Minister
Maliki at
the MCNS, and he decided, “based on a separate assessment of the
security
situation,
that pre-emptive action was necessary and directed that additional
troops
should
deploy to Basra immediately”.
872.
Lt Gen Cooper
told the Inquiry that Prime Minister Maliki “got up and flew to
Basra
the next
day, and then Charge of the Knights emerged”.430
873.
Mr Prentice
reported that Prime Minister Maliki was taking a “tough line” with
the
Sadrists,
refusing to speak directly to Muqtada al-Sadr and delegating
contact to his
advisers.431
The Iraqi
Government’s message to the Sadrists was:
“•
Surrender
weapons (within 72 hours).
•
Step aside
and allow the ISF to take out/arrest the ‘outlaws’/Special
Groups.
•
Respect the
law and stick to politics.”
874.
Mr Prentice
reported that “so far, the Sadrist response has been
uncompromising”.
Muqtada
al-Sadr had demanded that:
•
the ISF
stop all operations against JAM in Basra;
•
those
detained so far should be released;
•
Prime
Minister Maliki leave Basra to meet him; and
•
an apology
be issued for the Basra operation.
875.
Mr Prentice
advised:
“There is
increasing need for a formal UK public response to the Basra
operation in
order to
manage US perceptions as well as Iraqi public and GoI attitudes.
There has
been
contact with MODUK about this and we are in touch with Iraq Group.
So far,
428
George W
Bush, 27 March 2008, ‘More on Iraq: Address at the National Museum
of the United States
Air
Force’.
429
Minute Free
to CJO, 27 March 2008, ‘MND(SE) Weekly Letter – 27 March
2008’.
430
Public
hearing, 15 December 2009, page 76.
431
eGram
11590/08 Baghdad to FCO London, 27 March 2008, ‘Iraq: Meetings with
US Ambassador and
UNSRSG, 27
March’.
342