9.7  |  May 2008 to October 2009

Basra against the militias … the military advice was that we should pause the further

planned reduction …

“Since then, we have responded to changing needs and embedded more

than 800 UK personnel within the Iraqi command structure … The focus of the

4,100 forces still in southern Iraq is now on completing the task of training and

mentoring the 14th division of the Iraqi army in Basra … Other remaining military

tasks … include finalising the preparation of Basra Airport for civilian control, and

continuing to develop the capacity of the Iraqi navy and marines …

“It is now right to complete the tasks we have set ourselves …

“As we complete these tasks and as progress continues in these different areas,

we will continue to reduce the number of British troops in Iraq. Of course, future

decisions will, as always, be based on the advice of our military commanders on the

ground, but I can tell the House today that, just as last year we moved from combat

to overwatch, we expect a further fundamental change of mission in the first months

of 2009, as we make the transition to a long-term bilateral relationship with Iraq,

similar to the normal relationships that our military forces have with other important

countries in the region.”57

160.  Concluding his statement, Mr Brown explained that Mr Browne and military

commanders would work with the Iraqi Government to agree the details of the long term

UK/Iraq relationship, including “its necessary legal basis”, and report to the House in

the autumn.

161.  On 26 July, Mr Brown met Senator Obama.58 Mr Brown’s Private Secretary for

Foreign Affairs reported that:

“… the Prime Minister explained why he had taken his decisions on timelines and

overwatch.”

162.  On 28 July, Lt Gen Cooper reported to ACM Stirrup that the US military were

discussing agreeing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Iraqi Government

instead of a Status of Forces Agreement.59 An MOU would “look very similar” to a

SOFA but would “avoid the political emotion that the term creates”. At the heart of the

arrangement would be the formation of a joint committee that agreed operations.

163.  Lt Gen Cooper also reported that the Council of Representatives had passed the

Provincial Election Law, but the Presidential Council had rejected it. If issues were not

resolved and the law re-passed before the Council of Representatives rose on 30 July,

then elections were likely to be delayed into 2009, with possible implications for UK

transition plans.

57 House of Commons, Official Report, 22 July 2008, columns 660-679.

58 Letter Fletcher to Gould, 26 July 2008, ‘Prime Minister’s Meeting with Obama, 26 July’.

59 Minute Cooper to CDS, 28 July 2008, ‘SBMR-I’s Weekly Report (311) 28 Jul 08’.

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