The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
293.
On 1 October,
a brief for Mr Brown’s first visit to Iraq as Prime Minister
stated:
“Following
the Petraeus/Crocker testimonials [see Section 9.6], the centre
of
gravity has
switched back from Washington to Baghdad, where Maliki is
enjoying
a somewhat
more secure position. However, he still faces significant
challenges:
to break
the impasse over key legislation (de‑Ba’athification and Provincial
Powers
laws) … and
drive forward the reconciliation agenda.”230
294.
The list of
points for Mr Brown to make in his meeting with Prime Minister
Maliki
suggested
that he should stress the Prime Minister’s particular
responsibility to give a
strong lead
to national reconciliation.
295.
In November,
the British Embassy Baghdad reported:
“After two
months of playing games, the correct draft of the Accountability
& Justice
Law
(de‑Ba’athification) has now made it to the CoR … there should be
sufficient
majority to
see this law through.”231
296.
By the end of
December, the Accountability and Justice Law still had not
been
297.
The Law was
approved by the Council of Representatives on 12 January
2008.233
298.
The British
Embassy Baghdad reported on 24 January that, although
Vice
President
Hashimi had continuing concerns, he had agreed to register them in
a letter
to the
Speaker rather than delay or veto the law.234
299.
On 12 January,
the Iraqi Council of Representatives approved the Justice
and
Accountability
Law (formerly the de‑Ba’athification Law).235
The Cabinet
Office told
Mr Brown
that:
“Although
the law’s practical impact will be more symbolic than substantive,
its
approval
nevertheless sends out a positive message especially to Sunnis,
about
the ability
of the political system to function.”
230
Minute
Cabinet Office [junior official] to Prime Minister, 1 October 2007,
‘Iraq Visit: 2 October 2007’.
231
eGram
47120/07 Baghdad to FCO London, 19 November 2007, ‘Iraq: Political
Round‑Up’.
232
Minute
Rollo to CDS, 31 December 2007, ‘Iraq in 2008 – An Opportunity to
be Taken’.
233
Minute
Cabinet Office [junior official], 18 January 2008, ‘Iraq
Update’.
234
eGram
2673/08 Baghdad to FCO London, 24 January 2008, ‘Iraq: Internal
Political Progress?’
235
Minute
Cabinet Office [junior official] to Prime Minister, 18 January
2008, ‘Iraq Update’.
56