The Report of the Iraq Inquiry

The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
Executive Summary
Report of a Committee of Privy Counsellors
HC 264
Return to an Address of the Honourable the House of Commons
dated 6 July 2016
for
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
Executive Summary
Report of a Committee of Privy Counsellors
Ordered by the House of Commons to be printed on 6 July 2016
HC 264
© Crown copyright 2016
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07/16
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Contents
Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 4
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3
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
Introduction
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
4
Executive Summary
9.
Pre-conflict strategy and planning
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
5
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
The UK decision to support US military action
24.
25.
UK policy before 9/11
26.
27.
6
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1
28.
29.
2
30.
•
•
•
3
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
4
1
Security Council Establishes New Monitoring
Commission For Iraq Adopting Resolution 1284 (1999) By Vote of 11-0-4 (
2
3
4
7
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
36.
little pressure to negotiate
5
37.
•
•
UN-agreed timetable for the lifting of sanctions
able to negotiate with the UN in advance to weaken the inspection
provisions
38.
6
39.
7
40.
•
maintain the arms embargo
Saddam faces no economic
pressure to accept
1284 because he is successfully
undermining the economic sanctions regime
•
be able to
appropriate in the region of $1.5bn to $1.8bn in cash and goods in 2001
5
6
7
8
Executive Summary
•
Iranian
the Gulf
•
Most countries
counterproductive and should now be lifted
significantly reduced smuggling down
exploiting land routes
ineffective,
8
41.
•
•
the Iraqi people
to suffer to underpin his campaign against sanctions
•
front-line states
•
not enforcing sanctions
significant increase in the erosion of sanctions
42.
•
•
•
•
43.
10
44.
11
8
10
11
Official Report
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
45.
12
The impact of 9/11
46.
47.
48.
13
49.
14
50.
51.
15
52.
12
13
September 11 attacks: Prime Minister’s statement.
14
15
10
Executive Summary
53.
54.
55.
16
56.
17
57.
58.
59.
60.
61.
62.
63.
16
The President Welcomes Aid Workers Rescued from
Afghanistan.
17
11
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64.
18
65.
66.
67.
68.
69.
20
70.
18
The President’s State of the Union Address.
20
12
Executive Summary
71.
72.
73.
74.
21
75.
22
76.
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78.
24
79.
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•
21
22
President Bush, Prime Minister Blair Hold Press Conference.
23
24
A Journey
13
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94.
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30
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15
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98.
99.
Decision to take the UN route
100.
101.
32
102.
103.
32
16
Executive Summary
104.
33
105.
106.
107.
34
108.
35
109.
110.
36
111.
33
34
PM press conference
President Bush, Prime Minister Blair Discuss Keeping the Peace.
35
36
President’s Remarks to the United Nations General Assembly.
17
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112.
37
113.
38
114.
115.
116.
117.
118.
37
38
Iraq’s Weapons of Mass Destruction. The Assessment of the British Government
Official Report
18
Executive Summary
Negotiation of resolution 1441
119.
120.
121.
122.
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124.
125.
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•
40
126.
41
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133.
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134.
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43
20
Executive Summary
The prospect of military action
135.
136.
44
137.
45
138.
46
139.
47
140.
48
141.
142.
50
44
45
.
46
47
48
Statement by Foreign Secretary on Iraq Declaration.
.
War and Decision: Inside the Pentagon at the Dawn of the War on Terrorism.
2008.
Press Conference Secretary of State Colin L Powell,
Washington, 19 December 2002.
50
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143.
51
144.
52
145.
53
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54
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55
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151.
51
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The
Executive Summary
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152.
153.
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Breakfast with Frost
58
155.
156.
157.
60
158.
159.
160.
61
161.
57
58
BBC News
Breakfast with Frost.
60
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The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
The gap between the Permanent Members of the Security Council
widens
162.
•
•
62
163.
164.
63
165.
64
166.
65
167.
66
168.
62
63
64
65
66
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173.
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72
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68
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Official Report
Official Report
President discusses the future of Iraq.
25
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177.
73
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74
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180.
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76
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183.
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73
74
2003’.
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A Journey
26
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DFID
85
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199.
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The Guardian
Full text of Joint declaration.
UN war doubters unite against resolution The Guardian
28
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The end of the UN route
214.
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100
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102
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225.
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104
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105
229.
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232.
107
233.
108
105
The Alastair Campbell Diaries. Volume 4. The Burden of Power: Countdown
106
to Iraq.
107
108
A Journey
32
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234.
235.
236.
237.
110
238.
239.
240.
110
The
Secretary-General’s press conference (unofficial transcript).
Interview télévisée de Jacques Chirac, le 10 mars 2003
33
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241.
242.
111
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111
34
Executive Summary
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The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
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in extremis correction.
131
276.
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133
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134
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135
280.
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282.
283.
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A Journey
132
133
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Executive Summary
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284.
285.
1441.137
286.
287.
138
288.
289.
290.
140
136
Official Report
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138
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Decision Points
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
291.
141
292.
293.
142
Why Iraq? Why now?
294.
143
295.
144
296.
Was Iraq a serious or imminent threat?
297.
•
Operations in Iraq: Lessons for the Future
141
142
143
144
A Journey
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40
Executive Summary
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299.
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315.
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334.
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156
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Official Report
46
Executive Summary
335.
336.
337.
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•
•
•
338.
339.
The predicted increase in the threat to the UK as a result of military
action in Iraq
340.
341.
47
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
157
342.
158
343.
•
•
344.
Al Qaida and associated groups will continue to represent by far the
greatest terrorist threat to Western interests, and that threat will be heightened
by military action against Iraq.
345.
continue.160
346.
161
347.
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•
157
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160
161
48
Executive Summary
348.
162
349.
163
350.
164
351.
165
352.
162
Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction – Intelligence and
Assessments
164
Government Response to the Intelligence and Security Committee Report on Iraqi Weapons of Mass
Destruction – Intelligence and Assessments 11 September 2003
163
165
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166
353.
167
354.
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355.
356.
170
357.
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The UK’s relationship with the US
359.
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361.
362.
363.
364.
365.
•
•
172
51
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366.
367.
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369.
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175
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September 11 attacks: Prime Minister’s statement.
173
174
A Journey
175
52
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374.
375.
376.
377.
378.
379.
380.
381.
382.
53
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
383.
384.
176
385.
386.
387.
177
388.
389.
Decision-making
390.
391.
176
177
54
Executive Summary
Collective responsibility
392.
178
393. The Ministerial Code
394.
395.
180
178
Ministerial Code
Ministerial Code
180
55
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396.
181
397.
182
398.
183
399.
400.
184
401.
185
402.
186
181
182
183
184
Guide to Minute Taking.
185
186
56
Executive Summary
403.
187
404.
188
405.
406.
407.
Review of Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction
Review on Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction: Implementation of its
Conclusions
The New Machiavelli: How to wield power in the modern world.
187
188
57
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408.
409.
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The New Machiavelli: How to wield power in the modern world.
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
414.
415.
416.
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418.
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61
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
427.
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429.
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Advice on the legal basis for military action
431.
432.
433.
The Cabinet Office and the Centre of Government
62
Executive Summary
434.
435.
436.
437.
438.
439.
440.
The timing of Lord Goldsmith’s advice on the interpretation of
resolution 1441
441.
442.
443.
63
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445.
446.
447.
448.
449.
450.
451.
452.
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455.
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Lord Goldsmith’s advice of 7 March 2003
458.
459.
460.
461.
462.
463.
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465.
466.
Lord Goldsmith’s arrival at a “better view”
467.
468.
469.
470.
471.
The exchange of letters on 14 and 15 March 2003
472.
66
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473.
474.
475.
476.
477.
Lord Goldsmith’s Written Answer of 17 March 2003
478.
479.
480.
67
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481.
482.
Cabinet, 17 March 2003
483.
484.
485.
486.
487.
488.
489.
490.
491.
492.
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Weapons of mass destruction
Iraq WMD assessments, pre-July 2002
496.
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70
Executive Summary
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509.
200
510.
511.
512.
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515.
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517.
200
71
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518.
Iraq WMD assessments, July to September 2002
519.
520.
521.
522.
523.
524.
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526.
527.
528.
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530.
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•
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73
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
538.
539.
540.
not
541.
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•
542.
543.
544.
545.
546.
547.
74
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548.
549.
550.
551.
Iraq WMD assessments, October 2002 to March 2003
552.
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•
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555.
556.
557.
558.
75
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
559.
560.
561.
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566.
567.
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569.
570.
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Executive Summary
The search for WMD
571.
•
•
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573.
574.
575.
576.
577.
578.
579.
77
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
580.
581.
582.
583.
584.
585.
586.
587.
588.
589.
Planning for a post-Saddam Hussein Iraq
The failure to plan or prepare for known risks
590.
78
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591.
•
•
•
592.
201
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203
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597.
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The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
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211
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213
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Official Report
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The planning process and decision-making
602.
603.
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605.
606.
214
215
216
607.
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609.
610.
214
215
216
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619.
620.
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621.
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623.
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626.
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627.
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631.
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•
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632.
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633.
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Iraq at the Crossroads
•
•
•
•
85
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
634.
•
•
•
•
•
•
635.
636.
637.
The post-conflict period
Occupation
638.
86
Executive Summary
639.
640.
641.
642.
643.
644.
230
645.
231
646.
232
230
231
232
87
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233
651.
234
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654.
233
234
88
Executive Summary
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The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
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664.
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669.
235
235
Executive Summary
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675.
•
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
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(
).
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681.
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238
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
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Executive Summary
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240
241
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240
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The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
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244
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702.
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703.
to the UK.
704.
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•
•
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246
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Transition
705.
706.
707.
708.
709.
710.
247
711.
247
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
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248
713.
714.
715.
250
716.
717.
248
250
Executive Summary
718.
719.
251
720.
721.
722.
723.
A New Chapter
Strategic Defence Review
252
724.
251
252
Strategic Defence Review: A New Chapter
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725.
726.
727.
728.
253
729.
254
730.
731.
732.
253
Official Report,
254
100
Executive Summary
733.
255
734.
735.
736.
737.
738.
256
739.
255
Official Report
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101
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740.
258
741.
742.
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744.
745.
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102
Executive Summary
Preparation for withdrawal
746.
747.
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Executive Summary
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780.
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784.
785.
786.
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277
108
Executive Summary
787.
Did the UK achieve its objectives in Iraq?
788.
789.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
790.
791.
792.
793.
278
278
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
794.
795.
796.
797.
798.
110
Executive Summary
Key findings
Development of UK strategy and options, 9/11 to early January 2002
799.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Development of UK strategy and options, January to April 2002 –
“axis of evil” to Crawford
800.
•
•
•
111
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
•
•
•
Development of UK strategy and options, April to July 2002
801.
•
•
•
•
Development of UK strategy and options, late July to 14 September
2002
802.
•
•
112
Executive Summary
•
•
•
Development of UK strategy and options, September to November
2002 – the negotiation of resolution 1441
803.
•
•
•
•
Development of UK strategy and options, November 2002 to
January 2003
804.
•
•
113
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
•
•
•
•
Development of UK strategy and options, 1 February to 7 March 2003
805.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
114
Executive Summary
•
•
•
•
•
•
Iraq WMD assessments, pre-July 2002
806.
•
•
•
•
115
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
•
•
•
Iraq WMD assessments, July to September 2002
807.
•
•
•
•
not
•
•
•
116
Executive Summary
•
Iraq WMD assessments, October 2002 to March 2003
808.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The search for WMD
809.
•
117
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
118
Executive Summary
Advice on the legal basis for military action, November 2002 to
March 2003
810.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
•
•
•
•
•
•
Development of the military options for an invasion of Iraq
811.
•
•
•
120
Executive Summary
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Military planning for the invasion, January to March 2003
812.
•
121
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
•
•
Military equipment (pre-conflict)
813.
•
•
•
•
Planning for a post-Saddam Hussein Iraq
814.
•
•
•
•
122
Executive Summary
•
•
The invasion
815.
•
•
•
•
•
The post-conflict period
816.
•
•
123
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Reconstruction
817.
•
•
•
•
•
•
124
Executive Summary
•
•
De-Ba’athification
818.
•
•
•
•
Security Sector Reform
819.
•
•
•
•
•
125
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
•
Resources
820.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Military equipment (post-conflict)
821.
•
•
126
Executive Summary
•
•
•
•
Civilian personnel
822.
•
•
•
•
Service Personnel
823.
•
Strategic Defence Review
•
P
127
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Civilian casualties
824.
•
•
128
Executive Summary
•
•
•
Lessons
825.
826.
The decision to go to war
827.
828.
829.
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
830.
831.
832.
833.
834.
•
•
•
•
Weapons of mass destruction
835.
836.
130
Executive Summary
837.
838.
839.
840.
•
•
•
•
131
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
•
•
841.
842.
843.
844.
845.
280
846.
280
Know your enemy – How the Joint Intelligence Committee saw the World.
132
Executive Summary
281
847.
282
848.
283
The invasion of Iraq
849.
850.
851.
852.
The Decision to go
281
to War in Iraq,
The Decision to go
282
to War in Iraq,
The Decision to go to War in Iraq Response of the Secretary of
State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs,
283
133
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
853.
854.
855.
The post-conflict period
856.
857.
858.
859.
•
•
•
•
860.
861.
134
Executive Summary
862.
863.
864.
865.
Reconstruction
866.
135
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
867.
868.
869.
870.
871.
872.
873.
874.
•
•
•
•
•
136
Executive Summary
875.
876.
877.
878.
879.
De-Ba’athification
880.
881.
882.
883.
137
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
Security Sector Reform
884.
885.
886.
887.
Resources
888.
889.
890.
138
Executive Summary
891.
892.
893.
894.
•
•
•
•
•
895.
Military equipment (post-conflict)
896.
897.
898.
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
899.
900.
Civilian personnel
901.
902.
903.
904.
905.
140
Executive Summary
906.
907.
908.
909.
910.
911.
Timeline of events
Before 2001
141
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
2001
2002
2003
142
Executive Summary
Night of 19/20 March: invasion of Iraq begins
143
The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
2004
2005
2006
2007
144
Executive Summary
2008
2009 onwards
145