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Michael Smith
June 12, 2005
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MINISTERS were warned in July 2002 that Britain was committed to taking part in an American-led invasion of Iraq and
they had no choice but to find a way of making it legal.
The warning, in a leaked Cabinet Office briefing paper, said Tony Blair had already agreed to back military action to
get rid of Saddam Hussein at a summit at the Texas ranch of President George W Bush three months earlier.
The briefing paper, for participants at a meeting of Blair’s inner circle on July 23, 2002, said that since regime
change was illegal it was “necessary to create the conditions” which would make it legal.
This was required because, even if ministers decided Britain should not take part in an invasion, the American military
would be using British bases. This would automatically make Britain complicit in any illegal US action.
“US plans assume, as a minimum, the use of British bases in Cyprus and Diego Garcia,” the briefing paper warned. This
meant that issues of legality “would arise virtually whatever option ministers choose with regard to UK participation”.
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June 1
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The paper, produced by the Cabinet Office on July 21, 2002, is incomplete because the last page is missing. The
following is a transcript rather than the original document in order to protect the source.
PERSONAL SECRET UK EYES ONLY
IRAQ: CONDITIONS FOR MILITARY ACTION (A Note by Officials)
Summary
Ministers are invited to:
(1) Note the latest position on US military planning and timescales for possible action.
(2) Agree that the objective of any military action should be a stable and law-abiding Iraq, within present borders,
co-operating with the international community, no longer posing a threat to its neighbours or international security,
and abiding by its international obligations on WMD.
(3) Agree to engage the US on the need to set military plans within a realistic political strategy, which includes
identifying the succession to Saddam Hussein and creating the conditions necessary to justify government military
action, which might include an ultimatum for the return of UN weapons inspectors to Iraq. This should include a call
from the Prime Minister to President Bush ahead of the briefing of US military plans to the President on 4 August.
(4) Note the potentially long lead times involved in equipping UK Armed Forces to undertake operations in the Iraqi
theatre and agree that the MOD should bring forward proposals for the procurement of Urgent Operational Requirements
under cover of the lessons learned from Afghanistan and the outcome of SR2002.
(5) Agree to the establishment of an ad hoc group of officials under Cabinet Office Chairmanship to consider the
development of an information campaign to be agreed with the US.
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