The Report of the Iraq Inquiry - Executive Summary

by John Chilcot

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Contents

Introduction	4
Pre‑conflict strategy and planning	5
The UK decision to support US military action	6
UK policy before 9/11	6
The impact of 9/11	10
Decision to take the UN route	16
Negotiation of resolution 1441	19
The prospect of military action	21
The gap between the Permanent Members of the Security Council widens	24
The end of the UN route	30
Why Iraq? Why now?	40
Was Iraq a serious or imminent threat?	40
The predicted increase in the threat to the UK as a result of military action in Iraq	47
The UK’s relationship with the US	51
Decision‑making	54
Collective responsibility	55
Advice on the legal basis for military action	62
The timing of Lord Goldsmith’s advice on the interpretation of resolution 1441	63
Lord Goldsmith’s advice of 7 March 2003	65
Lord Goldsmith’s arrival at a “better view”	66
The exchange of letters on 14 and 15 March 2003	66
Lord Goldsmith’s Written Answer of 17 March 2003	67
Cabinet, 17 March 2003	68
Weapons of mass destruction	69
Iraq WMD assessments, pre‑July 2002	69
Iraq WMD assessments, July to September 2002	72
Iraq WMD assessments, October 2002 to March 2003	75
The search for WMD	77
Planning for a post‑Saddam Hussein Iraq	78
The failure to plan or prepare for known risks	78
The planning process and decision‑making	81
The post‑conflict period	86
Occupation	86
Looting in Basra	86
Looting in Baghdad	88
UK influence on post‑invasion strategy: resolution 1483	89
UK influence on the Coalition Provisional Authority	90
A decline in security	93
The turning point	96
Transition	97
UK influence on US strategy post‑CPA	97
Planning for withdrawal	97
The impact of Afghanistan	99
Iraqiisation	101
Preparation for withdrawal	103
A major divergence in strategy	103
A possible civil war	104
Force Level Review	107
The beginning of the end	108
Did the UK achieve its objectives in Iraq?	109
Key findings	111
Development of UK strategy and options, 9/11 to early January 2002	111
Development of UK strategy and options, January to April 2002 – “axis of evil” to Crawford	111
Development of UK strategy and options, April to July 2002	112
Development of UK strategy and options, late July to 14 September 2002	112
Development of UK strategy and options, September to November 2002 – the negotiation of resolution 1441	113
Development of UK strategy and options, November 2002 to January 2003	113
Development of UK strategy and options, 1 February to 7 March 2003	114
Iraq WMD assessments, pre‑July 2002	115
Iraq WMD assessments, July to September 2002	116
Iraq WMD assessments, October 2002 to March 2003	117
The search for WMD	117
Advice on the legal basis for military action, November 2002 to March 2003	119
Development of the military options for an invasion of Iraq	120
Military planning for the invasion, January to March 2003	121
Military equipment (pre‑conflict)	122
Planning for a post‑Saddam Hussein Iraq	122
The invasion	123
The post‑conflict period	123
Reconstruction	124
De‑Ba’athification	125
Security Sector Reform	125
Resources	126
Military equipment (post‑conflict)	126
Civilian personnel	127
Service Personnel	127
Civilian casualties	128
Lessons	129
The decision to go to war	129
Weapons of mass destruction	130
The invasion of Iraq	133
The post‑conflict period	134
Reconstruction	135
De‑Ba’athification	137
Security Sector Reform	138
Resources	138
Military equipment (post‑conflict)	139
Civilian personnel	140
Timeline of events	141