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| Tony Blair will help US on Iraq, 2002 memo says | Tony Blair will help US on Iraq, 2002 memo says |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Former UK PM Tony Blair would support the US if military action was needed in Iraq, a top US official claimed in a memo written a year before the war. | Former UK PM Tony Blair would support the US if military action was needed in Iraq, a top US official claimed in a memo written a year before the war. |
| The document, written in March 2002 by ex-US Secretary of State Colin Powell to President George W Bush, has been published by the Mail on Sunday. | The document, written in March 2002 by ex-US Secretary of State Colin Powell to President George W Bush, has been published by the Mail on Sunday. |
| It said: "Blair will be with us should military operations be necessary." | It said: "Blair will be with us should military operations be necessary." |
| A spokesman for Mr Blair told the paper the memo's content was consistent with what he had said publicly before. | A spokesman for Mr Blair told the paper the memo's content was consistent with what he had said publicly before. |
| The briefing note emerged after a court ruling in the US led to the publication of thousands of emails received by Hillary Clinton, who served as Secretary of State under President Obama. | The briefing note emerged after a court ruling in the US led to the publication of thousands of emails received by Hillary Clinton, who served as Secretary of State under President Obama. |
| 'Real threat' | 'Real threat' |
| BBC political correspondent Chris Mason said the document appeared to offer a revealing insight into how Mr Blair was perceived at the very highest level in Washington, in the year before the Iraq War. | BBC political correspondent Chris Mason said the document appeared to offer a revealing insight into how Mr Blair was perceived at the very highest level in Washington, in the year before the Iraq War. |
| The Mail on Sunday says the document was written a week before Mr Blair met Mr Bush at the former president's ranch in Crawford, Texas - and a year before MPs voted to support the invasion of Iraq. | The Mail on Sunday says the document was written a week before Mr Blair met Mr Bush at the former president's ranch in Crawford, Texas - and a year before MPs voted to support the invasion of Iraq. |
| Mr Powell writes that the then prime minister is convinced "the threat is real" and "success" against the former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein "will yield more regional success". | Mr Powell writes that the then prime minister is convinced "the threat is real" and "success" against the former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein "will yield more regional success". |
| In reference to the so-called war on terror, Mr Powell goes on to praise what he sees as Blair's impressive public relations skills. | In reference to the so-called war on terror, Mr Powell goes on to praise what he sees as Blair's impressive public relations skills. |
| "He will present to you [George Bush] the public affairs lines that he believes will strengthen global support," the document says. | "He will present to you [George Bush] the public affairs lines that he believes will strengthen global support," the document says. |
| Another document included in the batch of emails published by the paper is a briefing for Mr Powell prepared by the US Embassy in London, shortly before the leaders met at the ranch in Texas. | |
| 'Policy of containment' | 'Policy of containment' |
| The memo, dated April 2002, includes an assessment of the effect on Mr Blair's domestic position if he backs US military action. | The memo, dated April 2002, includes an assessment of the effect on Mr Blair's domestic position if he backs US military action. |
| The document says: "A sizeable number of his [Blair's] MPs remain at present opposed to military action against Iraq... some would favor shifting from a policy of containment of Iraq if they had recent (and publicly usable) proof that Iraq is developing WMD/missiles... most seem to want some sort of UN endorsement for military action." | The document says: "A sizeable number of his [Blair's] MPs remain at present opposed to military action against Iraq... some would favor shifting from a policy of containment of Iraq if they had recent (and publicly usable) proof that Iraq is developing WMD/missiles... most seem to want some sort of UN endorsement for military action." |
| The reasons for going to war in Iraq - including the now discredited claim that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction which could be used within 45 minutes of an order being given - remain a source of controversy. | The reasons for going to war in Iraq - including the now discredited claim that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction which could be used within 45 minutes of an order being given - remain a source of controversy. |
| Mr Blair, who served as prime minister between 1997 and 2007, has previously denied rushing to war. | Mr Blair, who served as prime minister between 1997 and 2007, has previously denied rushing to war. |
| Inquiry delays | |
| The UK joined a US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003 despite failing to secure a second UN resolution justifying the use of force. | The UK joined a US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003 despite failing to secure a second UN resolution justifying the use of force. |
| While giving evidence at the Iraq Inquiry in 2011 Mr Blair said he "regretted deeply and profoundly the loss of life" during and after the 2003 conflict. | While giving evidence at the Iraq Inquiry in 2011 Mr Blair said he "regretted deeply and profoundly the loss of life" during and after the 2003 conflict. |
| Last month, amid delays to publication of the inquiry's report, relatives of UK soldiers killed in Iraq said they would begin legal action if it fails to publish by December. | |
| Sir John Chilcot, the inquiry chairman who began his work in 2009, has said the so-called "Maxwellisation" process is over but has not announce a publication date. | |
| He said last month he would write to Prime Minister David Cameron to set out a timetable for publication "as soon as I am able". |