This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8394683.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Iraq military role 'remarkable' Moment US revealed Iraq war plans
(about 2 hours later)
Getting UK forces ready to go to war in Iraq was a "remarkable achievement" given the time allowed for preparation, a senior military figure has said. A senior British military figure has described the moment that the US "drew back the curtain" on its plans for possible military action in Iraq.
Sir Anthony Piggot, Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff in 2003, told the Iraq inquiry it was never "a stitched up deal" that the UK would be involved. Major General David Wilson, who was UK adviser to US Central Army Command, disclosed the UK was made "privy" to US plans in Florida in June 2002.
He said he began exploring military "options" in May 2002, as ministers had "intent" to do something on Iraq. The UK later said they could not offer "even basic support" if political and legal hurdles were not cleared.
But he said this was focused at the time on disarmament not regime change. The Chilcot inquiry is examining UK policy on Iraq between 2001 and 2009.
Options process 'Defining moment'
The Chilcot inquiry is continuing to scrutinise the military build-up to the invasion of Iraq on Friday. It is scrutinising the military build-up to the 2003 invasion, looking into when military preparations began in the UK and US and whether they made a diplomatic solution less likely.
In recent days, the inquiry has been looking into when military preparations for the invasion began in the UK and US and whether they made a diplomatic solution less likely. Major Gen Wilson said there was no talk about Iraq by senior US commanders when he first took up his role as the link between UK and US military headquarters in Spring 2002.
Sir Anthony told the inquiry he set up a small "scoping" group in Whitehall to look at potential military options for Iraq in May 2002, not long after a crucial meeting between Tony Blair and President Bush. But he said this "suddenly changed" in June following a meeting between senior UK and US commanders.
"My job was to bring options," he said. "There was no talk about plans at that stage. We were talking about options". This is when not just the British, but the Australians, were made privy to planning that had gone to that point by the US Major General David Wilson
In what was a "defining moment", he said the UK was presented with what he described as "options without any commitment" regarding possible military action in Iraq and how the UK might contribute.
"This is when, not just the British but the Australians, were made privy to planning that had gone to that point by the US," he said.
This development raised all kinds of questions in the UK, he said, since British commanders did not know how the US had got to this stage.
"The secure wires went hot," he said of reaction in the UK.
Sir David said he "assumed" the decision to sanction disclosure of the plans was made by then US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
'Observations'
In early August, UK and Australian commanders attended a meeting in Florida and were asked to provide what Sir David said were "early observations" on the plans.
He said he advised that "unless political and legal issues are resolved it would be difficult for the UK to deliver even basic support".
He also suggested that other US allies be given insight into the plans and stressed "no decision" was taken on Iraq at that stage.
Earlier, another senior commander said he set up a small "scoping" group in Whitehall to look at potential military options for Iraq in May 2002, not long after a key meeting between Tony Blair and President Bush.
"My job was to bring options," Sir Anthony Piggot, Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff in 2002 said. "There was no talk about plans at that stage. We were talking about options".
INQUIRY TIMELINE November-December: Former top civil servants, spy chiefs, diplomats and military commanders to give evidenceJanuary-February 2010: Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and other politicians expected to appear before the panel March 2010: Inquiry expected to adjourn ahead of the general election campaignJuly-August 2010: Inquiry expected to resumeReport set to be published in late 2010 or early 2011 Iraq inquiry: Day-by-day timeline Q&A: Iraq war inquiryINQUIRY TIMELINE November-December: Former top civil servants, spy chiefs, diplomats and military commanders to give evidenceJanuary-February 2010: Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and other politicians expected to appear before the panel March 2010: Inquiry expected to adjourn ahead of the general election campaignJuly-August 2010: Inquiry expected to resumeReport set to be published in late 2010 or early 2011 Iraq inquiry: Day-by-day timeline Q&A: Iraq war inquiry
He said this exercise was driven by an "evolving political intent".He said this exercise was driven by an "evolving political intent".
Asked what this intent was, he said he believed it was focused on dealing with the weapons of mass destruction Iraq was believed to possess not regime change.Asked what this intent was, he said he believed it was focused on dealing with the weapons of mass destruction Iraq was believed to possess not regime change.
'UK ideas'
From an early stage, he believed the minuses of the UK not contributing anything to a potential action "outweighed" the plusses.From an early stage, he believed the minuses of the UK not contributing anything to a potential action "outweighed" the plusses.
Recalling a conversation with US commanders in June 2002, he said he was told that the US had "enough combat power" to go it alone in Iraq but wanted UK support for both military and political reasons. Recalling the June 2002 meeting with US commanders which he attended, he said he was told the US had "enough combat power" to go it alone in Iraq but wanted UK support for military and political reasons.
"What we want from the Brits is ideas," he said we was told. "You are the thinkers." "What we want from the Brits is ideas," he said he was told, "you are the thinkers."
'Serious player' Sir Anthony told the Iraq inquiry that it was never "a stitched up deal" the UK would be involved in any invasion.
Ex-defence chief Admiral Lord Boyce said on Thursday that he was "frustrated" that some planning was kept secret in the run-up to war so as not to hamper failed UN efforts to solve the crisis.
But he said he believed frontline troops were properly equipped when they entered Iraq.
Sir Anthony said the timeframe that commanders were given to play the role requested of its armed forces in Iraq was tight.
"It was a remarkable logistic achievement to get that force structure in that timeframe into there to play a leading role," he said."It was a remarkable logistic achievement to get that force structure in that timeframe into there to play a leading role," he said.
Asked what the UK got out of the mission, he said it showed the UK was a "serious player" and "enhanced no end" its military relationship with the US in terms of future operations and sharing intelligence.Asked what the UK got out of the mission, he said it showed the UK was a "serious player" and "enhanced no end" its military relationship with the US in terms of future operations and sharing intelligence.
Also giving evidence on Friday are Major General David Wilson, senior British military advisor to US Central Command in the run-up to war and Dominick Asquith, in charge of Iraq policy at the Foreign Office between 2004 and 2006 and later British ambassador to Baghdad.
In the first few weeks, the inquiry is hearing from senior diplomats and policy advisers who shaped policy in the run-up to the war.In the first few weeks, the inquiry is hearing from senior diplomats and policy advisers who shaped policy in the run-up to the war.
The crucial question of the legality of the war will not be addressed until early next year, when Tony Blair is expected to give evidence.The crucial question of the legality of the war will not be addressed until early next year, when Tony Blair is expected to give evidence.