INTRODUCTION
1. This is the third Report of the Foreign
Affairs Committee in its Inquiry into the 'Foreign Policy Aspects
of the War against Terrorism'. The Inquiry began soon after the
terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, which resulted in the
deaths of almost three thousand civilians. In recognition of the
seriousness of the attacks, of the transformation they wrought
on US and United Kingdom foreign policy, and of the ongoing war
on terror, this Inquiry is a continuing one.
2. Our first Report on this subject, published
in June 2002, set out the Government's immediate response to the
terrorist attacks and its role in mobilising a broad international
coalition, in the United Nations and elsewhere, to address the
terrorist threat. We examined Britain's role in the overthrow
of the Taliban in Afghanistan, and in the subsequent establishment
of a new government in that war-torn country. Our Report also
described the emergence of a heated debate, within this country
and across the Atlantic, about how best to proceed against the
terrorist threat. The relevance of the conflict in the Middle
East, and the Iraqi regime's development of weapons of mass destruction,
were discussed at some length.
3. We published a second Report on the 'War
against Terrorism' in December 2002. In that Report, we provided
further analysis of international efforts to dismantle the al
Qaeda network. We looked in detail at a number of aspects of US
foreign policy, as set out in the US Government's National Security
Strategy, and examined in particular their legal implications.
The question of Iraq's continued defiance of UN Security Council
resolutions—and the response of the US and United Kingdom
governments to this defiance—also featured prominently
in our Report.
4. In the conclusion to our first Report
on the 'Foreign Policy Aspects of the War against Terrorism',
we predicted that the military aspect of the 'war against terrorism'
was "likely to be long and may spread beyond Afghanistan."[1]
On 19 March 2003, the United States, with strong backing from
the United Kingdom, initiated military action against the Iraqi
regime.
5. The war in Iraq ended 24 years of oppressive
rule by Saddam Hussein. It also changed the international environment
in which the 'war against terrorism' is being fought. In this
Report, we examine the diplomatic initiatives of early 2003, which
preceded the decision by the US and its coalition partners to
initiate military action. We look at the consequences of the war
for Iraq, for the wider Middle East region, and for the United
States, the United Kingdom and their traditional allies. In another
Report, published on 7 July, we have examined in detail the Government's
decision to go to war in Iraq, focusing on the information provided
by the Government to Parliament and the public.[2]
6. Military action against states is only
one aspect of the war against terrorism: the Iraq war, which has
dominated international attention for much of this year, has been
fought in parallel with another, largely invisible war against
al Qaeda and associated terrorist organisations. In this Report,
we examine the state of the al Qaeda network. We also analyse
progress since December 2002 towards disabling al Qaeda, disrupting
its funding, and apprehending its senior operatives and planners.
Though these measures to counter terrorism have succeeded to some
extent, the terrorist attacks perpetrated in Riyadh and Casablanca
in early May 2003 were a stark reminder that al Qaeda and its
associate organisations continue to pose a major threat to the
United Kingdom's interests and citizens, both at home and abroad.
7. Our understanding of the fight against
al Qaeda was enhanced considerably by the analysis of two prominent
experts on terrorism, Professor Paul Wilkinson and Ms Jane Corbin,
who gave oral evidence in early June. We also heard from Ms Corbin
and Mr Fergal Keane on their recent visits to post-war Iraq. We
are grateful to these witnesses for providing us with invaluable
information and analysis.
8. In our December 2002 Report, we noted
that "the relationship between the Government and the Bush
administration is of central importance to any Inquiry into this
subject". We examine further developments in the transatlantic
relationship in this Report. In March 2003, we visited Brussels,
and discussed matters arising from the Iraq crisis with a number
of officials at NATO and the EU, including Lord Roberson and High
Representative Javier Solana. In April 2003, we visited the UN
in New York and met with the Secretary-General, UN officials,
and representatives of the Security Council and other member states.
We then proceeded to Washington DC, where we had a series of informative
discussions with senior Bush administration officials, independent
commentators, and colleagues on Capitol Hill. In May, we visited
Paris, and held a series of meetings with Foreign Minister Dominique
de Villepin and a number of other colleagues. We are grateful
to those who gave us their time and confidence during these visits;
they provided us with important information and analysis as we
proceeded with our Inquiry.
9. In recognition of the importance of Iran
in the Middle East region, and in prosecuting the war against
terrorism, we had also planned to visit Tehran, Isfahan and Mashad
during March 2003. We took evidence from Dr Ali Ansari, Dr Gary
Samore, Steve Crawshaw and Ms Elahe Sharifpour-Hicks on Iran in
February 2003. Unfortunately because of the deepening crisis in
the region we were unable to go ahead with our visit to Iran in
March. We are, however, most grateful to the Iranian authorities
for their assistance in arranging this visit, and look forward
to undertaking the visit to Iran later this year.
1 Second Report from the Foreign Affairs Committee,
Session 2002-03, Foreign Policy Aspects of the War against
Terrorism, HC 196, para 240 Back
2
Ninth Report from the Foreign Affairs Committee, Session 2002-03,
The Decision to go to War in Iraq, HC 813-I Back
|
