CONTENTS
324. We concluded our July 2003 Report by recommending
that the Government "make it a priority to work towards restoring
the cohesion of the United Kingdom's international partnerships,"
to enable it better to face the challenges of the war against
terrorism.[339]
325. We are relieved that co-operation in addressing
some of the central threats of war against terrorism have not
been damaged by the diplomatic disputes that preceded war in Iraq.[340]
Intelligence sharing to dismantle al Qaeda, for example, appears
to have been unaffected.
326. Other aspects of this crucial campaign have,
however, been disrupted by the breakdown of international consensus.
On 3 October, the British Special Representative for Iraq, Sir
Jeremy Greenstock, was asked in an interview whether he was concerned
that the US and the UK were shouldering most of the burden of
reconstructing Iraq without international support. He replied
that "the leaderships in Washington and London entirely understood
what they were taking on, and they were prepared to do this themselves."[341]
327. The past six months in Iraq have demonstrated
the extreme difficulties inherent in taking military action, and
undertaking state-building projects, without full international
support. The difficulties relate not only to questions of 'hard
security'—of ensuring enough trained, disciplined and well-equipped
international troops on the ground—but also to matters relating
to the legitimacy of the operation, in the eyes of Iraqis and
others. The problems facing the Coalition in Iraq now may have
serious implications for the long term success of the project.
328. In this Report, we have also described a number
of policy areas in which multilateral action is achieving positive
results. Among the most significant of these was the visit of
the Foreign Secretary and his French and German counterparts to
Iran in October, which helped to defuse a crisis over Iran's nuclear
programme, and to ensure intrusive inspections of nuclear facilities
there. This was followed by the breakthrough on Libya's programmes
of weapons of mass destruction, again achieved by patient diplomacy
involving several nations.
329. We conclude that the threats facing the United
Kingdom, both at home and overseas, in the war against terrorism
have not diminished. We are encouraged, though, that the Government
is working with partners in the European Union, the United Nations
and NATO to reassess the respective roles of these multilateral
institutions in tackling new security threats; and we commend
the Government for its role in fostering this trend.
330. Those who predicted the destabilisation of
moderate regimes and the strengthening of extremist regimes in
the Middle East following the invasion of Iraq have not been proved
correct. There are now enhanced prospects for stability and democratic
reforms in Iraq's neighbours, as well as a more favourable context
for peace between Iraq and her neighbours than there has been
for many decades.
339 HC (2002-03) 405, para 264. Back
340
See paras 258-266. Back
341
Remarks by Sir Jeremy Greenstock, 5 October 2003, available at:
http://sunday.ninemsn.com.au Back
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