Minute reith to pso cds development of uk policy for op telic phase 4

DG OP Pol Sec (O) Iraq DEVELOPMENT OF UK POLICY FOR OP TELIC PHASE 4 Background 1. The discreet, tightly controlled war fighting which characterised Phase 3 of OP FELIC is being replaced in Phase 4 by the requirement to administer Iraq in the broadest sense. As this happens it is becoming clear that many issues arising within the UK AO are outside the normal competence of the MoD in general and of PJHQ in particular. 2. Progress towards a stable, secure environment within the UK AO is some way ahead of that in the rest of Iraq. The position in the UK AO is now sufficiently developed that direction is required on a whole variety of Civil/Military affairs, some of which are listed at Annex A. As ORHA is not yet in a position to give such direction there is a significant risk that momentum will be lost. leaving the UK vulnerable to charges that it has been unable to turn military success into coherent governance. The implications for UK standing with the Iraqi population and the international community. not to mention for the Prime Minister's required exemplary performance are potentially very serious. More than a Military Issue At present the MoD is the only UK government department actively engaged in Iraq. It is clear from Annex A that many of the issues now facing Irag in general. and the UK AO in particular. are not military tasks and sit more comfortably with other government and non government agencies. There is currently no overarching national direction being applied to ensure such organisations are actively or usefully engaged to deal with these issues. Some issues require very specific direction. for example the question of who pays for the dredging of Umm Qasr. Others require a galvanising influence. drawing together various interested parties. both conventional te.g goverment departments) and non-conventional te.e, pro bono private benefactors such as Si Richard Branson. PJHQ has recently been asked. for example to engage the Brtish Council in the te-opening of Basrah Civersity. DEC! ASSIFIED upon the huge and diverse reserves of UK talent. know how and finance which exist. As yet these reserves have not been brought to bear and it is beyond the capability of PJHQ to do so. Advice is requested on how PJHQ should take forward the issues at Annex A J Reith Lt Gen CJO DECLASSIFIED DECLASSIFIED Annex A to PJHQ 3/3000/70/1/3/14 Dated 22 April 03 PHASE 4 ISSUES FOR RESOLUTION ISSUE CURRENT STATUS OGDs/NGOs WHICH MIGHT HELP On ad hoc basis. Recent request from Education - reinstatement and rebuilding British Council. Department for Education of facilities - primary, secondary. tertiary and Skills. Prince's Trust theatre for British Council support to re- establish Basrah University Declaration of Permissive Environment Awaiting UNSECCOORD pronouncement HMA to UN to chase (key to engagement of NGOs) Power - reinstatement and rebuild Being progressed by STRE and local Department for Trade and Industry engineers. Not enough engineering (provision of National Grid engineers) support. Water - reinstatement and reconnect Being progressed by STRE and local WaterAid. DTI (provision of water engineers engineers) Umm Qasr port - re-open and control: Port being run by 17 Port and Maritime British Ports Authority dredging- gain and retain Regt. pending arrival of US Stevedore Necess Company. Dredging on hold pending decision on where costs will lie Governance - provincial and local GOC 1 Div acts as Kingmaker Payment of Iraqi Civil Servants Urgent. Money available but not being ORHA/Treasury/MoD used due to beaurocracy. People must be paid a living Iran/Iraq border control - guarding. UK Customs and Excise Awaiting FCO policy on UK customs and access. relations/intentions with Iran. Current policy is that border is closed except for single crossing point. Intention is to patrol DECLASSIFIED DECLASSIFIED border to keep it closed except for legitimate crossings (eg NGOs. but not Iranian pilgrims) at single crossing point. Food - provision and distribution On ad hoe basis. Aim is to restore ability HA organisations (Oxfam. Unicef. etc) of local community markets to supply food Railway - repair and operate UK STRE are currently undertaking DTI - engagement of civil engineers. survey of state of repair of railway as far as An Nasyriah and on to Baghdad. Railway could be a key means of transporting HA and other goods in a relatively secure environment. Police - payment. recruitment and Police are patrolling jointly with UK forces MDP. Met. retraming on a voluntary basis without pay. MDP advisors due in theatre ASAP. Judisciary - re-establish Lessons from Kosovo? Debate to be had regarding Islamic or secular law. Judiciary needs to be re- started. No UN plans to lift these at present. This UN sanctions - authorise. lift or ignore HMA to UN to agitate for their removal. or coalition to declare they will be ignored. is probably the biggest stop on entrepreneurial growth and the development of the economy. Iraqi businessmen are frustrated that they are not free to trade across borders Oil- rebuild infrastructure and distribute Key to getting money into government DTI to facilitate short notice oil company internally and for assistance coffers for payment of wages and to build ехроп capital reserves. Also key to power generation. Currency - US Dollar. Dinar or new Dinar? Treasurv Use of the Dollar will be very unpopular in the long run. Need to establish inflation proofing measures and decide whether to DECLASSIFIED DECLASSIFIED issue new Dinars or continue with old. Commerce - enable and invigorate Need to lift sanctions and prevent Lessons from Kosovo? DTI. CBI. Prince's development of black market. Trust Business Scheme etc. industry - rebuild and refinance Basrah/Baghdad airports - rebuild and re- Currently not safe for civilian use. Repairs Richard Branson keen to fly in HA. open for commercial and to be effected by STRE/US engineers HA flights Airspace and Air Traffic Control - open for Closed to commercial traffic NATS commercial traffic for commercial and financial gain: Restoration of Southern Iragi marshland Potential to reverse worst example of WWF. Thesinger, etc environment by re-flooding Saddam's ecological and social vandalism. Has the potential to be a flagship project. drawing in a myriad of different organisations and individuals willing to help. who may then move on to other things within Irag DECLASSIFIED