Page:The Report of the Iraq Inquiry - Executive Summary.pdf/44

The Report of the Iraq Inquiry 291.  Early on the morning of 20 March, US forces crossed into Iraq and seized the port area of Umm Qasr.

292.  Mr Blair continued to state that France was responsible for the impasse.

293.  At Cabinet on 20 March, Mr Blair concluded that the Government:

Why Iraq? Why now?

294.  In his memoir, Mr Blair described his speech opening the debate on 18 March as “the most important speech I had ever made”.

295.  Mr Blair framed the decision for the House of Commons as a “tough” and “stark” choice between “retreat” and holding firm to the course of action the Government had set. Mr Blair stated that he believed “passionately” in the latter. He deployed a wide range of arguments to explain the grounds for military action and to make a persuasive case for the Government’s policy.

296.  In setting out his position, Mr Blair recognised the gravity of the debate and the strength of opposition in both the country and Parliament to immediate military action. In his view, the issue mattered “so much” because the outcome would not just determine the fate of the Iraqi regime and the Iraqi people but would:

Was Iraq a serious or imminent threat?

297.  On 18 March 2003, the House of Commons was asked: