A key Blair motivation for 2003 Iraq invasion?

Did Blair express here a key motivation for the Iraq invasion? From the declassified record on the 2003 Iraq invasion published as part of the Chilcot Inquiry.

"we must galvanise British businesses to take up opportunities in Iraq" [1].

This was just a few of months into the invasion, about 6 months after MOD policy director Simon Webb floated the idea that:

"Various ideas for replacements [for Saddam Hussein] have been aired over the years and none so far look convincing. But another Ba'athist or military dictator from the Sunni/Tikriti minority might be found with whom we could do business" - Simon Webb, UK MOD Policy Director 2001-2004 [2]

[1] Chilcot Enquiry, declassified document, Cannon to McDonald minute “Iraq: Prime Minister’s meeting, 3 June” 3 June 2003 [PDF Document], http://www.iraqinquiry.org.uk/media/50757/Cannon-to-McDonald-3June2003-letter.pdf

[2] Letter/Memorandum : "Bush and the War on Terrorism"; 12/04/2002, MOD reference : D/Policy Dir/6/2/2 (171/02); Obtained from URL : http://www.iraqinquiry.org.uk/media/52573/webb-ps-sofs-bush-war-on-terrorism-2002-04-12.pdf

Soldiers Speak Out

Here is a 4 something minute trailer to what looks to me like an excellent documentary on what rulers send their proletariate to do:

"A powerful first-hand testament to the reality of the military experience, told in the words of Americaan veterans who have been to war and now oppose it. An important counterpoint to the "stay the course" rhetoric of the Bush administration."
http://empowermentproject.org/sso.html

Which Iraqis welcome UK troops?

"William Patey and Stuart Innes, together with General Brims, have started that process have begun to focus Iraqi politicians' minds on what needs to be done. Moreover, our military are back on the ground visiting police stations - a fact welcomed by the majoraity of Iraqi Police Service Officers." [1]

Peter Hayes, Principal Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in London 2005 – 2007 [2]

Apparently Iraqi police were happy with the UK military back in town, but nowhere in this document does he express an interest or detail of what the Iraqi people thought about the matter. It is not surprising since the elite seem only to be able think in terms of control rather than freedom. "what needs to be done" seems also to be what the UK wants done rather than consulting Iraqis.

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[1] 30 September 2005 – South East Iraq Impact of Security Incident in Basra, Document reference IRQ 0406 0122 833 1 B / Req 2 / Doc 

[2] Sri Lankan IT BPO Industry Chamber http://www.slasscom.lk/node/92 where Peter 'serves' as British High Commissioner to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka since March 2008.

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The 'right path' for Iraqis?

General Major J B Dutton CBE on restructuring Iraq:
"...they need our assistance to set themselves on the right path and our continued support to maintain progress along along it." [1]

General Major J B Dutton CBE, Multinational Division (South East), Operation TELIC, British Forces Post Office 641.

Who decides what this right path is? Iraqis? The UK? Is this serving the interests of Iraqis or of the UK ruling elite?

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[1] Hauldown Report, June - December 2005, http://www.iraqinquiry.org.uk/media/47504/dutton-hauldown-report.pdf

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Another military dictator for Iraqis?

"Various ideas for replacements have been aired over the years and none so far look convincing. But another Ba'athist or military dictator from the Sunni/Tikriti minority might be found with whom we could do business"[1]

Simon Webb, UK MOD Policy Director 2001-2004 [2]

I wonder how convincing it would have been to Iraqis to have the UK graciously find them another military dictator. Presuming that Simon is not completely stupid then we would have to assume that he knew this would not be what Iraqis wanted and that in fact Simon was merely following longstanding British imperialist doctrine to control other countries by whatever means.

"But there was a more serious and considered answer given by the National Security Council, the highest planning agency. They pointed out that there's a perception in the Arab world that the United States supports status quo regimes which, of course, are brutal and oppressive, and does so in order to secure its own interests in obtaining oil, and then they said, well, it's hard to counter this perception because it's correct." [3]

There is little for me to add as it's all been said before.

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[1] Letter/Memorandum : "Bush and the War on Terrorism"; 12/04/2002, MOD reference : "D/Policy Dir/6/2/2 (171/02); Obtained from URL : "http://www.iraqinquiry.org.uk/media/52573/webb-ps-sofs-bush-war-on-terrorism-2002-04-12.pdf"

[2] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8375439.stm

[3] "The Campaign of Hatred Against Us", Noam Chomsky interview by Four Corners, January 26, 2002, http://www.chomsky.info/interviews/20020126.htm

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