Blair briefing war cabinet

12 April 2012

Prime Minister Tony Blair has this morning briefed the War Cabinet on the start of long-awaited military action against Iraq.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon and Home Secretary David Blunkett arrived at 10 Downing Street for the briefing which began at 8.30 this morning.

International Development Secretary Clare Short was not in attendance as she is New York for talks with Kofi Annan.

Blair is expected to attend a long-planned EU summit in Brussels later today.

Over dinner, Mr Blair will discuss the Iraqi crisis with other EU leaders including the French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder - who have been outspoken critics of the US/UK approach to Iraq and military action.

The atmosphere at those discussions is likely to be even more tense following today's unexpectedly early commencement of military action.

Downing Street's initial response to the outbreak of hostilities clearly indicated that the US had brought forward the war timetable, in an effort to shorten the conflict by striking at a key command target - possibly Saddam Hussein himself.

Downing Street said: "The Prime Minister was informed shortly after midnight (London time) that attacks on a limited number of command and control targets was being brought forward."

A No 10 spokesman added: "As regards the involvement of British forces, he (Tony Blair) will set out the position in due course."

But it was not clear whether Mr Blair intended to make a public statement on the commencement of the war.

There was no indication that the initial onslaught involved British resources.
Sources indicated that the main campaign had yet to get under way.

The Brussels summit, which is due to conclude tomorrow, was originally billed as a milestone in the EU's efforts to boost economic growth and create jobs.

One senior UK official said: "It doesn't feel like business as usual - but at the same time I think there will be a determination to show that the goals that the EU has will still be pursued."

But kick-starting European economic reform now seems the least of the EU's problems, and the atmosphere in Brussels will be strained, between Mr Blair and his Spanish counterpart Jose Maria Aznar on one side and President Chirac and Chancellor Schroeder on the other.

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