The invasion of Iraq could have "failed" without the involvement of British troops, a senior military commander has told the Chilcot inquiry.
Lt General Sir Robert Fry, deputy chief of the defence staff in the run-up to the war, said the UK’s role in the March 2003 invasion was crucial.
Several witnesses have told the inquiry that US officials told UK counterparts they could have gone it alone in Iraq.
The inquiry is examining UK policy towards Iraq between 2001 and 2009.
‘Potential for failure’
In its first month, the inquiry has heard from senior civil servants, diplomats and military commanders about the origins of the invasion, Iraq’s military threat and post-war contingency planning.
Asked what the UK stood to lose if it did not contribute troops to the Iraq invasion once planning was advanced, Sir Robert said "maybe the war".
Sir Roderic Lyne, one of the five members of the inquiry panel, remarked that the commander was the first witness to suggest that the UK’s contribution was "critical" to winning the war.
"The US scheme of manoeuvre had the potential of failure within it"
Lt Gen Sir Robert Fry
Lt General Fry replied: "Let me put it a different way. The US scheme of manoeuvre had the potential of failure within it."
He said coalition forces did not know at the time how poorly resourced the Iraqi army was or whether Saddam Hussein would use chemical or biological weapons on the battlefield.
Other witnesses have suggested that the UK could have sent fewer troops to Iraq and only chose to send the maximum number to bolster its relationship with Washington.
Sir Robert, who became the UK’s chief military representative in Iraq in 2006, also criticised UK preparations for the post-war task of stabilisation, reconstruction and civil administration.
He said divisions in government, Cabinet and public opinion over the legitimacy of the war inhibited planning efforts, saying there had been a "breakdown of the consensus over the use of force".
Sir Robert criticised the role of the Department for International Development (DFiD) in post-war planning, saying some of its officials "could barely conceal their moral disdain" for the military action.
National security
Admiral Lord Boyce, chief of the defence staff at the time, has already criticised DFiD’s involvement – claiming some of its officials were told to "stay in their tents" in Iraq and not help reconstruction efforts.
Clare Short, Secretary of State for International Development at the time, resigned in May 2003, saying the US and UK had failed to fulfil commitments to get a UN mandate for post-war administration.
Senior politicians, including Tony Blair, are to appear before the inquiry next year, with its report due to be published in late 2010 or early 2011.
The broadcast of Tuesday’s hearing was cut off for more than a minute by its chairman on national security grounds, the first time this has happened during the inquiry.
Sir John Chilcot said he had interrupted the TV coverage – when top diplomat Sir Jeremy Greenstock was discussing his relationship with US officials in post-war Iraq, as "sensitive information" was being discussed.
The move was criticised by the Liberal Democrats, which have called for complete transparency in the proceedings.
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