The Chilcot Checklist
Taken from The Good Operation handbook: designed to prompt its readers to ask the right questions as they plan for and execute a military operation, drawing in particular on the lessons of the 2016 Iraq Inquiry (Chilcot) Report
1. VISION: WHY DO WE CARE?
Section titled “1. VISION: WHY DO WE CARE?”What does this mean for British interests? What are the risks of acting or doing nothing, including in the longer term? What is different now?
2. ANALYSIS: WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW?
Section titled “2. ANALYSIS: WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW?”What are your sources of ground truth/evidence? Have assumptions been exposed to analytical tools or external challenge?
3. SCENARIOS: WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN NEXT?
Section titled “3. SCENARIOS: WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN NEXT?”Have you looked at a range of options, and scenarios and consequences that could flow from these?
4. OPTIONS: WHAT SHOULD WE DO?
Section titled “4. OPTIONS: WHAT SHOULD WE DO?”Have you designed your options collaboratively, built in challenge and presented Ministers with clear information on risks, opportunities and costs?
5. LEGAL IMPLICATIONS: HOW DO WE ENSURE ACTION IS LAWFUL?
Section titled “5. LEGAL IMPLICATIONS: HOW DO WE ENSURE ACTION IS LAWFUL?”What is the wider legal context? Are Ministers aware of any legal risks? What are the policy implications? How will you ensure that any international legal basis remains sound if circumstances change?
6. POLICY AND STRATEGY: WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE?
Section titled “6. POLICY AND STRATEGY: WHAT DOES SUCCESS LOOK LIKE?”Does a clear strategy, and a feasible course of action that will meet policy objectives, exist? Is the approach supported by analysis?
7. RESOURCE: WHAT DO WE NEED TO DELIVER?
Section titled “7. RESOURCE: WHAT DO WE NEED TO DELIVER?”What are the resource implications of your options?
8. PLANNING AND DOING: HOW SHOULD WE DO IT?
Section titled “8. PLANNING AND DOING: HOW SHOULD WE DO IT?”Have you planned for a range of possible contingencies? Who is accountable and responsible for what?
9. POLICY PERFORMANCE: HOW WILL YOU MONITOR PERFORMANCE?
Section titled “9. POLICY PERFORMANCE: HOW WILL YOU MONITOR PERFORMANCE?”How will you measure and evaluate success/failure?
10. EVALUATION: IS THE POLICY WORKING?
Section titled “10. EVALUATION: IS THE POLICY WORKING?”When and how will you review this policy? Has the context changed? Have UK objectives/interests changed? Do you need to change direction?