WASHINGTON (CNN) — Iraq’s Interior Ministry is regarded as “dysfunctional” and sectarian” and the National Police should be “disbanded and reorganized,” according to an independent report obtained by CNN.
The report, authored by the Independent Commission on Security Forces in Iraq, fires stinging criticism at Iraqi security forces but also includes promising words for the country’s military.
Ordered by Congress, the report comes less than a week before the White House is expected to provide a highly anticipated assessment to lawmakers about President Bush’s increase of some 30,000 troops to Iraq this year. Part of the mission of the increase was to reduce sectarian killings that have spread throughout much of Iraq since 2006.
Set for release on Thursday, the report says Iraq’s Interior Ministry “is a ministry in name only.” It “suffers from ineffective leadership” and “is widely regarded as dysfunctional and sectarian,” says the report.
The Interior Ministry and the National Police force it operates have long been regarded by observers as being infiltrated by sectarian Shiite militias.
“Such fundamental flaws present a serious obstacle to achieving the levels of readiness, capability, and effectiveness in police and border security forces that are essential for internal security and stability in Iraq.”
“Sectarianism in its units undermines its ability to provide security; the force is not viable in its current form. The National Police should be disbanded and reorganized.”
The Pentagon said Wednesday it does not agree with the report’s recommendation that the Iraqi National Police be disbanded.
The commission, headed by former top commander in Europe, Gen. James L. Jones, said Iraq’s armed forces won’t be ready to perform independently during the next 18 months. The Bush administration has often cited the ability of Iraq’s military to stand on its own as a requisite for U.S. troop withdrawals.
“We have always recognized that this is a long-term project,” said Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell, who said he had not seen the report. “We are continuing to work on it.
“We are committed to stay as long as it takes to help the Iraqi army,” he said.
The report says the Iraqi Police Service “is incapable today of providing security at a level sufficient to protect Iraqi neighborhoods from insurgents and sectarian violence.”
The report says the “Iraqi Police Service must be better trained and equipped” and the commission “believes that the Iraqi Police Service can improve rapidly should the Ministry of Interior become a more functional institution.”
The report has promising words for the Iraqi army, special forces, navy and air force, describing them as “increasingly effective” and “capable of assuming greater responsibility for the internal security of Iraq.”
“The commission assesses that in the next 12 to 18 months there will be continued improvement in their readiness and capability, but not the ability to operate independently. Evidence indicates that the ISF [Iraqi Security Forces] will not be able to progress enough in the near term to secure Iraqi borders against conventional military and external threats.”
In addition, Iraq’s Department of Border Enforcement “suffers from poor ministerial support from the MOI [Ministry of Interior],” the report says.
“Border forces often lack the equipment, infrastructure and basic supplies to conduct their mission. Overall border security is further undermined by the division of responsibilities between the MOI and the Ministry of Transportation. Corruption and external influence and infiltration are widespread. Absent major improvements in all these areas, Iraq’s borders will remain porous and poorly defended.”
Other key conclusions of the report include:
Report: Part 2 (PDF)
Report: Part 3 (PDF)
Report: Part 4 (PDF)
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