Iraq…Two Steps Forward, One Very Big Step Back

Here’s a little salad to chew on before tonight’s debate, which is of course just an appetizer for tonight’s main course of the Fred!:

Iraq's Interior Ministry is "dysfunctional," filled with sectarianism and corruption, according to an independent assessment of the Iraqi security forces to be published tomorrow. The report said that Iraq's national police force, controlled by that ministry, is "operationally ineffective" and should be disbanded and reorganized.
The report, by a congressionally-named commission of retired senior military officers, cites progress in the operation and training of the Iraqi army. But it estimates that "they will not be ready to independently fulfill their security role within the next 12 to 18 months" without a substantial U.S. military presence. Logistical self-sufficiency, which it describes as key to independent Iraqi operations, is at least two years away, the report says.

Eh, not good. Though as with everything in Iraq, the situation varies from place to place. The story is very different in Fallujah, not too long ago, one of the most dangerous places on Earth.

The last battalion of Iraqi soldiers with 2nd Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division, withdrew from the Anbar Province city of Fallujah, Sept. 1, leaving the city’s security and stability in the hands of the local police and government.
Brig. Gen. Ali al-Hashemi, the brigade’s commander, said the time had come when Iraqi Police alone could handle law enforcement in the city.

I am guessing this will come up tonight in New Hampshire.

Of course, it could also be a shot at Gen Petraeus who was in charge of training the Iraqi Army and Police in 2004 ahead of his testimony before Congress next week.

Posted by: DrewM. at 08:08 PM

Comments

They'd better get their shit together because there will be a day when WE say...guy's, you've been given the opportunity to step up to the plate and run your country with the lives and blood of our soldiers. Your time has come.

bu-bye

Posted by: Bosk at September 05, 2007 08:13 PM (+aNmG)

2 Democracy v. Armageddon, the showdown of 2024!

Posted by: z ryan at September 05, 2007 08:17 PM (PDeVA)

3 I think the US forces in Iraq know this and therefor choose to work with local police and the Iraqi Army. The Iraqi Army, while far from perfect, is light years ahead of the interiod ministry. There were a lot of low-level soldiers left over from the old days that still had some concept of honour, plus new guys mentored by US soldiers and Marines. Best case scenario, Iraq ends up with a professional Army with a strong unwritten constitutional role like that of the Turkish Army - ie they won't sieze and hold power, but will depose anyone who strays too far from the norms. While this is not a desirable end-state, it may be ok for a while. South Korea was a lot like this until the 1980s, and now they are certified democratic pussies just like Europe.

Posted by: holdfast at September 05, 2007 08:23 PM (Gzb30)

4 Did you have to call it "salad"?

Posted by: dave at September 05, 2007 08:23 PM (Y3Ozq)

5 EVERYONE 'knew' this years ago. This is hardly news. The Interior Ministry has been the sandbox of the Shiite Militias since it was established. How exactly is this 'news.' This has been in the 'news' every second day , one way or the other. Iraqi 'corruption' IS PROBLEM #1.

Period.

But it cannot be cleaned up until the Sunni-led 'Insurgency' has been effectively put down. Perhaps it can't be cleaned up at all, but certainly not at this moment in time. The reason the 'militias' are able to control it is largely because they are the seen the Shiites as the 'us' standing between the 'them' and absolute carnage. They have enough support to maintain theeir positions. You simply can't dismantle the Internal Security Ministry in the midst of a terror campaign. In a 'corrupt' country.

The US job as clearly understood by Petraeus is to eliminate the threat from the 'them' so that the institutions of the State can be 'rearranged' in a more 'objective' manner. Those who complain about Maliki should remember the situation he actually faces. The Interior Ministry is indicative of that situation. He does not have a personal militia that he can use to clean out the stables. He has to wait for the correct moment when the various elements might be weaker.

The problem with the 'blogosphere' is that it largely lacks 'perspective', and is every bit as knee-jerk reactive as the MSM. This is yet another example.

There are no INSTANT FIXES for this . It will take time. Put away the stop watches and break out the sun dials.

Or get used to LOSING. Because you will.

The choice is yours.

Posted by: dougf at September 05, 2007 08:35 PM (16GPT)

Corruption and the cultural acceptance of corruption is one of the biggest hurdles we face over there- they're more concerned with filling their own pockets than rebuilding their country.

If it gets any worse they're going to have to name the country New New Jersey.

Posted by: Hollowpoint at September 05, 2007 08:37 PM (v8vVW)

dave,

You should toss this story.

DrewM,

Are you live-blogging the debate? I'll help with astute political observations and jokes about wiserbud doing illegal things with farm animals.

Posted by: Rosetta at September 05, 2007 08:41 PM (vV7sA)

8 There is nothing wrong (i.e. crippling at the moment) with a dysfunctional ministry as long as the bottom up stuff continues working. If all they manage to do is cut paychecks, that would be enough. 18 months from now when we start seriously drawing down they'll need to start functioning when the US coordination declines.

Could anyone state honestly that they believe US "ministries", such as DHS, FEMA, FBI, BATF etc could function effectively in similar conditions? Not likely. Its always the local PD's that bear the brunt of the work when something serious happens.

Posted by: Purple Avenger at September 05, 2007 08:43 PM (NiDeC)

I'm not sure what we're trying to accomplish over there anymore.

No matter how long we stay, Iraq's government is going to be barely funcitonal and will continue to be attacked from outside forces like Iran, Syria, and Al Qaeda. I don't see much chance of a peaceful model Iraq, spreading Democracy through the Middle East.

The best thing we're doing is killing Al Qaeda in Iraq, but one terrorist at a time isn't going to win the war.

Posted by: adolfo_velasquez at September 05, 2007 08:51 PM (SD/MW)

10 Rosetta,

I am not going to live blog it but I'll set up a thread so get your observation and stories ready.

Posted by: Drew at September 05, 2007 08:53 PM (hlYel)

11 What's ironic is that the usual solution to militias is to integrate them into the existing armed forces...but here the problem is they "integrated" a little too fast.

Posted by: Aaron at September 05, 2007 09:26 PM (0CtG0)

So they want to dissolve the entire Iraqi police forces; because a portion is jihadists. When the Baath party membership in the Army and the security services were 'pruned' because they were an affront to the Shia and Kurds; there was no end of caterwalling. Suspicions fall of James Jones, the retired General and fmr. NATO chief, (another one? just like Clark) said to be campaigning for Defense chief for Hillary or Hagel/ if his quixotic campaign ever gets off the ground; is the prime force behind this report.

Posted by: narciso at September 05, 2007 09:27 PM (8nB5X)

13 Corruption and the cultural acceptance of corruption is one of the biggest hurdles we face over there- they're more concerned with filling their own pockets than rebuilding their country.

Precisely. I expect the Iraqi ministries are little different from the Egyptian, Saudi, Libyan, Jordanian, etc. ministries. Only will many more chances of mortar fire.

If we do embrace defeat, it'll be because the culture of Araby is suitable for little more than a police state. That little more is found in Jordan, and maybe some of the tiny emirates.

Too bad for them, if so.

Cordially...

Posted by: Rick at September 05, 2007 09:38 PM (Ohkx7)

This report is not worth our time. Iraqi Police and the Interior ministry corrupted from day one? No kidding.

Iraq is being rebuilt from scratch. No one really knows exactly what to do or what we will get in the end, whenever that may be. My guess is the superior Iraqi institutions we are building in the IA and with the local tribes will trump any bad elements in the Iraqi central government.

This report is like advising a cancer patient undergoing intense chemotherapy they should lose some weight.

Posted by: eman at September 05, 2007 09:46 PM (F/DIG)

15 Corruption and the cultural acceptance of corruption is one of the biggest hurdles we face over there- they're more concerned with filling their own pockets than rebuilding their country.

Hey! You HAVE been to Louisiana!

Posted by: richard mcenroe at September 05, 2007 10:23 PM (clI2H)

16 Of course they're corrupt. Having a government implies corruption.

There's not a government on the planet that hasn't been rocked with corruption scandals. And that includes the scandis.

Even the PRC government is corrupt, and they execute offenders.

Posted by: Purple Avenger at September 05, 2007 10:50 PM (NiDeC)

17 This is simple folks. Even the Dems understand it but dare not say it. We ain't going anywhere while the mullahs in Iran threaten the region.

Posted by: MCPO Airdale at September 06, 2007 08:38 AM (p0Yi7)

"Disfunctional, filled with corruption and sectarianism" is a description of normal governance in the Arab world.

Seriously, did anyone expect the Iraqi government to act likeSwitzerlands? If they get to the level of selfless service and swift efficiency demonstrated by the Bolivians it'll be a minor miracle.

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