12.1 |
Security Sector Reform
The GC is
sometimes referred to as the Iraq Governing Council (IGC). The two
titles refer
to the same
body. The Inquiry has chosen to refer to the GC, for consistency,
except
where
quoting others who have used IGC.
273.
In July 2003,
a new temporary Iraqi security force was established by US
military
commanders
in order to help fight the growing insurgency – the Iraqi Civil
Defence
Corps
(ICDC).230
The concept
was to:
•
give
Coalition operations an Iraqi face;
•
keep
unemployed young men out of the insurgency; and
•
increase the
number of security forces available.231
274.
ICDC personnel
were locally recruited and expected to live at home.
275.
By August
2003, there were 23,000 ICDC personnel serving as linguists,
security
personnel,
drivers and humanitarian relief providers. They also participated
in patrols,
convoys,
cordons and checkpoints.232
276.
The ICDC was
formally established by CPA Order No.28, signed by
Ambassador
Bremer on 3
September 2003.233
The Order
explained that the ICDC was intended to be:
“… a
security and emergency service agency for Iraq … composed of Iraqis
who
will
complement operations conducted by Coalition military forces in
Iraq to counter
organized
groups and individuals employing violence against the people of
Iraq and
their
national infrastructure.”
277.
The Order
authorised the ICDC to perform “constabulary duties”
including:
“•
patrolling
urban and rural areas;
•
conducting
operations to search for and seize illegal weapons and
other
contraband;
•
providing
fixed site, check point, area, route and convoy
security;
•
providing
crowd and riot control;
•
disaster
response services;
•
search and
rescue services;
•
providing
support to humanitarian missions and disaster recovery
operations
including
transportation services;
230
Bowen SW
Jr. Hard
Lessons: The Iraq Reconstruction Experience. U.S.
Government Printing
Office, 2009.
231
Wright
Dr DP & Reese Col TR. On Point
II: Transition to the New Campaign – The United States
Army
in Operation
IRAQI FREEDOM May 2003 – January 2005. Combined
Studies Institute Press, June 2008.
232
Wright
Dr DP & Reese Col TR. On Point
II: Transition to the New Campaign – The United States
Army
in Operation
IRAQI FREEDOM May 2003 – January 2005. Combined
Studies Institute Press, June 2008.
233
Coalition
Provisional Authority Order Number 28 – Establishment of the Iraqi
Civil Defense Corps,
3 September
2003.
117