The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
bodies yet
existed. Capacity would be built through a series of events focused
on
particular
issues facing the Ministry, supplemented by a team of long‑term
advisers.
642.
On 14 January
2005, a commercial proposal was submitted to DFID by
Crown
Agents, the
company responsible for delivering the MOI project.586
That was a
revision
of two
earlier proposals (in December and January), following on from the
project design
team’s
visit in October. The project was scheduled to run for 15 months at
a cost of
£2.3m,
“with a provisional start date of January 2005”. The proposal
stated that two
international
advisers and two Iraqi advisers seconded from the MOI would be
based
in the
Minister of the Interior’s office to ensure continuity and “a link
to wider Ministerial,
governmental
and donor concerns”.
643.
Mr Howard
visited Baghdad from 13 to 15 January.587
He noted that
increased
UK
assistance to the IMOD and the MOI (“by stepping up efforts … to
fill key advisory
posts”) was
important in helping Iraqis achieve effective leadership of their
security
forces. He
encouraged UK support in developing an Iraqi tactical intelligence
capability
by setting
up a “Special Branch” function.588
He
described the relationship between the
MOI and the
police as “very tenuous”.
644.
The MOD had
been providing a team of civilian personnel to advise and
assist
with the
development of the IMOD since January 2004.589
UK military
trainers were also
working on
the creation of the Iraqi Joint Forces HQ, to provide command and
control of
the Iraqi
Armed Forces.
645.
On 4 March,
Mr Howard wrote to Mr Hoon about future UK support to the
IMOD.590
He stated
that there was:
“… definite
value in increasing UK efforts in this area by proactively
identifying posts
where we
think we can provide targeted expertise … and by finding the right
people
to fill
them early on.”
“We are
currently looking at the possibility of increasing UK civilian
support to the
MOI with
FCO and DFID …”
647.
Minutes from
the GCPP Strategy Meeting on 8 March recorded that two
consultants
had withdrawn from the MOI project.591
Three new
candidates had been
identified
and a decision would be taken later that week to confirm the
appointments.
586
Paper Crown
Agents, 14 January 2005, ‘Interim Iraq Security Sector
Support’.
587
Minute
Howard to DCDS(C), 19 January 2005, ‘DG Op Pol visit to
Baghdad 10‑13 January 2005’.
588
‘Special
Branch’ is normally used to identify police units responsible for
national security.
589 Annotated
Agenda, 8 January 2004, Ad Hoc Group on Iraq Rehabilitation
meeting.
590
Minute
Howard to Hoon, 4 March 2005, ‘UK Support to the Iraqi Ministry of
Defence’.
591
Minutes, 8
March 2005, Iraq GCPP Strategy meeting.
196