12.1  |  Security Sector Reform

849.  On 11 February, AM Torpy produced a paper on SSR for Gen Walker ahead of the

latter’s visit to Washington on 15 February.814 In the paper, AM Torpy outlined two options

being considered to support MNF‑I’s focus on assistance teams:

• Full support (“the MNF‑I default”): MATs placed with every ISF unit in MND(SE)

(excluding the police), and at training schools, requiring 324 personnel.

• Targeted support: “continuation of current partnering arrangements with ISF

units” targeted at “areas of weakness, such as formation headquarters, training

schools and logistic bases”, requiring 110 personnel. MATs would not be

involved with the Public Order Battalions or the DBE units.

850.  AM Torpy wrote that the UK’s emphasis had been on “partnering” and there

were currently no UK personnel embedded within Iraqi units. In introducing the options,

he stated:

“Given MOD guidance to avoid a significant increase in commitment, our scope

to implement this SSR strategy will be constrained by our ability to free up and

refocus manpower.”

851.  The resource implications of both options were to be assessed by a US Joint Force

Headquarter team deploying to Iraq the following week. It was anticipated that “coalition

partners” would offer “significant contributions” once briefed by the US at a Bucharest

Conference in February. That briefing would also “provide further clarity, thereby allowing

the UK to refine its potential contribution”.

852.  AM Torpy visited Iraq from 13 to 19 February.815 He reported:

“[Gen] Casey is entirely comfortable with the UK’s approach in MND(SE); indeed, he

has told his commanders to visit MND(SE) to see how we handle the task.”

853.  Major General Peter Wall, Deputy Chief of Joint Operations, attended the

CENTCOM conference on 28 February. He reported that the US approach to embed

trainers at division, brigade and battalion level (and also with Special Police and Border

Enforcement units) would have “implications” for the UK’s “current policy”.816 He would

discuss with Maj Gen Houghton and Mr Howard.

854.  On 11 March, AM Torpy produced a paper for the Chiefs of Staff on delivering SSR

in MND(SE).817 There was no specific reference to his 11 February paper, but the plan

he set out for MTTs818 was consistent with the “Targeted Support” option proposed in that

earlier paper.

814  Minute CJO to PSO/CDS, 11 February 2005, ‘Op TELIC: Security Sector Reform’.

815  Minute CJO to CDS, 22 February 2005, ‘CJO Visit Report – Iraq – 13 to 19 Feb 05’.

816  Minute DCJO(Ops) to CJO, 28 February 2005, ‘CENTCOM Post Iraqi Election Coalition Conference,

Bucharest 21‑23 Feb 05’.

817  Minute CJO to COS, 11 March 2005, ‘Op TELIC – Supporting Security Sector Reform in MND(SE)’.

818  ‘MTTs’ were formerly referred to as ‘MATs’.

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