The Report of the Iraq Inquiry

• The expansion of the Iraqi Special Operations Forces that would be commanded

by the new counter‑terrorism command. That expansion would include an

additional commando battalion with forward‑based commando companies in

Basra, Mosul and al‑Asad.1038

Iraq Forward Plan

1106.  Following a discussion in the Iraq Strategy Group,1039 a draft of a Forward Plan

was sent to Mr Blair’s Private Secretary by Mr Simon McDonald, FCO Director Iraq,

on 24 November 2006.1040 It was also sent in parallel to the FCO, the MOD and to SIS.

The Forward Plan considered what more needed to be done to improve the chances of

successful transition (there is more detail on the Forward Plan in Section 9.5).

1107.  The Forward Plan assessed the key weaknesses of the ISF as:

“• A lack of capacity and ineffective command and control arrangements,

particularly at strategic and operational levels.

• Militia infiltration of the Iraqi Security Forces, in particular the Iraqi police force

and other Ministry of Interior forces.

• The inability of Iraqi Ministry of Defence to apportion and release funding.

• Strategic and tactical level intelligence capabilities.

• Lack of Iraqi Security Forces logistic capacity and protected mobility.

• Lack of some heavier weapons such as machine guns.”

1108.  To address those concerns over three, six and 12 months, at both the national

and the MND(SE) level, the proposals included:

• providing subject matter experts to the security Ministries;

• encouraging the Iraqi Government to address issues such as sectarianism;

• reforming corrupt elements of the police;

• enhancing the UK commitment to monitoring and mentoring 10th Division; and

• providing niche equipment.

1109.  Responding to Mr McDonald, Mr Blair’s Private Secretary reported that he had

described the Forward Plan as “an excellent piece of work”.1041 The Private Secretary

asked for it to be finalised and implemented.

1038  Report to Congress, 30 November 2006, Measuring Stability and Security in Iraq; Report to Congress,

2 March 2007, Measuring Stability and Security in Iraq.

1039  Minute Cabinet Office [junior official] to Sheinwald, 27 November 2006, ‘Iraq Strategy Group,

24 November’.

1040  Minute McDonald to Banner, 24 November 2006, ‘Iraq Forward Plan’ attaching Draft Paper, [undated],

‘Iraq: Forward Plan’.

1041  Letter Banner to McDonald, 27 November 2006, ‘Iraq: Forward Plan’.

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