12.1 |
Security Sector Reform
1110.
On 29
November, Vice Admiral Charles Style, Deputy Chief of the Defence
Staff
(Commitments),
told the Chiefs of Staff that the Forward Plan had received
Mr Blair’s
approval
over the weekend.1042
1111.
At DOP(I) on 7
December, Mr Browne reported that the security aspects of
the
Forward
Plan were being implemented and that weaknesses in ISF capacity and
in the
Basra
police were being addressed.1043
1112.
The Inquiry
has seen no other record of implementation against the
Forward
Plan’s
proposals.
In
September 2007, the US Independent Commission on the Security
Forces in Iraq (led
by General
James L. Jones and described later in this Section)
concluded:
“The Iraqi
Air Force’s relatively late establishment hampers its ability to
provide
much‑needed
air support to ground operations. It is well designed as the
air
component
to the existing counterinsurgency effort, but not for the future
needs
of a fully
capable air force. Though limited by the availability of properly
skilled
personnel,
and by an inclination to value force size and acquisition over
operational
effectiveness,
it is nonetheless progressing at a promising rate during this
formative
In
September 2007, the Iraqi Air Force numbered 1,100 personnel with
45 aircraft.1045
There were
plans to increase personnel to 3,000 and for the number of aircraft
to increase
to 80 by
the end of 2007. Although the target of 3,000 personnel by the end
of 2007 was
not met
(there were only 1,200), long‑term ambitions grew and plans were
developed
to create
an Iraqi Air Force of 12,000 personnel operating from 10 main bases
and five
secondary
bases.
By 31 May
2010, there were 5,600 personnel with 106 aircraft.1046
The US
assessed that
the
“Minimum Essential Capability” required when US forces left in
December 2011 was
“to
establish the capability to support COIN operations and put in
place the building blocks
necessary
for the achievement of air sovereignty”.1047
The US
assessed in August 2010
that the
Iraqi Air Force was on track to meet this capability in all areas
with the exception
of airspace
control and fixed wing airlift.1048
1042
Minutes, 29
November 2006, Chiefs of Staff meeting.
1043
Minutes, 7
December 2006, DOP(I) meeting.
1044
Report, 6
September 2007, ‘Independent Commission on the Security Forces in
Iraq’.
1045
Report to
Congress, 14 December 2007, Measuring
Stability and Security in Iraq.
1046
Report to
Congress, 20 August 2010, Measuring
Stability and Security in Iraq.
1047
Report to
Congress, 29 April 2010, Measuring
Stability and Security in Iraq.
1048
Report to
Congress, 20 August 2010, Measuring
Stability and Security in Iraq.
315