12.1 | Security Sector Reform

1444. In his evidence to the Inquiry, Lt Gen White‑Spunner described the lack of a

strategy at the start of the Charge of the Knights:

“To start with, there wasn’t one, because, of course, the detailed planning hadn’t

been done. That’s why the first few days were very anxious … – particularly for

General Mohan – because there was really no plan for his existing troops – 14 Div,

and the police … to work to.”1317

1445. Lt Gen White‑Spunner described how Gen Mohan was given a planning team

and a strategy was developed:

“… General Mohan and I drew up this plan which saw an Iraqi lead with us in

support rather than the other way on, as in SINBAD … the overall plan, which was

actually very similar to SINBAD in concept, it was a clearance of Basra and the

whole province by phases …”1318

1446. Lt Gen White‑Spunner told the Inquiry:

“One of those things we did in the first days of Charge of the Knights was bring

forward what we had wanted to do, what we had realised we had to do in February,

which was to put teams in with the MiTTs … with the Iraqi formations to whom we

were responsible …”1319

1447. Lt Gen White‑Spunner explained how that was a “major change” as the UK

approach to MiTTs was brought closer to the US approach:

“Ultimately, we looked at what they [the US] were doing and certainly it was very

influential. Our construct was slightly different … the point was that we reversed

what had been British policy up until then, which wasn’t to do this, and had very

strong and immediate support – I put a submission in to the Ministry of Defence I

think on 1 April and had authority the next day to do this. So I thought that showed

great sort of flexibility and ability to adapt.”1320

1448. Lt Gen White‑Spunner later added:

“It became rapidly clear to us that the nature of support that the Iraqi Security Forces

wanted had changed with Charge of the Knights …

“Charge of the Knights meant we had to adjust very rapidly and untidily, but we

did it …”1321

1317 Public hearing, 7 January 2010, page 17.

1318 Public hearing, 7 January 2010, page 8.

1319 Public hearing, 7 January 2010, page 31.

1320 Public hearing, 7 January 2010, pages 31‑32.

1321 Public hearing, 7 January 2010, page 39.

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