The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
1472.
On 17 April,
Maj Gen White‑Spunner reported that the UK MiTT concept
was
continuing
to evolve but was adding “real value to current
operations”.1345
On 17 April
2008, Maj Gen White‑Spunner wrote that the senior Iraqi
personnel
responsible
for security in Basra were to be replaced:
•
Gen Mohan,
Basra Operations Commander, was replaced by General
Mohammed
(the former Commander 14th Division);
•
Maj Gen Jalil,
Provincial Director of Police, was replaced by General
Adel
(a former
police commander in Baghdad); and
•
General Abdul
Aziz became Commander 14th Division.1346
1473.
In May,
Maj Gen White‑Spunner’s weekly reports highlighted a
number of
resource
issues:
•
There were
no “suitable” armoured vehicles available for the UK MiTTs;
the
choice
being either Mastiff which was too large or Bulldog which was
tracked.1347
US and
Iraqi personnel used Humvees.
•
“Substantial
engineering work” was required to create “sustainable
accommodation
and force protection of their locations across the
city”.1348
As
a
consequence
there was a requirement for reinforcements to free up
engineering
squadrons
who were currently undertaking guarding tasks.
•
By 2 May,
only two of a planned four brigades for 14th Division
were
operational.1349
There would
be a further requirement for UK MiTTs when the
final two
brigades came online, and delivering that requirement would
require
“taking
risk” against the Brigade Quick Reaction Force.
1474.
On 20 June,
Maj Gen White‑Spunner reported that the full UK MiTT
group was
in
place.1350
The
Engineer Group was addressing “the considerable force protection
and
environmental
health risks that are currently being carried by
MND(SE)”.
1475.
On 1 April
2008, Mr Crispin Blunt suggested to Parliament that a large
number
of the
criminal forces against which the ISF was fighting were members of
the Basra
police,
whom the UK were responsible for training.1351
Mr Browne
responded:
1345
Minute
White‑Spunner to CJO, 17 April 2008, ‘GOC MND(SE) Weekly Letter –
17 April 2008’.
1346
Minute
White‑Spunner to CJO, 17 April 2008, ‘GOC MND(SE) Weekly Letter –
17 April 2008’.
1347
Minute
White‑Spunner to CJO, 2 May 2008, ‘GOC MND(SE) Weekly Letter – 2
May 2008’.
1348
Minute
White‑Spunner to CJO, 8 May 2008, ‘GOC MND(SE) Weekly Letter – 8
May 2008’.
1349
Minute
White‑Spunner to CJO, 2 May 2008, ‘GOC MND(SE) Weekly Letter – 2
May 2008’.
1350
Minute
White‑Spunner to CJO, 20 June 2008, ‘MND(SE) Weekly Letter – 20
June 2008’.
1351
House of
Commons, Official
Report, 1 April
2008, columns 628‑642.
396