12.1 |
Security Sector Reform
1497.
On 27 March
2009, a junior official informed Mr Brown that
14th Division was
considered
to be effective and that all UK mentors and trainers had been
withdrawn.1370
1498.
In his
post‑operation tour report on 15 May, Major General Andrew
Salmon,
GOC MND(SE)
from August 2008 until March 2009, assessed:
“There was
considerable adaptation seen from our MiTTs who, given
the
circumstances,
did a great job. But this is a specialist game where maturity,
linguistic
and teach,
coach and mentor skills are required. A great MiTT made a
huge
difference
and enabled civil capacity; poor ones made little progress. Much of
this
is down to
training and selection, like the USMC [US Marine Corps] who
provide
the
benchmark. Our soldiers and officers also tend to approach their
tasks through
the lens of
the enemy as opposed to the lens of the people. We have much to
learn
from our
American colleagues … It was noticeable that US MiTTs were much
better
1499.
Maj Gen Salmon
wrote that the decision to enable some UK MiTT elements
to
travel in
Iraqi Army vehicles “was a defining decision – pivotal in
establishing trust and
building
meaningful relationships at the tactical level”. There was “no
doubt that the
(accurate
or otherwise) US tactical perception of UK casualty aversion ha[d]
been a
negative
factor in coalition cohesion over the past 12 months”:
“Basra has
arguably progressed from anarchy to democracy in 12 months.
The
militias
have been defeated and residual insurgent activity is limited and
cellular
in nature.
There is widespread recognition of the Rule of Law, with
judicial
processes
being developed to meet the need of a democratic society. To all
intents,
14th Division
has met the MNSTC‑I mandated requirement of ORA 2
[Operational
Readiness
Assessment level 2 – see Box, Provincial Iraqi Control’], under
British
tutelage.
In terms of wider Basrawi security, policing and border security
have
improved
considerably. Collectively, the ISF conducts intelligence‑led
coordinated
operations
supported by an integral IO capability. The harmonisation of the
ISF
requires
further work but has improved markedly … UK Defence can withdraw
from
Iraq having
delivered on its promises and with its professional reputation
intact.”
1500.
Mr Tansley
provided some background about Maysan province in his 6
December
2005
eGram:
“Maysan has
long had the reputation for being lawless and separate from the
rest of
Iraq.
During Saddam Hussein’s time, more than 20,000 soldiers were
permanently
1370
Minute
Cabinet Office [junior official] to Prime Minister, 27 March 2009,
‘Iraq: Update’.
1371
Report
Salmon, 15 May 2009, ‘COMUKAMPHIBFOR OP TELIC 12/13 (HQ MND(SE))
Post
Operational
Report (POR)’.
401