The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
314.
AM Torpy
visited Iraq from 24 to 27 November.158
He noted that
“the level of
incidents
[had] increased significantly” since his visit in August, but in
MND(SE) the
security
situation was “improved”.
315.
On 2 December,
the DIS produced a report on the evolution of the IED
threat
“Improvised
Explosive Devices (IEDs) remain the main killer of coalition
forces
(CF). The
threat from IEDs continues to evolve not only quantitatively, but
also
qualitatively,
with new or modified device types and Modus Operandi
(MO).
“The rise
in IED attacks in 2004 indicates that, despite CF tactical
successes,
the security
situation has not improved overall and individual terror groups
are
making
significant progress in terms of ability to mount successful IED
attacks,
probably
through improved C2 [command and control], logistics, recruiting
and
external
assistance.
“Improvement
in IED technology has been most significant in Shia areas since
May
04, where
insurgents have technical progress that we assess could only have
been
achieved
through focused external assistance. We assess that this may be due
to
an influx
of Lebanese Hizballah IED technology under Iranian sponsorship
…”
316.
The DIS stated
that the increased use of CWIEDs in MND(SE) indicated
an
awareness
of UK ECM and assessed that the threat was likely “to continue to
develop
to resemble
that of other Middle East countries, such as Israel, with the
further import
of IED
technology and MO from Palestinian, Lebanese and AQ [Al Qaida]
associated
groups”. It
highlighted that IEDs accounted for 40‑45 percent of MNF fatalities
and over
70 percent
of all injuries.
317.
On 19 January
2005, Mr Hoon wrote to Mr Paul Boateng, Chief Secretary
to
the Treasury,
asking for an increase of £165m in the MOD’s current UOR
ceiling
(£829m).160
The
additional funding would cover “mainly” force protection
and
communications
equipment:
“The
environment in Iraq for the second half of 2004 was marked by a
gradual
deterioration
in the security situation … The immediate and expanding threat
from
Radio
Controlled IEDs (RCIEDs), which has already resulted in death and
injury to
UK
personnel, has required us to procure further Project L* ECM
equipment, to the
value of
£54m …”
158
Minute
Torpy to Walker, 30 November 2004, ‘CJO Visit Report – Iraq – 24‑27
Nov 04’.
159
Report DIS,
2 December 2004, ‘The Evolution of the IED Threat in
Iraq’.
160
Minute Hoon
to Boateng, 19 January 2005, ‘Op TELIC; UORs’.
56