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The Report of the Iraq Inquiry
147.  In a meeting with Ambassador Bremer and Mr Sawers on 16 May, some of the
Iraqi leaders present argued that the scope of the recently announced de‑Ba’athification
policy should be “broadened to include the security services and army, private
companies set up under Saddam, and the media”.115 Bremer promised that there would
be a further proclamation on the security services and army in the days ahead.
148.  On 23 May, CPA Order No.2 – “Dissolution of Entities” – “dissolved” (or disbanded)
a number of military and other security entities that had operated as part of Saddam
Hussein’s regime.116 The dissolved entities included:
the government ministries responsible for Defence, Information and Military
Affairs;
the intelligence agencies;
the armed forces; and
the paramilitary forces which were closely associated with Saddam Hussein.
149.  CPA Order No.2 also stated that:
military ranks were cancelled;
conscripts were released;
a termination payment would be paid to those dismissed, except to senior party
members; and
pensions would continue to be paid, except to senior party members.
150.  Neither the IPS nor the MOI were dissolved. Reflecting on the Order several years
later, Ambassador Bremer wrote in the New York Times that the “police force, which we
did recall to duty, has proven unreliable and is mistrusted by the very Iraqi people it is
supposed to protect”.117
151.  In his book State of Denial, Mr Bob Woodward suggested that an early draft of the
Order had proposed disbanding the MOI.118 At Lt Gen Garner’s suggestion, that had not
been implemented, in order to preserve the IPS who were employed by the MOI.
152.  Existing members of the organisations listed above were dismissed from their
former employment, with effect from 16 April (the date of Gen Franks’ declaration).119
153.  Order No.2 also announced:
“The CPA plans to create in the near future a New Iraqi Corps,120 as the first step
in forming a national self‑defense capability for a free Iraq. Under civilian control,
115  Telegram 13 IraqRep to FCO London, 17 May 2003, ‘Iraq: Bremer Meets Leadership Group’.
116  Coalition Provisional Authority Order Number 2, 23 May 2003, Section 1.
117  New York Times, 6 September 2007, How I didn’t dismantle Iraq’s army.
118  Woodward B. State of Denial. Simon & Schuster UK Ltd, 2006.
119  Coalition Provisional Authority Order Number 2, 23 May 2003, Section 3(1)‑(3).
120  The New Iraqi Corps later became the New Iraqi Army.
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