Government response
The Government welcomes the Committee's report and
its conclusions and recommendations. The Government's formal
response is as follows:
1. (Recommendation 1) We are reassured that
Operation Charge of the Knights has been broadly successful, and
has substantially weakened the power of the militias in Basra.
While some areas of the city are not yet fully under the control
of the ISF, a high degree of security has been restored and the
preconditions are in place for political progress and economic
recovery. There is no doubt that more remains to be done. The
UK Government must ensure that it continues to provide support
to the ISF to ensure that the progress which has been made is
not lost and that Basra does not slip back into instability. (Paragraph
16)
2. (Recommendation 2) The UK MiTTs are doing
an excellent job in enhancing the capacity and self-sufficiency
of the Iraqi Army. Their work is vital to the future of the Iraqi
Security Forces and therefore to stability in southern Iraq. The
contrast with what we saw last year is stark and profound, and
the MoD must continue to support the MiTTs in what will inevitably
be a medium-to long-term project. The larger the military training
commitment we can maintain, the greater will be UK influence in
Iraq, and in the region as a whole, as Iraq recovers its position
as a wealthy and powerful Middle East nation. The UK has an opportunity
to maintain a substantial position of influence for the common
good in southern Iraq, if we can commit the military capacity
to do so. (Paragraph 24)
We agree with the Committee's assessment that Operation
Charge of the Knights has been a success, and are grateful for
its acknowledgment of the excellent work being done by the UK
Military Transition Teams (MiTTs). The security situation in Basra
has improved further since the Committee's visit. With support
from the Coalition, the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) are continuing
to clamp down on any remaining militia and criminal elements in
and around the city. As the Prime Minister explained in his statement
to Parliament on 22 July, the focus of UK forces in southern
Iraq is on completing the task of training and mentoring the 14th
Division of the Iraqi Army in Basra. Subject to security conditions
on the ground, our military commanders expect 14th Division
in Basra to be fully trained during the first months of 2009.
We are examining, as part of our plans for a long-term bilateral
relationship, how we might support capacity building of the Iraqi
Security Forces, beyond the completion of our key tasks in Basra.
3. (Recommendation 3) The UK Police Mission
is a small component of Coalition efforts in developing the IPS.
We were impressed by the work it is doing and by the systematic
and organised nature of its plans, and hope it can continue to
provide valuable support to the IPS. We also hope that the Police
Mission can extend its reach and enhance its training capacity
as the security situation in Basra becomes more stable. (Paragraph
30)
Facilitated by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office,
a UK police mission has operated successfully both in Basra and
Baghdad since 2003. Following 23 years of Saddam's rule, little
of a law-based system remained, and, in the violence that followed,
existing infrastructure and skills were further eroded. There
are problems across the spectrum: a lack of trained investigators,
judges, lawyers and court staff; lack of due process in courts;
and limited understanding of an evidence-based system. The aim
of the UK mission has been to train and mentor the Iraqi Police
Service at various levels: from designing and implementing
national policing strategy down to civil security at the local
level, including crime detection and prevention. The Government
welcomes the Committee's recognition of these efforts.
The UK Police Mission is part of a wider programme
of Police reform conducted by the Coalition in Iraq. The UK's
work in Basra has now been complemented by the deployment of US-led
Police Transition Teams, which are training and mentoring the
Iraqi Police Service at local level. The scope of a future UK
Police Mission in Iraq will depend upon Iraqi requirements and the
UK's wider presence and strategy in Iraq.
4. (Recommendation 4) The UK-led Naval Training
Team is performing a vital role in training and mentoring the
Iraqi Navy, and we pay tribute to the excellent work which UK
Forces are doing at Umm Qasr. It is clear to us that the mission
of the NaTT is a long-term one, and, while we understand that
the UK Government may not wish to make public pronouncements on
future dispositions in Iraq, we encourage the MoD to consider
how a UK presence can be maintained in Umm Qasr beyond any drawdown
of forces in Basra. (Paragraph 37)
We welcome the Committee's acknowledgement of the
excellent work of the UK-led Naval Training Team and UK MiTTs,
in building the capacity of the Iraqi Navy and helping the ISF
to deliver security at Umm Qasr Port respectively. The Iraqi Navy
is making good progress, and is now responsible for the defence
of one of Iraq's two oil platforms. We are examining, as part
of our plans for a long-term bilateral relationship, how we might
continue to support capacity building of the Iraqi Navy.
5. (Recommendation 5) The work of UK and Coalition
maritime forces in the Northern Arabian Gulf is crucial to the
security and economic prosperity of Iraq, as well as to wider
regional stability. We pay tribute to the work that UK Service
personnel are doing and recognise the often difficult, sometimes
dangerous and always delicate nature of operations in the area.
(Paragraph 44)
The Government welcomes the Committee's recognition
of the importance of the work that UK maritime forces are doing
in the Northern Arabian Gulf. The Royal Navy contributes to a
Coalition task force that is responsible for the security of Iraq's
Territorial Waters and two oil platforms, in support of the existing
United Nations Security Council Resolution (1790) and the Government
of Iraq. Aside from these security operations, Royal Navy ships
also help to ensure stability in this key area through regional
engagement and bilateral operations with other Gulf states.
6. (Recommendation 6) It is important that
the 'civilianisation' of Basra International Airport continues,
and the UK Government must take account of this in any plans to
draw down UK Forces and to reorientate the COB. (Paragraph 51)
With support from the Royal Air Force, Basra International
Airport reopened to commercial air traffic in January 2005 and
the Iraqi authorities now manage all civilian flights through
the airport during daylight hours. As the Prime Minister set out
in his statement of 22 July, finalising the preparation of Basra
airport for Iraqi civilian control is one of our key remaining
military tasks in southern Iraq. We continue to assess that—subject
to security conditions on the ground—the Iraqi authorities
will be able to take over development of the airport around the
turn of the year.
7. (Recommendation 7) Economic prosperity
and increasing security and stability are inextricably linked.
The proper harnessing of oil revenues will provide the Iraqi government
with an invaluable source of income, which will in itself contribute
to the development of the ISF. At the same time, growing prosperity
and the reduction of unemployment in Basra will have a serious
impact on the popularity of the militias. Unemployment and poverty
are among their greatest recruiting sergeants. Iraq is not inherently
a poor country, and the UK Government has the opportunity to help
Iraq realise and reap the benefits of its potential wealth. (Paragraph
52)
The Government agrees that economic development is
essential to Iraq's continuing progress and to sustain improvements
in security. The Prime Minister indicated on 22 July that we will
continue to focus on helping the Government of Iraq to rebuild
their economy. In Basra, the UK is providing support to the Basra
Development Commission and Basra Investment Commission in order
to encourage private sector-led growth and investment, as well
as helping to establish the Basra Development Fund, which will
provide loans to the small and start-up businesses. The UK's Provincial
Reconstruction Team is also helping to develop the capacity of
the Provincial Council to improve essential services for the people
of Basra.
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