HOUSE REPORT ON IRAQ

The Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee¹ of the House Armed Services Committee just came out with a report on Iraq. It doesn't clap very loudly. In fact, it doesn't clap at all.

Stand Up and Be Counted:
The Continuing Challenge of
Building the Iraqi Security Forces
6/27/07

Here are some highlights -

Cost and Value:

The United States has invested more than $19.0 billion to date in developing the ISF and intends to spend more. Return on that investment has not yet been realized. The security forces are not capable of taking over security responsibility, as timelines for transition are repeatedly extended and violence has not significantly decreased across Iraq. The Government of Iraq is not yet capable of fully funding its security forces. Similarly, the Ministries of Defense and Interior are not fully capable of planning, programming, budgeting, or procuring required equipment and services.

Iraqi Security Forces (ISF):

We find that the quality and capability of the ISF is very uneven. While some Iraqi military units appear to perform well, Iraqi police organizations are of more concern. ... the Baghdad Security Plan (BSP) is now emphasizing U.S. forces taking the lead in securing Iraqis. This operational shift will likely slow transition of security to the ISF, at least in the short term.

Critical Security Enablers:

Logistics, contracting, intelligence, and ministerial capacity have lagged far behind generation of the security forces. ... We find that ministerial capacity for logistics and personnel accountability are critically deficient.



¹ Membership:


Chairman Marty Meehan (D), Massachusetts
Ranking Member Todd Akin (R), Missouri

D-John Spratt, South Carolina
R-Roscoe G. Bartlett, Maryland

D-Vic Snyder, Arkansas
R-Walter B. Jones, North Carolina

D-Loretta Sanchez, California
R-Jeff Miller, Florida

D-Ellen O. Tauscher, California
R-Phil Gingrey, Georgia

D-Robert Andrews, New Jersey
R-Michael Conaway, Texas

D-Susan A. Davis, California
R-Geoff Davis, Kentucky

D-Jim Cooper, Tennessee

D-Joe Sestak, Pennsylvania