Statement of Chairman Marty Meehan
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Hearing on the Iraqi Police Service
May 24, 2007
"Good morning, today the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations meets to continue its examination of the development of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF). The focus of today's hearing is the Iraqi Police Service or IPS.
"The discussion of the ISF tends to focus on the Iraqi Army and the National Police, but there is also a large Iraqi Police Service force that is intended to carry out a community policing function. They are the traffic cops, the patrolmen, and the local beat cops who are essential to the counterinsurgency effort as well as establishment of the Rule of Law. We have witnesses here today who have been working directly with the IPS and can tell us about their experiences in advising and mentoring them.
"Before we get to our witnesses, I want to bring the subcommittee up-to-date on the status of the Defense Department's compliance with our first document request, given our discussion on Tuesday.
"On March 20th, Mr. Akin and I asked for four documents we considered essential to studying the development of the Iraqi Security Forces. Among other documents, we asked for the classified April 2006 Joint Multinational Forces-Iraq and U.S. Embassy Baghdad Campaign Plan, as well as its predecessors and any subsequent revisions to it.
"Yesterday, we received the some of the documents we requested, including part of the Joint Campaign Plan.
"We anticipate receiving the Campaign Plan annexes shortly. The bad news is that before we received a copy we had already read yesterday's Washington Post article outlining the details of the plan that will replace the 2006 Joint Campaign Plan.
"I am concerned that the press had access to this before anyone in Congress saw it. The DOD should pursue the leakers to the full extent of the law. We've been assured that once Secretary Gates signs-off on this strategy, it will be delivered to us immediately.
The new plan, if approved by Secretary Gates, appears to contain a notable shift. As reported in the Post, the new plan shifts "the immediate emphasis of military operations away from transitioning to Iraqi security forces."
"The Post goes on to say that one of the sources for the article -- and apparently there were many sources - some quoted by name - said that the "U.S. drive to make Iraqi forces independent has already limited U.S. leverage."
"Needless to say, the Subcommittee will need additional information regarding the new plan and, in particular, its reported annex on ISF policy.
"Moving to today, we had hoped to have two panels of witnesses. I asked DOD to provide appropriate witnesses who could talk about DOD plans and efforts to establish, train, and assess the progress of the Iraqi Police Service.
"I specifically asked that the witnesses be able to provide testimony on the following issues: the IPS's role in and contribution to stabilizing the security conditions in Iraq; IPS's role in the counterinsurgency effort; and how the IPS is managed between the Ministry of Interior and provincial governments.
"Unfortunately, DOD responded that "the one witness that could meet the Subcommittee's needs for the first panel...is Lieutenant General Martin E. Dempsey."
Since General Dempsey could not be here today, we asked for witnesses who have been very involved in the development of the ISF and the IPS and are located in the Washington area.
"Specifically, we asked if General George Casey could testify. Before becoming the Army Chief of Staff, General Casey was the commander of the Multinational Force-Iraq and he reportedly declared the year 2006 as the "Year of the Police." We also asked for General Chiarelli, also currently serving in the Pentagon.
"General Chiarelli was the previous commander of the Multinational Corps-Iraq. The MNC-I commander assumes operational control of ISF units once they have been formed and could have provided his insight into the importance of developing a capable and professional police force.
"I think either general could have helped us better understand the evolution and development of the ISF and the IPS. So there will be no first panel today to discuss the Department's plan to establish the IPS.
"In reference to our requests for this past Tuesday and today, Secretary Gates assures us that General Dempsey will appear before the subcommittee on June 12.
"After hearing about the plans, policy and progress of the IPS development, we wanted to hear about how this actually works on the ground. We appreciate that for our second panel, DOD has allowed more junior personnel to join us.
"I would ask our witnesses for the second panel to join us at the witness table.
We are very pleased to have several witnesses today who can discuss their personal experiences in the development of the IPS.
"Colonel Richard Swengros oversees the training of Army Police Transition Teams as the Assistant Commandant of the US Army Military Police School at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He also helped establish the Police Partner Program when he served in Iraq as the Commander of the 42nd Military Police Brigade from November 2004 to November 2005.
"Colonel Robert Coates served as an Assistant Chief of Staff for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force and was responsible for supporting the transition teams working with the ISF in Al Anbar province. Now he is the Assistant Chief of Staff for the Training/Experimentation Group and is overseeing Police Transition Team training for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.
"Lieutenant Colonel Robert McCarthy, also from the Marine Corps, who returned this past February after serving as a Police Transition Team leader in Al Anbar.
"We also have 1st Lieutenant Cadetta Bridges, who serves as the Headquarters Detachment Commander of the 372nd MP Battalion of the DC National Guard.
Lieutenant Bridges returned from Iraq in February after serving as a Police Transition Team coordinator in Baghdad.
"Finally, joining us is Lieutenant Colonel Brad Felling of the Air Force, who just returned from four months in Iraq last Wednesday.
"Welcome and thank to all of you for your service and for being here today. We look forward to your testimony.
"I would note that Colonel Swengros and Colonel Coates have prepared statements that will be made a part of the record and we'll turn to you two gentlemen for any brief opening statements you care to make following Mr. Akin.
"To encourage discussion, we will follow the same procedures today as we have in our previous sessions. We will dispense with the 5-minute rule during today's hearing, but I would ask my colleagues to be sensitive and not monopolize the witnesses. I would like to remind everyone that this is an open hearing so no classified information will be discussed.
"Before I turn to Mr. Akin for any opening remarks that he might have, I would like to take a moment to share news from Iraq that drives home how crucial and dangerous the mission that we are discussing is. Last week, an Air Force Staff Sergeant, John Self, was killed in Iraq.
"He was a part of a police training team, much like the ones that we are discussing today, and he was serving his fourth tour in Iraq. My thoughts are with his family.
"Mr. Akin?"
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
