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29 August 2006

U.S. Attorney General Lauds Rebuilding of Iraqi Legal Institutions

United States helps reconstruct Iraq's judicial, law enforcement infrastructure

By Lea Terhune
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington - The high-profile trial of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is a top international news item, but building Iraq’s capacity to hold such a trial is a story in itself. U.S. Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales traveled to Iraq August 29 to meet and commend those whose hard work has helped rebuild and maintain Iraq’s justice system.

After the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003, 24 Department of Justice officials were deployed to assess and assist in reconstituting the Iraqi legal system. Now more than 200 American law professionals support Iraq’s justice and law enforcement institutions through training and advising jurists and police.

"Freedom is best sustained by the establishment of a fair and just legal system that prioritizes the rights and liberties of its citizens," the attorney general said after his arrival in Baghdad August 29. 

Key U.S. law enforcement agencies are involved in the effort, including the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Marshal’s Service (USMS). Officers from each of these agencies make up the Major Crimes Task Force, which investigates assassinations of government officials, prisoner abuse, civil rights violations and violent crimes. They also contribute managerial expertise and technical assistance to highly trained Iraqi investigators.

The FBI has a counterterrorism unit in Iraq and brings in specialists to train the Iraqi police in counterterrorism techniques. The FBI legal attaché also facilitates law enforcement liaisons and international assistance. The Iraqi police receive training in the handling of explosives from the ATF. The USMS advises on security programs for Iraqi courts and provides court and witness security services.

U.S. agencies assist the Iraqi High Tribunal in its investigations of genocide, war crimes and other offenses, including investigations of Saddam Hussein and other officials of the deposed Iraqi government. As needed, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and contractors with special expertise assist in evidence gathering and preservation, forensic testing and exhumation of mass graves. Anthropologists, archaeologists, pathologists and forensic scientists are among those consultants employed in investigations.

Enhancement of Iraq’s legal institutions is the chief goal of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development.  Advisers assess and give counsel on judicial reforms. They develop training programs tailored to Iraq’s justice system. About 500 Iraqi jurists and prosecutors have been trained in areas such as human rights, forensic evidence and prosecuting criminal, insurgency and terrorism cases. Department of Justice agencies provide resources for the anti-corruption efforts of the Iraq Commission for Public Integrity.

Iraqi law enforcement also is bolstered by training and assistance given to various levels of the police force. According to the Department of Justice, the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) is “the largest international police training program ever undertaken.” To date, more than 130,000 Iraqi police have been trained in courses developed by ICITAP and Civilian Police Assistance Training Team (CPATT) agents.  Specialized and advanced training has been given to more than 15,000 Iraqi police on techniques of handling basic crime investigation, interrogation, critical incidents, civil disorder, violent crimes and kidnapping. ICITAP/CPATT advised on the comprehensive security mounted during Iraqi elections. The teams founded Baghdad Police College, the Arbil Police College and six regional basic training facilities, and continue to serve as their consultants.

"The Department of Justice is proud to help the Iraqi people establish the rule of law in their country, and I applaud the Department of Justice employees who are so dedicated to assisting in this historic effort," Gonzales said.

(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)