LONDON — Britain has decided to wait until 2006 until its military
begins to relay security responsibility to Iraq.
British officials said the military has concluded that the Iraq Army was
incapable of assuming security responsibility for southern Iraq. They said
an assessment completed by the Defence Ministry cited rampant Iraqi
absenteeism, poor discipline and inability to coordinate counter-insurgency
missions.
In May, British officials completed a tour of Iraq Army and police
facilities and training courses, Middle East Newsline reported. Later, officials said Iraqi authorities did
not have sufficient number of trained and equipped troops to enable a
handover of security responsibility.
Security responsibility in Basra and the surrounding area of southern
Iraq have been under the responsibility of about 25,000 British troops.
Officials said security in Basra has surpassed that of Baghdad, under U.S.
Army responsibility.
"I would expect that within the next six to nine months in certain areas
under British military control, the day-to-day running of security will be
handed over entirely to the Iraqis," British police spokesman Paul
Kernaghan said.
Kernaghan, who was part of an inspection team of British police training
in Iraq, told the London-based Financial Times on June 2 the situation in
southern Iraq was "relatively stable' compared with Baghdad. He said those
arriving in Baghdad International Airport could not travel safely into the
Iraqi capital.
Officials said the Defence Ministry has drafted a phased approach for
the handover of British security responsibility to Iraq. In the first phase,
British troops would withdraw to main army bases from smaller forward
operational duties.
The troops would be prepared to support Iraqi police and defence forces.
This phase would begin around March 2006.
In the second phase, Britain would begin to withdraw troops from Iraq.
Officials said they hoped this could take place by 2007.
During both periods, British police would continue to train Iraqis. The
training includes support contracted by the British Foreign Office to
Armor Holdings.
The British military has also been training the Iraq Navy. British
trainers have been facilitating the navy in assuming control of maritime
security operations in the northern Gulf and Iraqi territorial waters.
Officials said the British Royal Navy auxiliary ship Diligence has been
working with the Iraq Navy in what they termed an experimental support role.
They said Britain has also helped the navy develop support operations and
procure and obtain new equipment.
