Hearing of the House Armed Services Committee: Training of Iraq Security Forces

HEARING OF THE HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE: TRAINING OF IRAQ SECURITY FORCES

June 17, 2004 Thursday

CHAIRED BY: REPRESENTATIVE DUNCAN HUNTER (R-CA)

WITNESSES: (VIA VIDEO TELECONFERENCE FROM IRAQ) LIEUTENANT GENERAL DAVID PETRAEUS, CHIEF, OFFICE OF SECURITY TRANSITION IN IRAQ; AND BRIGADIER GENERAL KEVIN BERGNER, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, POLITICAL MILITARY AFFAIRS, IN THE MIDDLE EAST, JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF

LOCATION: 2118 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING, WASHINGTON, D.C.

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REP. RICK LARSEN (D-WA): Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, General, for taking some time with us this morning-for us, I guess; later in the day for you.

I was pleased to certainly hear that you're trying-you recognize the problem of connecting the command and control at the top with all the development that has taken place already that's been put forth by U.S. and coalition force to develop security forces for Iraq.

Just going down the list of what we've developed here: a police force, a border force, the ICDC, the Iraqi Army, the Facility Protection Service. Today you mentioned the Iraqi National Task Force, a new civil intervention force. You also let us know that the FPS doesn't include oil security or electricity police; that's separate, that's outside. Certainly have an organizational challenge on your hands, and I have some questions related to that.

First question is, generally, how do you propose to get a handle on all these various elements and make them connect? But more in particular, exactly what is the CIF, the Civil Intervention Force? How does it differ from the police? What is its exact role? What is-I think you said either the prime minister or the president has proposed this-what is the Iraqi vision for the CIF? And also, what's the difference between the ICDC and the Iraqi National Task Force? And where are we recruiting for the Iraqi National Task Force, and why was it created, as opposed to maintaining the current focus with ICDC and the army?

And then you haven't mentioned yet with regards to security the militias, and the prime minister, I think, announced a ban on all militias. How can we expect that ban to be any more successful than the previous announcement that the CPA made about banning all militias? And what role does the peshmerga play in security arrangements in Iraq in the future? Is it considered a militia that would be banned, or is it in fact going to be operating in the north on its-as a part of security forces?

That's a lot of questions, but hopefully I've organized them in an order where you can get them answered. Thank you.

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REP. LARSEN: Thank you, General. That's a very complete answer to my long question. I appreciate it, and I thank you
very much, Mr. Chairman.

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