WASHINGTON, 27 July 2005 — Insurgents have infiltrated the Iraqi police forces, according to an official US report that nevertheless assessed the results of US-run police training programs as a “qualified success.”
“Although Iraqi police are not able to provide security throughout the country, coalition training programs have achieved qualified success,” said the report by the Department of Defense and State Department inspector generals, written after a six-member team spent five weeks reviewing training programs in Jordan and Iraq earlier this year.
Signs of success include “good performance” of Iraqi police during January elections, their increased visibility on the streets and surveys showing that Iraqis have more confidence in and greater respect for their police force than before.
But “recruitment and vetting procedures are faulty,” the report said in a section titled “Key Judgments.” “Despite recent improvements, too many recruits are marginally illiterate; some show up for training with criminal records or physical handicaps; and some recruits allegedly are infiltrating insurgents.”
Coalition forces established training centers in May 2004 with the goal of putting together a modern 135,000-strong Iraqi Police Service by the end of 2006.
“Inducting criminals into the IPS is a continual concern,” the report said.
“Even more troubling is infiltration by intending terrorists or insurgents. There is sufficient evidence to conclude that such persons indeed are among the ranks of the IPS,” it said.
A State Department official expressed certainty that insurgents have infiltrated the Iraqi police force.
“I know that it happens. People indicated that they have seen it happen. But to what level? I don’t know,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
