Iraqi Ministry of Interior inept and corrupt, according to report

The US report on the sorry state of Iraq's security services lends a lot of credence to concerns that the Ministry of Interior has been trying to shake down Blackwater for millions of dollars in bribes.

Issued on September 6 by the Independent Commission on the Security Forces of Iraq, the report bares a lot of ugly facts that show why the American presence is still needed to keep Iraq from falling apart.

Its conclusion: "The Ministry of Interior is a ministry in name only. It is widely regarded as being dysfunctional and sectarian, and suffers from ineffective leadership. Such fundamental flaws present a serious obstacle to achieving the levels of readiness, capability, and effectiveness in police and border security forces that are essential for internal security and stability in Iraq."

The report says that "sectarianism and corruption are pervasive" in the Ministry of Interior, "and cripple the ministry's ability to provide internal security for Iraqi citizens." (p. 17).

Click here for a copy of the report.

The commissioners who signed the report are among the most impressive authorities anywhere. They are:

General James L. Jones USMC (Ret.) - Former Supreme Allied Commander Europe and 32nd Commandant of the United States Marine Corps.
General John Abrams USA (Ret.) - Former Commanding General, Army Training and Doctrine Command.
Lt. General Martin R. Berndt USMC (Ret.) - Former Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces.
General Charles G. Boyd USAF (Ret.) - President and CEO, Business Executives for National Security; former Deputy Commander, U.S. European Command.
Command Sergeant Major Dwight J. Brown, USA (Ret) - Former Command Sergeant Major, U.S. Central Command.
The Honorable Terrance Gainer - Sergeant at Arms, U.S. Senate. Former Chief, United States Capitol Police.
The Honorable John J. Hamre - President and CEO, Center for Strategic and International Studies. Former Deputy Secretary of Defense and Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller).
Colonel Michael Heidingsfield, USAF (Ret.) - President and Chief Executive Officer of the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission. Former Chief of Police and Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police Emeritus, Scottsdale, Arizona.
Admiral Gregory G. Johnson, USN (Ret.) - Former Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe and Commander in Chief, Allied Forces, Southern Europe.
General George Joulwan, USA (Ret.) - Former Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
Lt. General James C. King, USA (Ret.) - Former Director, United States National Imagery and Mapping Agency.
Assistant Chief Constable Duncan McCausland - Assistant Chief Constable, Urban Region, Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Lt. General Gary S. McKissock, USMC (Ret.) - Former Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics, United States Marine Corps.
Sergeant Major Alford L. McMichael, USMC (Ret.) - Founder, The 4-DREW Foundation. Former Sergeant Major, United States Marine Corps.
Brigadier General Richard Potter, USA (Ret.) - Former Deputy Commanding General, United States Army Special Operations Command.
Major General Arnold Punaro, USMC (Ret.) - Executive Vice President, SAIC. Former Director, Marine Corps Reserve and Commanding General, 4th Marine Division.
Chief Charles H. Ramsey - Former Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, Washington, D.C.
Chief John F. Timoney - Chief of the City of Miami Police Department.
Lieutenant General John A. Van Alstyne - Former Deputy Commanding General for initial entry training, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command.
General Charles Wilhelm, USMC (Ret.) - Former Commander, U.S. Southern
Command.