Jones Report: Iraqi Police Force Rotten to the Core

Nearly five years later, a blue ribbon US panel led by retired Gen. James L. Jones of the Marines actually calls for disbanding the corrupt and sectarian-oriented Iraqi police. Amazing.

Panel Sees More Than a Year Before Iraq Can Handle Security:

The report by the commission was most harshly critical of the Iraqi police, calling them “incapable” of protecting Iraqi neighborhoods. In a finding that was initially reported last week, the panel called for disbanding the Shiite-dominated 26,000-member national police, which the report said was crippled by public distrust and sectarianism.

Administration officials said Thursday that while the progress of the Iraqi security forces had in some respects been disappointing, it was important to press ahead with American-led training and equipping efforts and to build the capacity of the Iraqi Defense and Interior Ministries.

“Ideally, this would all happen much faster, whether it be standing up the Iraqi Army or ridding the national police of sectarianism,” said Geoff Morrell, a Pentagon spokesman. But, he added, “We believe there is enough progress taking place on both fronts that this is an endeavor worth pursuing.”

Asked to comment Thursday about the commission’s findings, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, a Democrat from Massachusetts, said in a statement: “Our military has done everything we have asked them to do, but we cannot expect them to stay in Iraq indefinitely to train security forces that are loyal to sectarian militias rather than the Iraqi government.”