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Police Primacy and Rule of Law in Iraq Dominate Press Conference
By Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq, Public Affairs Office, Phoenix Base
Jun 19, 2009 - 7:03:03 PM
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Blackanthem Military News
 BAGHDAD, Iraq - Police primacy and rule of law were the main topics of U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Mike Milano's Pentagon Press Conference held here June 8 in the new Combined Press Information Center.
Milano, the deputy commanding general of Department of Interior Affairs for Multi-National Security Transition Command- Iraq, leads an organization of advisors, trainers and mentors to the Iraqi police forces. This critical role is in direct support of the Security Agreement that was signed between the United States and Iraq and went into effect on Jan. 1.
The Iraqi Ministry of the Interior is developing institutional capacity to acquire, train, develop, manage, sustain and resource themselves, in order to be able to better provide for the internal security of Iraq. Milano's direct responsibility is to ensure that Coalition advisors to these Iraqi police forces give the Iraqi police forces the tools and guidance necessary to be able to completely handle Iraq's internal security mission on their own.
"What we and the Iraqis are striving for is a condition known as police primacy," Milano said. "Under police primacy, the Iraqi police forces have primary responsibility for internal security, under civilian control, in accordance with the Iraqi constitution and consistent with the rule of law."
As of now, the Iraqi Army and the Iraqi police share responsibility for internal security. When the police have the primary role of internal security and the army has responsibility for border security, police primacy will have been achieved.
There is still much work to be done in spite of the significant improvements to get the police forces where they need to be.
"The ministry has made significant improvements in fighting corruption and implemented several initiatives, but we're not finished with this effort," Milano said. "The MOI court system is adjudicating increasing numbers of cases, but they can do better. The MOI detention center inspection regimen is improving, but needs increased capacity. And logistics systems are materializing, but we can do better supporting MOI forces in the field."
Like any fledgling democracy, Iraq has tough decisions to make.
"The reduced Iraqi budget has caused us to address some tough choices with our MOI colleagues," Milano stressed. As we help them validate and prioritize their needs, the aim is to ensure the smartest, most effective application of resources, ours and theirs. The true beneficiaries of our efforts, of course, are the people of Iraq. I'm proud to be able to assist in their steady transition to a peaceful, stable and democratic society."
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