Iraq Security Services May Be Compromised

Eli Lake, The NY Sun:

Fresh from a tour of Iraq, Jordan, and Egypt, the chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence says he is concerned about terrorist penetration of Iraq's security services.

In an interview yesterday with The New York Sun, Rep. Peter Hoekstra, a Republican of Michigan, said, "I have concerns on their penetration by various groups." Mr. Hoekstra added that he sees numerous factions that pose a threat to the security force that President Bush anticipates will play an increasingly critical role in aiding the American military's battle against the insurgency.

"I am concerned with the Iranians, folks affiliated with foreign fighters, and disgruntled people from a religious or Baathist standpoint. Clearly, we are trying to get intel on them, and clearly they are trying to get intel on us," the intelligence committee chairman said. READ MORE

Also yesterday, Iraqi lawmakers asked for and received an extension to continue debate over the draft constitution submitted to the transitional assembly on Tuesday. Separately, the bodies of 36 men were found yesterday southeast of Baghdad on a road leading to Iran, the Associated Press reported

The president and his top advisers have touted the Iraqi charter as an accomplishment that could turn the tide in the war in Iraq. The White House has also recently said disengagement of American troops from Iraq could only occur when Iraq's military and security services were able defend the elected government in Baghdad. On Tuesday, Mr. Bush told those assembled at the annual convention for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, "When Iraqi forces can defend their freedom by taking on more and more of the fight to the enemy, our troops will come home with the honor they have earned."

The problem, however, has been that some members of Iraq's police, intelligence, and National Guard have not only failed to stop terrorist insurgents, but may be cooperating with America's enemies in the country.

A counterterrorism expert with a center-right think tank here, the Hudson Institute, Chris Brown, yesterday said, "The terrorist penetration of the security services is extensive and a major problem. They include Baathists, Islamists and pro-Iranian agents. And they are at all levels from officers to enlisted. I think we have almost let this go too far. If major changes are not made soon, the United States will be expelled by the institutions we helped build."

A report released last month by the inspector generals of the State Department and the Pentagon similarly said, "Inducting criminals into the [Iraqi Police Service] is a continual concern. 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."

Anecdotal evidence from Iraqis also suggests that the police, intelligence, and military services created under a former interim prime minister, Iyad Allawi are corrupt and in some cases cooperating with terrorists. Last March, an Iraqi politician, Mithal al-Alusi, who a year ago faced death threats for attending a counterterrorism conference in Israel, told The New York Sun that he believed the Baghdad police were working directly with individuals who assassinated his son.

Mr. Hoekstra yesterday said he was optimistic about the training of Iraqi soldiers now, most of whom are trained in neighboring Jordan. He also said that despite some cases of terrorist penetration, it does not necessarily mean that the security services will not be able to do their job.

"There is fertile ground for penetration. It does not mean it can't work, their activities may be predictable in many cases," Mr. Hoekstra said. "At the same time, we are penetrating the insurgents. We are out gathering as much information to get plans and intentions on the insurgents."

Mr. Hoekstra also said that he believed the press presented an "incomplete picture" of the war in Iraq and downplayed recent remarks from a fellow Republican, Senator Hagel of Nebraska, who said on Sunday that Iraq was turning into a quagmire similar to Vietnam.

"There is no doubt this middle process we are going through is tough," Mr. Hoekstra said. "I can characterize it as being a lot of hard work. Senator Hagel can say it's a quagmire. Going through a quagmire is hard work. The question is what are we going to do, and where do we go from here. I think we can achieve success in Iraq, but it's not easy. We need to get through this constitution process and through the elections.