Iraq's Interior Ministry: The Key to Police Reform

Event Summary

Comments from this forum were incorporated into a USIP Peace Briefing on Iraq's Interior Ministry.

In 2007, the Los Angeles Times reported that Iraq's interior ministry (MOI) had become a "federation of oligarchs" where various floors were controlled by rival militias and power struggles were resolved by assassinations in the parking lot. Today, the MOI is responsible for nearly 500,000 members of Iraq's security forces, but still struggles despite major US and UK efforts. A panel of experts discussed the reform program's past and prospects.

Speakers

• Alex Martin
  Director, U.K.'s Iraq Interior Ministry Reform Project
• Col James Coffman (Ret.)
  Former Military Advisor to the Minister of Interior, Iraq (2007–2009)
• Matt Sherman
  Former Advisor to the Minister of Interior, Iraq (2003–2006)
• Michael Gordon
  Chief Military Correspondent, The New York Times
  Jennings Randolph Senior Fellow, U.S. Institute of Peace
• Robert Perito, Moderator
  Director, Security Sector Reform Working Group, U.S. Institute of Peace