Volume 1 - Iraq Watch

OverviewAnnex CIraq’s Security ServicesRegime StrategicIntentThe former Regime’s security services protected the President, secured the presidential palace grounds,and guaranteed loyalty to the Regime. These organizations, however, also concealed information and materialfrom United Nations weapon inspectors. This annex will provide a view of the most recent organizationalstructure of these security services.Security Organization(Crest of the Republic)RepublicanGuardThe Special Security Organization, using personal escorts and protection units, maintained the innermost securitylevels surrounding the President and the Regime. The Republican Guard, comprised of the Special RepublicanGuard and the Republican Guard Forces Command, served as the outer rings of Regime and nationalsecurity. Prior to 1996 the Special Republican Guard was specifically tasked to conceal WMD-related materialin collaboration with the Special Security Organization.This portion of the Report is largely based on testimony from former Regime offi cials who were active in manyof Iraq’s former governing, economic, security and intelligence organizations. While they were critical to ourassessment of the former Regime’s WMD strategy, the detainees would often minimize their involvement orknowledge of sensitive issues. The placement of blame or knowledge with individuals, who were not in a positionto contradict their statements, such as deceased or fl ed to another country, was also a common occurrence.Notwithstanding, most detainees were very cooperative and provided insight into the inter-workings ofthe former Regime. Original documentation captured during Operation Iraqi Freedom has served to confi rm,supplement, and reinforce detainee statements.85