Order 67: Ministry of Defense

by L. Paul Bremer, Coalition Provisional Authority

COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY ORDER NUMBER 67

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

Pursuant to my authority as Administrator of the Coalition Provisional Authority
(CPA), and under the laws and usages of war, and consistent with relevant U.N.
Security Council resolutions, including Resolutions 1483 and 1511 (2003),

Recalling that U.N. Security Council Resolution 1483 (2003) calls upon the CPA
to promote the welfare of the Iraqi people through the effective administration of
the territory, including in particular working towards the restoration of conditions
of security and stability,

Noting that CPA Order Number 2, Dissolution of Entities, May 23, 2003, as
amended, dissolved the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of State for Military
Affairs, and other military organizations,

Noting that CPA Order Number 22, Creation of a New Iraqi Army, August 7,
2003, established a military force for the national self-defense of a future free Iraq,

Noting that CPA Order Number 23, Creation of a Code of Military Discipline for
the New Iraqi Army, August 7, 2003, established a system of discipline to
maintain order in the New Iraqi Army,

Noting that CPA Order Number 28, Establishment of the Iraqi Civil Defense
Corps, September 3, 2003, established a temporary security and emergency
service agency for Iraq to complement operations conducted by Coalition military
forces in Iraq,

Noting that CPA Order Number 42, Creation of the Defense Support Agency,
September 19, 2003, established a civilian agency charged with the administrative
and logistical support of the New Iraqi Army,

Further noting the adoption of the Law of Administration for the State of Iraq for
the Transitional Period on March 8, 2004,

Acknowledging the need to take measures to provide for the security of the Iraqi
people and their inherent right to form a national self-defense capability for a free
Iraq,

Recognizing the need to establish a new national ministry to provide proper
civilian control of the Iraqi Armed Forces and supporting organizations,

CPA/ORD/21 March 2004/67

�
I hereby promulgate the following:

Section 1
Establishment


1) A new Ministry of Defence (MoD) is hereby established. The new MoD is
a wholly distinct and separate entity from the organization with the same
name that previously existed in Iraq and was dissolved by CPA Order
Number 2.
2) The MoD will operate under the authority, direction, and control of the
Administrator of the CPA pending transfer of full governance authority to
the Iraqi Interim Government established in accordance with the Law of
Administration for the State of Iraq for the Transitional Period. The
Administrator, after consultation with the Governing Council, will appoint
an interim Minister of Defence. The interim Minister shall report directly
to the Administrator.
3) The MoD will consist of the Ministry proper (including organizations for
policy oversight, financial management and administration and logistics of
the Iraqi Armed Forces), the Iraqi Armed Forces (IAF), and those members
of the Facilities Protection Service (FPS) employed by the MoD for the
defense of its installations.
Section 2
Transfer of Responsibility
1) The New Iraqi Army (including all associated personnel, facilities, and
equipment) established pursuant to CPA Order Number 22 is hereby renamed
the “Iraqi Armed Forces” and transferred to the MoD. All
references to the “New Iraqi Army” in CPA Orders, Regulations, and
Memoranda shall be deemed to refer to the “Iraqi Armed Forces.”
(a) The IAF will consist of the Army, Air Force, Coastal Defense Force,
reserve components (when established), Iraqi Civil Defense Corps
(ICDC) when transferred to the IAF, Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Force
(ICTF), and associated headquarters.
(b) All references in CPA Order Number 22 to “a civilian member of
the CPA reporting directly to the Administrator and to whom
authority has been specifically delegated in writing” shall be deemed
to refer to the interim Minister of Defence.

CPA/ORD/21 March 2004/67

�
2)
On June 1, 2004, unless sooner directed by the Administrator of the CPA,
the ICDC (including all associated personnel, facilities, and equipment)
established pursuant to CPA Order Number 28 shall be transferred to the
MoD as a component of the IAF.

3)
The Code of Military Discipline established by CPA Order Number 23
shall apply to all elements of the IAF, including reserve components and
the ICDC (when transferred to the IAF).

4)
The Defense Support Agency (DSA), established by CPA Order Number
42, is hereby subsumed into the new MoD. The staff of the DSA shall be
transferred immediately to the MoD, and the interim Minister shall assume
full authority, direction and control over this staff. CPA Order Number 42
is hereby cancelled.

Section 3
Existing Law


Any laws or regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Order are hereby
suspended to the extent they are inconsistent with the provisions of this Order.

Section 4
Mission and Organization


1)
Subject to the authority of the Administrator of the CPA, the interim
Minister shall be responsible for management and employment of the IAF,
to include the ICDC when transferred to the IAF, and shall exercise
direction and control (including commissioning and appointments) over the
IAF, to include the ICDC when transferred to the IAF, and its
organizational structure in accordance with CPA Orders Number 22 and 28,
respectively.

2)
In light of the current emergency situation within Iraq, and consistent with
Iraq’s stated desire to join other nations in helping to maintain peace and
security and fight terrorism during the transitional period pursuant to the
provisions of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1511, all trained
elements of the IAF, to include the ICDC when transferred to the IAF, shall
at all times be under the operational control of the Commander of Coalition
Forces for the purpose of conducting combined operations and providing
other support in accordance with CPA Orders Number 22 and 28,
respectively, and any future relevant CPA Orders. The interim Minister
shall exercise administrative control over elements of the IAF that are under
the operational control of the Commander of Coalition Forces.

CPA/ORD/21 March 2004/67

�
3) The mission of the MoD is to secure, protect, and guarantee the security of
Iraq’s borders and to defend Iraq. In fulfilling this mission, the MoD shall:
(a) serve all Iraqis regardless of religious, sectarian, tribal, ethnic or
political affiliations; and
(b) be accountable for the efficiency and effectiveness with which it
carries out its mission.
4) The interim Minister shall organize the MoD into such groups, divisions
and branches as are necessary to accomplish its mission, consistent with the
positions and structures specified herein and the principles upon which the
Ministry is established.
5) The interim Minister shall ensure that the organization is structured to
provide civilian oversight of the following MoD functions:
(a) all aspects of defense, including military policy;
(b) budget and financial matters;
(c) human resources (civilian and military), including recruitment and
training;
(d) acquisition, sustainment and logistics;
(e) infrastructure (including overseeing construction and facility
management); and
(f) defense intelligence analysis and requirements.
6) The interim Minister, with the Administrator’s support and approval, shall
appoint personnel to serve in the following positions for a set term of three
years:
(a) A Secretary General to act in the capacity of the senior civil servant
and to serve as acting interim Minister of Defence during any
temporary disability of the interim Minister of Defence or any
vacancy in that position, to include any period of vacancy prior to
the appointment of the initial interim Minister of Defence. If an
interim Minister of Defence has not been appointed upon the
establishment of the Ministry of Defence, the Administrator (or a

CPA/ORD/21 March 2004/67

�
civilian member of the CPA reporting to the Administrator and to
whom authority has been specifically delegated in writing) shall
appoint a Secretary General to perform the functions and exercise
the authorities specified herein for the interim Minister of Defence,
pending the appointment of an interim Minister of Defence.

.

(b)
A Senior Military Advisor to the interim Minister and other senior
government officials, to provide them with independent advice on
operational and other military issues;
(c)
A Chief of Staff of the IAF responsible for operational command
and control of all Iraqi military forces;
(d)
Directors General, as needed, to oversee and manage groups within
the MoD. Directors General may be either civil servants or,
selectively, uniformed officers.
(e)
A General Counsel to provide legal analysis and advice on matters
affecting the MoD and employment of the IAF. The General
Counsel shall report directly to the interim Minister.
7)
The Administrator of the CPA shall appoint an Inspector General for the
MoD, to serve for a term of five years, and to operate and perform
functions in accordance with CPA Order Number 57.

Section 5
Principles


The interim Minister shall ensure that the MoD adheres to the following key
principles:

(a)
Service: The MoD serves the Iraqi people. The IAF and MoD staff
perform their duty selflessly, in a spirit of service.
(b)
Loyalty: The IAF and MoD employees are loyal to their legally
constituted superiors and to their subordinates.
(c)
Civilian Control: The IAF and all those who work in the MoD are
responsible to lawfully elected civilian authority.
(d)
Professionalism: The culture and character of the MoD will reflect
professionalism, technical competence, non-interference in domestic
CPA/ORD/21 March 2004/67

�
affairs, merit, patriotism, respect for individual rights, and the rule of
law. The MoD will understand and respect Iraqi society.

(e)
Unity: The MoD will play its full part in reinforcing national unity,
and will not be used to foster or institutionalize disunity.
(f)
Representative: Though based on merit, the MoD broadly represents
Iraqi society. No person will be selected for or denied advancement
in the MoD on grounds of race, color, gender, religion, sect, tribal or
regional origin.
(g)
Integrity: Corruption is unacceptable. Rules and regulations will be
established to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse, and avoid conflicts
of interest.
(h)
Stewardship: The MoD will earn the respect and confidence of the
Iraqi people by responsibly accounting for resources, acting in the
country’s interest, being effective in assigned missions, abiding by
laws, and telling the truth.
(i)
Transparency: The Iraqi people and their elected representatives
have the right to know about MoD policies, organizations, financial
matters, and operations. The MoD will be transparent in its
international affairs, including active participation in international
security institutions and the development of cooperative security
relations.
(j)
Security: The IAF and MoD employees will keep secret the national
security information entrusted to them by lawful authority.
(k)
Affordability: The MoD will keep the scale, capabilities, and costs
of defense efforts in line with the needs of the country and within the
budget provided by elected authority.
Section 6
Personnel Administration and Pay


1)
The MoD shall accept the current personnel of the IAF, the Defense
Support Agency, and the ICDC (when transferred to the IAF) and provide
them with salaries and benefits commensurate with their positions and
experience in those organizations. Such civilian and military personnel
shall become employees of the MoD.

CPA/ORD/21 March 2004/67

�
2) Employees of the dissolved former Ministry of Defence have no right or
entitlement to be employed by the new MoD. However, nothing herein
precludes such former employees from being employed by the new MoD,
nor does it affect such former employees’ entitlements to pensions, if any.
3) The MoD shall have the power to hire and employ personnel in accordance
with Iraqi law, as amended by CPA Orders, Regulations, and Memoranda.
Such hiring and employment shall be consistent with CPA Order Number 1
and any authorized implementation thereof.
4) Salaries of MoD employees shall conform to the salary structure applicable
to Iraqi government employees.
5) Death and disability benefits for Eligible Employees of the MoD shall be
paid and administered in accordance with CPA Order Number 63.
Section 7
Property
1) All movable and immovable property, including real estate, belonging to,
used, possessed, or occupied by or under the control of the DSA, IAF, and
ICDC (when transferred to the IAF) shall be transferred to the MoD.
2) All assets and facilities, including real estate, belonging to, used, possessed,
or occupied by the dissolved former Ministry of Defence still held by the
Administrator on behalf of and for the benefit of the Iraqi people shall be
transferred as needed to the new MoD.
Section 8
Budget
1) The MoD shall coordinate with the Ministry of Finance and the CPA Office
of Management and Budget to effect the transfer of the budget allocation
for the DSA and IAF for the financial year 2004 to the MoD. The MoD
shall further coordinate with the Ministry of Finance on the development of
its own budgets.
2) The new MoD shall not be liable for any financial obligations of the
dissolved former Ministry of Defence.

CPA/ORD/21 March 2004/67

�
Section 9
Political Activities


1) Employees of the MoD shall not:

(a) publicly state or suggest any opinion of a political nature that
constitutes an effort to indoctrinate members of the MoD, IAF (to
include the ICDC when transferred to the IAF), or any other person
with a political ideology,
(b) advocate racial, gender or ethnic hatred or intolerance; advocate,
create, or engage in discrimination based on race, color, gender,
religion, sect, tribal or regional origin; or use, or advocate the use of,
force or violence or other unlawful means for political purposes,
whether internal or international; or
(c) participate in any manner in organizations or activities that involve,
promote, or practice the conduct described in (b) above.
2) Members of the IAF, to include the ICDC when transferred to the IAF, may
not hold or stand for election to political office or campaign for candidates.
3) A former member of the IAF may not hold political office unless the
individual has resigned his commission or rank or retired from duty at least
eighteen months prior to serving.
4) Nothing in this Section shall limit the right of an employee of the MoD to
vote in elections for political office organized on a local, regional or
national level.
Section 10
Conflicts of Interest

Employees of the MoD and their immediate family members shall not, directly or
indirectly:

1)
Hold financial interests that conflict with the employee’s conscientious
performance of duty.

2)
Engage in private financial transactions using nonpublic Government
information or allow the improper use of such information to further any
private interest.

CPA/ORD/21 March 2004/67