The Iraq Question by Doug Melvin, Homeland Security

In early 2004, Doug Melvin volunteered to serve as the first Country Director for Department of Homeland Security in Iraq. As Security Director for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Doug’s experience and work in Iraq from May 2004 – July 2005, was some of the most difficult, treacherous, and gratifying work that he’d ever done on international migration and counter-insurgency work.

During this assignment Doug faced a number of exciting challenges, which he talks about in this blog.

I was in Iraq from May 31, 2004 through June 2005. I worked 7 days a week, at least 18 hours each day. I traveled extensively, and at great risk throughout Iraq, both by air and by land. Over the course of the year I had a number of very close calls where a few seconds may the difference between life and death. I and my colleagues were subjected to constant mortar attacks, some of which killed friends, the constant concern and fear of being kidnapped or killed, and had to endure some of the worst environmental conditions in the world. It was a long year. My tour was scheduled for one year.

Department of Homeland Security in Iraq On the Job Accomplishments Include:

• Developed and implemented a highly successful border security plan for the Iraqi government and coalition forces. The "Border Support Team” (BST) concept was enthusiastically approved and implemented by the Minister of Interior and coalition forces and was credited with dramatically improving security along the Iraqi/Syrian border;
• Developed and implemented the technical (IT and document inspection) country wide for the Iraqi government;
• Directly responsible for developing the Iraq national standard and strategy for training Iraqi Border security forces, immigration, and customs personnel. Implemented a highly effective training program in Amman Jordan that produced 80 Iraqi border security instructors and over 2000 Iraqi border security forces. Responsible for establishing future capacity for training and developing migration, customs, and border security personnel.

The Iraq Question by Doug Melvin, Homeland Security

Doug Melvin first volunteered to serve as the first Country Director for Department of Homeland Security in Iraq in March 2004. As Security Director for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Doug’s experiences in Iraq were some of the most complex, hazardous, and gratifying work that he’d done on international migration and counter-insurgency work.

In this blog, Doug talks about his credentials and background, which led to obtaining this important position.

I was selected for this position from over 5,000 volunteers and candidates form within the 22 agencies in the Department of Homeland Security.

I believe that I was selected as a result of my Special Forces background, highly successful prior experience working in conflict zones and under combat conditions, and for my expertise in DHS functions, including customs, immigration, and border security. Additionally, I had over 20 years of international experience world wide and significant security experience in the Middle East.

The Iraq Question by Doug Melvin, Homeland Security

Doug Melvin volunteered to serve as the first Country Director for Department of Homeland Security in Iraq in March 2004. As Security Director for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Doug’s experiences in Iraq from May 2004 to July 2005 were some of the most difficult, dangerous, and rewarding jobs that he’d done on international migration and counter-insurgency work.

During his assignment, Doug found himself working with a number of talented and dedicated government officials, which he talks about in this blog.

While serving as the Country Director for Iraq, on behalf of Secretary Ridge and his successor Secretary Chertoff, I had the opportunity to work very closely with General Petraeus, Ambassador Negroponte, and Ambassador Jefferies on the transformation of the Iraqi customs, immigration, and border security forces. A great deal of credit should go to them for supporting and making possible some significant accomplishments with enhancing the Department of Border Enforcement.

Without their efforts and support, and that of Secretary Ridge and Chertoff, there would have been far more death and destruction subjected to collation forces and the Iraqi people. Clearly the start of the transformation, as the process is still underway, has saved countless lives.

The Iraq Question by Doug Melvin, Homeland Security

In March 2004, Doug Melvin volunteered to serve as the first Country Director for Department of Homeland Security in Iraq. As Security Director for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Doug’s experience and work in Iraq during the year May 2004 – July 2005, was some of the most difficult, dangerous, and rewarding work that he’d ever done on international migration and counter-insurgency work.

In preparation for this assignment Doug found it was necessary to conduct a comprehensive assessment and evaluation of the current status of Iraqi customs, immigration, and border security forces, which he talks about in this blog. This effort was accomplished in partnership with collation military, representative collation governments, adjacent countries, and the Iraqi Ministry of Interior.

The Iraqi customs, immigration and border security forces assessment found four significant findings:

1. The years of sanctions and lack of attention by the former Iraqi government created a situation whereby the necessary infrastructure and basic technology to secure a border and operate ports of entry no longer existed. The lack of proper infrastructure at the ports of entry had far reaching negative impacts on the revenue generated from cross border commerce. Notwithstanding the security vulnerabilities caused by the lack of infrastructure, at one port of entry, I estimated the loss in one day from ineffective and improper customs operations was over $ 300,000 USD in one 24-hour period. This combined with the ongoing corruption meant the Iraqi government and people were losing value revenue. The lack of infrastructure and basic technology greatly contributed to the next significant issue. Personnel!
2. With the lack of infrastructure and technology, this meant that the entire border security process, customs, border security, and immigration were entirely dependant personnel to perform all tasks and thereby inefficiently labor intensive. The pre-war Iraqi Department of Border Enforcement (DBE) was one that relied upon conscripts, paramilitary forces, and civil servants. Each department with the DBE, customs, immigration, and border security operated independently and without regard to the other departments. All departments were plagued with a constant and high number of desertions, poorly trained personnel, and poor morale stemming from lack of proper equipment, food, water, and pay.
3. The other significant issue was the lack of any policies, procedures, or accountability. Decisions on what and how to operate were made at the lowest levels without any coordination or without regard to any policy. Generally speaking decisions were made in the context of what was best for that individual leader or person in charge. In many cases decisions on what Department of Border Enforcement would do were made by tribal leaders, criminal elements, or other influential individuals that were external to DBE.
4. Lack of any professional training or certification program. It appeared that there had been no effort for a considerable number of years to develop any capacity to train, equip, and organize the DBE.
   
   

These findings prompted me to look for solutions based upon international standards and work with the Iraqi government in an open and cultural sensitive method to assist the transformation of the Department of Border Enforcement into an effective department that could meet the challenges of present day Iraq.

Doug Melvin is the President of DACC Associates, a security and management firm headquartered in Boise, Idaho.