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U.S. looks into new national ID system for Iraqis
By Sue Pleming
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq is looking into the creation of a new, computerized national identity card system there, defense and other sources said on Wednesday.
A defense official, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters the Coalition Provisional Authority was in the early planning phase for a new ID system but he stressed no decisions had been made on the format and who would run it.
"We are looking at a system that could be computerized and could be more sophisticated (than the current one) and that could cost from $150 million to $400 million," the official said.
One source close to the military said, however, the United States was pushing for a new national ID card in Iraq as soon as possible, likely before the scheduled handover to the Iraqis on July 1.
"Post-July 1, there will be a new Iraqi government and so there will be a different body they have to respond to. They want to get this done before then because they are afraid the Iraqis will refuse to allow it," he said.
Questions are being asked about the merits of a U.S.-imposed national ID system on the Iraqis who are desperate for a greater role in running their own country.
The source said the military was leaning toward issuing a sole-source contract to an Alaskan company called Nana Pacific to handle the job. Nana Pacific did not immediately return phone calls about the issue.
EMOTIONAL ISSUE IN U.S.
The defense official said no particular company had been identified for the job, if indeed a new system was introduced.
National IDs are used in many European countries but they have been heavily debated in the United States where opponents say they give government too much power to check on its citizens.
Others argue that following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks such cards would help in tracking down potential terror groups and their members.
Defense officials stress any notion of a new identity system in Iraq was not to act as "Big Brother" but to replace the current antiquated one with a computerized version.
The defense official said the Coalition Provisional Authority had provided some funding to support the current system, which is being administered for the Iraqi Interior Ministry via a local company. He had no details about that arrangement.
The existing ID card in Iraq identified the person and was in duplicate, with the state having one copy, he said. The official did not know whether a new computerized system could be used to draw up a voter roll.
"The intent is to be able to establish an identity and citizenship that could be accessible to other systems," he said, without elaborating.
Lack of a reliable voter roll is given by U.S. officials as a reason for opposing direct elections to a sovereign government later this year, which have been demanded by Iraqi Shi'ite clerics.
By Sue Pleming
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq is looking into the creation of a new, computerized national identity card system there, defense and other sources said on Wednesday.
A defense official, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters the Coalition Provisional Authority was in the early planning phase for a new ID system but he stressed no decisions had been made on the format and who would run it.
"We are looking at a system that could be computerized and could be more sophisticated (than the current one) and that could cost from $150 million to $400 million," the official said.
One source close to the military said, however, the United States was pushing for a new national ID card in Iraq as soon as possible, likely before the scheduled handover to the Iraqis on July 1.
"Post-July 1, there will be a new Iraqi government and so there will be a different body they have to respond to. They want to get this done before then because they are afraid the Iraqis will refuse to allow it," he said.
Questions are being asked about the merits of a U.S.-imposed national ID system on the Iraqis who are desperate for a greater role in running their own country.
The source said the military was leaning toward issuing a sole-source contract to an Alaskan company called Nana Pacific to handle the job. Nana Pacific did not immediately return phone calls about the issue.
EMOTIONAL ISSUE IN U.S.
The defense official said no particular company had been identified for the job, if indeed a new system was introduced.
National IDs are used in many European countries but they have been heavily debated in the United States where opponents say they give government too much power to check on its citizens.
Others argue that following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks such cards would help in tracking down potential terror groups and their members.
Defense officials stress any notion of a new identity system in Iraq was not to act as "Big Brother" but to replace the current antiquated one with a computerized version.
The defense official said the Coalition Provisional Authority had provided some funding to support the current system, which is being administered for the Iraqi Interior Ministry via a local company. He had no details about that arrangement.
The existing ID card in Iraq identified the person and was in duplicate, with the state having one copy, he said. The official did not know whether a new computerized system could be used to draw up a voter roll.
"The intent is to be able to establish an identity and citizenship that could be accessible to other systems," he said, without elaborating.
Lack of a reliable voter roll is given by U.S. officials as a reason for opposing direct elections to a sovereign government later this year, which have been demanded by Iraqi Shi'ite clerics.
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