Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) leader in Iraq L. Paul Bremer said: “On May 23 [2003], I signed CPA Order No. 2, ‘Dissolution of Entities.’ These included the Defense Ministry, all related national security ministries and offices, and all military formations, including the Republican Guard, Special Republican Guard, Baath Party Militia, and the Fedayeen Saddam. The order terminated the service of all members of the former military, noted that payments would be made, and announced that the Coalition planned to create a New Iraq Army ‘as the first step in forming a national self-defense capability for a free Iraq.’ Under civilian control, the force would be ‘professional, non-political, militarily effective, and representative of all Iraqis.’ ”
– L. Paul Bremer with Malcolm McConnell, My Year in Iraq, Page 57