ANBAR PRDC FORGES AHEAD

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002910

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/11/2025
TAGS: PGOV KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: ANBAR PRDC FORGES AHEAD

Classified By: Political Counselor Robert S. Ford.
Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY. The Anbar Provincial Reconstruction
and Development Committee (PRDC) holds well-attended,
weekly meetings where provincial and city leaders
engage in sensible debate over the reconstruction
priorities of this area. It is making steady progress
in its efforts to select projects to be funded by
Coalition CERP and IRRF dollars. The panel benefits
from the Governor's firm control of the meetings and
the seriousness with which most leaders approach the
endeavor. The PRDC has made recommendations that have
been approved by the Provincial Council and is eager
to begin soliciting bids. The contracting process for
CERP projects will actually take several more weeks,
but the Coalition is committed to helping the PRDC
meet its deadlines. If this process goes well, we
will look for additional funding for additional PRDC-
selected projects in Anbar. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) On July 3 the Al Anbar Provincial
Reconstruction and Development Committee (PRDC)
finished a busy week of planning for the
rehabilitation of the province's critical
infrastructure. When the group first met on May 15,
they were pleased to learn that the Coalition had set
aside USD 15 million worth of CERP funds for projects
to be selected by the PRDC, as well as an additional
10 million or more of IRRF funds in the water, road
and bridge and electrical transmission and
distribution areas. Hardly sufficient to cover the
province's enormous needs, the seed funds are a
starting point and the assembled officials are
enthusiastic about the initiative. The meetings are
held weekly and chaired by Governor Mamoon Sami
Rasheed. The Deputy Governor, officers of the
Provincial Council (PC),Directors General (DG),and
city representatives from throughout the province
attend regularly. DGs and council members from the
provincial and municipal level immediately began
proposing projects for the PRDC's review.


3. (C) Mamoon is a firm but fair chairman and does
his best to keep the members focused on germane
topics. He also insists that DGs and city
representatives do their homework before they submit
proposals. He insists that projects be worthwhile and
they be appropriate. When the DG of Municipalities
(who is responsible for trash collection) asked for
CERP funds to clean the streets, Mamoon rejected the
DG's submission. Mamoon said it was inappropriate for
the PRDC to use Coalition funds for work that the DG
was supposed to do with his own budget and using his
own employees. When the DG for Roads and Bridges
submitted a last minute request, Mamoon chastised him
for not coordinating his plans with the DG of Sewers
who had insisted that pipes be repaired before the
streets are repaved or the roads would have to be torn
up again.


4. (U) After six weeks of deliberations, the PRDC
completed its initial list of project recommendations
on June 26 and submitted that list to the PC. The
list included projects such as upgrades to electric
distribution systems, water purification units,
upgrades to telephone exchanges, road and bridge
repairs, health clinics and sewers. Although Ramadi,
the provincial capital, would receive more than other
cities, the proposed projects are geographically
spread throughout the province. (The PRDC rebutted
criticism from Fallujan participants by explaining
that Ramadi's population was twice as large and had
not had the benefit of the reconstruction funds
already allotted to Fallujha.) On June 29 the PC met
and approved all the recommendations from the PRDC.


5. (C) On July 3 the PRDC met again to iron out some
details. The PRDC had recommended, and the PC had
approved, projects totaling approximately USD 13
million. In an effort to squeeze every penny out of
the Coalition's CERP allocation, the panel debated a
number of smaller projects and added them to the list.
Several members pecked away at their calculators as
they approved or rejected the last few projects. When
they finished, there was still a small balance so
Mamoon suggested they save it for a project in Al
Tash, a refugee camp for Iranian Kurds. "No one ever
does anything for them" he said. It is not clear if
the PRDC will go back to the PC for another vote but
the PC Chair sat through the entire meeting and he did
not indicate that he thought a new vote was necessary.


6. (C) Now the PRDC is eager to advertise the
projects and elicit sealed, competitive bids. The
envelopes will be opened at a meeting the morning
after the deadline and contractors are invited to
attend. The PRDC's enthusiasm is encouraging, but in
reality the process will take several more weeks. The
proposals submitted thus far lack the specificity
necessary for USG contracting. However, personnel
from the Seabees and Army Corps of Engineers will be
working closely with Iraqi engineers over the next few
weeks in order to fill in the gaps.


7. (C) Comment: The Anbaris are clearly
demonstrating a new capacity to manage the affairs of
the province. They simply require money and security.
If the PRDC in Anbar makes real progress, we should be
able to find additional funding for it. The capacity
of provincial leadership is inextricably linked to
their ability to produce results. As Iraqis learn to
flesh out realistic proposals, the USG can coach local
officials in the art of public contracting. Time is
short: the first round of contracts must be signed by
September 25. The Anbar Provincial Support Team is
determined to expedite the process. The stated goal
is to demonstrate to the people of Al Anbar the
connection between their government and the provision
of basic public services.


8. (U) REO HILLA, REO BASRA, REO MOSUL, and REO
KIRKUK, minimize considered.


Satterfield