SECRETARY'S COORDINATOR FOR COUNTERTERRORISM

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 005007 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2015 TAGS: PTER PGOV IZ SUBJECT: SECRETARY'S COORDINATOR FOR COUNTERTERRORISM VISITS MOSUL, MEETS WITH PUK OFFICIAL Classified By: ACTING COUNSELOR FOR POLITICAL-MILITARY AFFAIRS EVAN G. READE FOR REASONS 1.4 (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On December 8, 2005, Ambassador Henry A. Crumpton, the Secretary's Coordinator for Counterterrorism, visited Mosul, where he accompanied REO Mosul Regional Coordinator Carl Gettinger and MND-NW Deputy Commanding General BG Kevin Bergner to a lunch hosted by PUK official Aso Mamaud. Mamaud expressed gratitude for what the U.S. has done to bring democracy to Iraq. He said that the problem of terrorism still challenges Mosul, spoke of the aspirations of the Kurds to have their own "nation" within a united, federated Iraq, and warned that democracy will not come easily in Iraq until people become more educated. He also warned that the KDP is less inclined to democracy than the PUK. Ambassador Crumpton was accompanied by S/CT Regional Affairs Officer Margaret Hawthorne and Acting Counselor for Pol-Mil Affairs. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) During his recent visit to Iraq on December 5-8, Ambassador Crumpton traveled to Mosul where he received briefings from BG Bergner and RC Gettinger concerning the fight against terrorism in the north-western region of Iraq. Following the briefings, he accompanied them to a luncheon hosted by local PUK official Aso Mamaud, who is a member of the PUK Leadership Committee. Mamaud welcomed his guests and expressed great satisfaction over the progress that has been made and the close working relationship between the Coalition and the PUK. He said he works hard to convince others that the main goal of the U.S. is to free Iraq. He reciting the democratic progress Iraq has made in the past year: election in January, seating of a government, drafting a constitution, the referendum. He said the election on December 15 will be a major event in the history of Iraq, and that good security on election day will be critical to its success. He expects the turnout to be high and noted that those who boycotted the election in January soon realized what a mistake they had made. Mamaud cautioned, however, that despite the progress made, spreading democracy in Iraq will not be an easy job. Democracy is a new concept in this country and it will be hard for many to make this transition. He expressed doubt that the KDP would fully embrace democracy, as he claims it believes only in power and lacks the capacity to believe in the freedom of speech and other democratic concepts. ¶3. (C) With regard to terrorism, Mamaud called it a cancer in the body of Iraq. "It is our duty to fight it." Mamaud characterized the situation in Mosul as "improving" but noted that many hard-liners and Baathists remain active in the area and there is still much hard work to be done together. He believes that most of the major terrorist leaders in Mosul have been killed or captured, that earlier problems with infiltration of the security forces are being remedied, and that the people are realizing their city is being left behind with regard to economic development and funding because of the presence of terrorists. All of this has made the people more willing to turn against the insurgents and work with the CF and ISF to defeat them. Mamaud also believes that the recent operations in Tal Afar were a great success, that the CF and ISF are scoring intelligence victories, and that progress is being made. He believes Syria is still a problem as far as foreign fighters are concerned. ¶4. (C) Mamaud was asked whether he thought the Kurds and Arabs could overcome their differences and live together. He replied it has always been the desire of the Kurds to live in a unified, federal Iraq. All they ask is to have the right to follow their own customs and have their own "nation" just like others in Iraq. ¶5. (C) Ambassador Crumpton expressed admiration for the progress Mosul and the region have made in fighting terrorism and developing an environment inhospitable to terrorists. He noted that Mosul serves as a model for the whole country. KHALILZAD