RUBAIE POSSIBLY NEXT MINISTER OF INTERIOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001398

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2011
TAGS: PGOV PINS PREL MOPS IZ
SUBJECT: RUBAIE POSSIBLY NEXT MINISTER OF INTERIOR

Classified By: AMBASSADOR ZALMAY KHALILZAD FOR REASONS 1.4 (A),(B),(D
)


1. (C//REL GBR AUS) SUMMARY: National Security Advisor
Muwaffuk Rubaie has informed Ambassador Khalilzad that
PM-Designate al-Maliki has offered him the post of Minister
of Interior. The Ambassador promised to follow up with MNF-I
CG Casey, so that the three could meet to discuss further
Rubaie's potential nomination as Minister of Interior. END
SUMMARY.


2. (C//REL GBR AUS) NSA Rubaie informed the Ambassador in a
private meeting on April 27 that Prime Minister-Designate
al-Maliki had offered him the post of Minister of Interior.
Rubaie commented that he himself had been torn between the
possibility of becoming the next Minister of Finance or
Minister of Interior. However, Rubaie then expressed his
strong desire to take the reins of MOI, and he asked for USG
support for this position.


3. (C//REL GBR AUS) The Ambassador stated that the Minister
of Interior slot is the most important ministerial position
for Iraq's new government. Rubaie opined that the future
conduct of the Ministry of Interior can either help or hinder
al-Maliki. The Ambassador described the Minister of Interior
position as a difficult, complex, and thankless job. He
emphasized that the next Minister of Interior has several
major tasks:

- Address the issue of militias.

- Clean up corruption and abuse in the MOI.

- Stop deliberate infiltration of MOI by Badr Corps and Jaysh
al-Mahdi loyalists.

- Eliminate death squads, secret detention centers.

- Restore the people's confidence in the MOI (especially in
the Sunni community).

- Develop MOI as a self-reliant institution (e.g., pay
salaries and deliver proper logistical support).


4. (C//REL GBR AUS) Ambassador asserted that militias should
be the number one priority to address. Lawful police members
must provide the necessary security to all segments of Iraqi
society. A DDR-decommissioning, demobilization and
reintegration-plan was needed to deal with the militia
problem.


5. (C//REL GBR AUS) Along with countering the militia threat,
Ambassador stressed the importance of restoring the image of
MOI. The Sunni community must perceive that MOI can be
trusted not feared. Properly-trained police must be
introduced into regions that currently have no police. MOI
must become transparent, issuing explanations of why it
conducts certain operations. Those caught committing acts of
corruption or unlawful violence must be held publicly
accountable.


6. (C//REL GBR AUS) The Ambassador concluded by restating
that he would confer with MNF-I CG GEN Casey regarding this
issue. Ambassador, Casey and Rubaie then would meet together
to follow up on this pending decision.
KHALILZAD