Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD1587
2006-05-14 06:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
GOI PERCEPTIONS OF DETENTION SPLIT ON SECTARIAN
how-toVZCZCXRO3750 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHMOS DE RUEHGB #1587 1340650 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 140650Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4426 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY RUCNFB/FBI WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001587
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/13/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINS PTER PHUM KJUS IZ
SUBJECT: GOI PERCEPTIONS OF DETENTION SPLIT ON SECTARIAN
LINES
Classified By: Political-Military Counselor David C.
Litt for reasons 1.4 (a) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001587
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/13/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINS PTER PHUM KJUS IZ
SUBJECT: GOI PERCEPTIONS OF DETENTION SPLIT ON SECTARIAN
LINES
Classified By: Political-Military Counselor David C.
Litt for reasons 1.4 (a) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Recent introductory briefs to
incoming GOI officials on the subject of MNF-I
detention issues have elicited varied responses,
with PM-designate Nuri Kamal al Maliki taking a
conservative approach to detainee releases and an
active interest in accelerating the transition of MNF-
I detention operations to GOI control. Incoming
Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al Mashadani was equally
firm in his support of immediate large-scale detainee
releases and his opposition to early GOI assumption of
authority for security internment. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) In a May 6 meeting with the MNF-I Deputy
Commanding General of Detainee Operations, Maliki
requested that any planned large-scale detainee
releases be delayed until after the full formation of
the government "so that the government has a chance to
look into this - we need to look into the cases, have
access to the files. This could be positive or
negative. It should not be a US-only decision, it
should be shared by all Iraqis."
3. (C) "I am very worried about releasing a great
number of detainees all at one time," he added,
"because of the effect on the crime rate." Maliki was
more sanguine about the transition of MNF-I detainee
operations, asking "why does the plan take two years?
Can we do it earlier?" He also responded positively on
the issue of new Iraqi legal authorities for security
internment, saying "we will work with the judicial
process, we will pass laws - otherwise this will send
a message to the terrorists, if we release everybody."
4. (C) In contrast, incoming Speaker of Parliament
Mashadani opened a 8 May meeting with a plea for the
immediate release of large numbers of detainees
(especially females) in both MNF-I and Iraqi custody.
"The people want release of their innocent brothers
and sisters," he claimed. Of detainees in Iraqi
custody he said "there are so many abused, there are
so many without files. The Iraqi government is
accountable to the people, and the detainees are a
number one priority for us in government."
5. (C) Mashadani expressed no concern about care and
conditions in Coalition detention facilities, but
opposed a quick transfer of control of MNF-I detainees
to the GOI, arguing "half of them will be killed if
transition happens now." He blamed the U.S. and MNF-I
for poor detainee treatment in Iraqi places of
detention, asking why the U.S. allowed abuse to take
place at Ministry of Interior and Defense facilities.
"You brought in this garbage," Mashadani complained,
referring to the previous government.
6. (C) COMMENT: The divergence in opinion between the
PM-designate and the Speaker is indicative of a trend
confirmed by recent conversations with other GOI
interlocutors. Detention issues are increasingly
viewed through a sectarian lens, with Shi'a Iraqis
skeptical of the benefits of substantial relases from
MNF-I's 15,000-strong, 92% Sunni detainee population,
and Sunni Iraqis incensed by the perception of
arbitrary, abusive detentions of Sunni innocents by
the Ministry of the Interior. END COMMENT.
KHALILZAD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/13/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINS PTER PHUM KJUS IZ
SUBJECT: GOI PERCEPTIONS OF DETENTION SPLIT ON SECTARIAN
LINES
Classified By: Political-Military Counselor David C.
Litt for reasons 1.4 (a) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: Recent introductory briefs to
incoming GOI officials on the subject of MNF-I
detention issues have elicited varied responses,
with PM-designate Nuri Kamal al Maliki taking a
conservative approach to detainee releases and an
active interest in accelerating the transition of MNF-
I detention operations to GOI control. Incoming
Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al Mashadani was equally
firm in his support of immediate large-scale detainee
releases and his opposition to early GOI assumption of
authority for security internment. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) In a May 6 meeting with the MNF-I Deputy
Commanding General of Detainee Operations, Maliki
requested that any planned large-scale detainee
releases be delayed until after the full formation of
the government "so that the government has a chance to
look into this - we need to look into the cases, have
access to the files. This could be positive or
negative. It should not be a US-only decision, it
should be shared by all Iraqis."
3. (C) "I am very worried about releasing a great
number of detainees all at one time," he added,
"because of the effect on the crime rate." Maliki was
more sanguine about the transition of MNF-I detainee
operations, asking "why does the plan take two years?
Can we do it earlier?" He also responded positively on
the issue of new Iraqi legal authorities for security
internment, saying "we will work with the judicial
process, we will pass laws - otherwise this will send
a message to the terrorists, if we release everybody."
4. (C) In contrast, incoming Speaker of Parliament
Mashadani opened a 8 May meeting with a plea for the
immediate release of large numbers of detainees
(especially females) in both MNF-I and Iraqi custody.
"The people want release of their innocent brothers
and sisters," he claimed. Of detainees in Iraqi
custody he said "there are so many abused, there are
so many without files. The Iraqi government is
accountable to the people, and the detainees are a
number one priority for us in government."
5. (C) Mashadani expressed no concern about care and
conditions in Coalition detention facilities, but
opposed a quick transfer of control of MNF-I detainees
to the GOI, arguing "half of them will be killed if
transition happens now." He blamed the U.S. and MNF-I
for poor detainee treatment in Iraqi places of
detention, asking why the U.S. allowed abuse to take
place at Ministry of Interior and Defense facilities.
"You brought in this garbage," Mashadani complained,
referring to the previous government.
6. (C) COMMENT: The divergence in opinion between the
PM-designate and the Speaker is indicative of a trend
confirmed by recent conversations with other GOI
interlocutors. Detention issues are increasingly
viewed through a sectarian lens, with Shi'a Iraqis
skeptical of the benefits of substantial relases from
MNF-I's 15,000-strong, 92% Sunni detainee population,
and Sunni Iraqis incensed by the perception of
arbitrary, abusive detentions of Sunni innocents by
the Ministry of the Interior. END COMMENT.
KHALILZAD