MALIKI MOVES QUICKLY TO ACTIVATE CABINET, FILL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001677

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: MALIKI MOVES QUICKLY TO ACTIVATE CABINET, FILL
GAPS IN MEETING WITH AMBASSADOR AND GENERAL CASEY

Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Newly-elected Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki
met the Ambassador and General Casey May 21 and outlined
ambitious plans to jump-start his government and fill the
security gaps in his cabinet. Maliki convened both the
incoming and outgoing cabinets for a joint meeting May 21 to
hand over portfolios and spell out priorities. Maliki told
the Ambassador that he hoped to fill the interior, defense
and national security affairs slots within two-three days,
and he appeared to be narrowing in on candidates. Maliki
said he wanted to make electricity a top deliverable and
approved a plan to secure the path of electricity to Baghdad.
Maliki said he approved a letter from the Secretary to UNSG
Kofi Annan regarding the international compact but hoped the
U.S. would play a leading role in pushing it forward. Maliki
planned a tougher approached to corruption and, when the
Ambassador offered help, said he would propose steps in the
coming days. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Newly-elected Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki met the
Ambassador and General Casey May 21 and outlined ambitious
efforts to jump-start his government and fill the security
gaps in his cabinet:

-- THE HANDOVER: Maliki held his first cabinet meeting May 21
with former ministers in attendance to allow for a turnover
of portfolios and the delineation of priorities. Maliki has
officially taken up office in the prime minister's complex
beside the interim government building.

-- PUTTING EMPHASIS ON SECURITY: Maliki said he wanted to
fill the vacant interior, defense and state minister for
national security affairs slots within two to three days.
Maliki said he planned to meet with top police and army
commanders promptly to outline the importance he plans to
place on resolving security issues. General Casey plans to
present a plan for securing Baghdad first at a May 25 meeting
with the PM and other top security officials.

-- FILLING THE INTERIOR MINISTER SLOT: Maliki said he planned
to meet with former Shia Arab General and dissident
politician Tawfiq al-Yasiri later in the day, indicating that
Yasiri is emerging as a leading candidate for the interior
post. Yasiri told POLOFF that he held a separate meeting
with Jafari May 21 and is working to build trust with
Sadrists and SCIRI leaders who still have concerns about his
intentions.

-- FILLING THE DEFENSE MINISTER SLOT: Maliki appears focused
on nominating Muhammad Bara Najib al-Rubaie, a former officer
and son of Iraq's first official president after the 1958
coup that ended the monarchy. Sunni Arab leaders have
expressed doubts about Rubaie. They warn he is potentially
too weak for the job. We are contacting him to urge him to
travel to Iraq from London immediately to make his case. The
Ambassador is also exploring other nominees with all sides.

-- FILLING THE NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS SLOT: The Ambassador
plans to push Maliki to put the national security affairs
state ministry in the hands of a trusted independent. With
interior and defense clearly slated for Arabs and the Kurds
likely to lose the chief of staff of the army position, the
national security affairs post may mark the right perch for a
trusted Kurdish leader.

-- URGING U.S. INVOLVEMENT IN INTERNATIONAL COMPACT: Maliki
said he approved the draft of a letter from the Secretary to
UNSG Kofi Annan but believed that the U.N. could not itself
capably lead the International Compact effort. He urged the
U.S. to push on its own part to make the campaign succeed and
the Ambassador pledged to do so.

-- A TOUGHER APPROACH ON CORRUPTION: The Ambassador asked
Maliki what help the U.S. might provide in combating
corruption in his administration, a persistent problem under
PM Jafari. Maliki said he wanted to review the issue and the
institutions currently in place to treat it as a top item of
business. He said he would ask for help on the matter within
a few days.

-- MAKING ELECTRICITY A TOP DELIVERABLE: Maliki has approved
a plan to improve the delivery of electricity to Baghdad,
including security on the Bayji-Baghdad corridor. Maliki
noted the important role that outgoing Deputy Prime Minister
Ahmad Chalabi has had in coordinating energy issues. Maliki
indicated he may bring Chalabi into his administration to
continue similar work (Later in the day, Chalabi lobbied the
Ambassador for him (Chalabi) to be appointed Minister of
Interior).

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KHALILZAD