Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD1995
2006-06-13 06:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
CODEL INHOFE MEETS WITH NEW MINISTER OF DEFENSE
how-toVZCZCXRO6505 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHGB #1995 1640610 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 130610Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5050 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001995
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINS PTER REL LE SY JO IZ
SUBJECT: CODEL INHOFE MEETS WITH NEW MINISTER OF DEFENSE
AND NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR
Classified By: Counselor for Political Military Affairs David C. Litt f
or reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001995
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINS PTER REL LE SY JO IZ
SUBJECT: CODEL INHOFE MEETS WITH NEW MINISTER OF DEFENSE
AND NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR
Classified By: Counselor for Political Military Affairs David C. Litt f
or reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Senators James Inhofe, Oklahoma, and Daniel K.
Akaka, Hawaii, visited Iraq June 10-11 with their staffs to
congratulate senior security officials on their recent
cabinet appointments and for their contributions to
operations resulting in the death of Abu Musab Zarqawi.
2. (C) CODEL Inhofe,s first meeting was with
recently-named Minister of Defense Abdul Qadir Mohammed
Jasim. Senators Inhofe and Akaka began the meeting
congratulating Minister Jasim on Iraqi Security Forces
contributions to the death of Abu Musab Zarqawi. The Senators
and Minister also extensively discussed the future of the
Ministry of Defense, specifically the changes required for
Iraqi forces to take control of battle space from American
troops. Minister Jasim opined that the biggest challenge
facing the Ministry if the lack of logistics capabilities,
though he offered no solutions to this problem.
3. (C) Next CODEL Inhofe met with National Security Advisor
Dr. Mowaffak Rubaie. This meeting focused nearly exclusively
on the challenges posed by the insurgency to the new
government of Iraq, beginning with the disposition of the
body of Abu Musab Zarqawi. Dr. Rubaie informed the Senators
that Jordan did not want the body of Zarqawi, though he
specifically stated that the Iraqi government would provide
an Islamic burial.
4. (C) Dr. Rubaie opined that Zarqawi,s death would
motivate insurgents to join the political process, informing
the CODEL that he had received two phone calls from
insurgents in Beirut and Damascus exploring options for
joining the Iraqi political process. Dr. Rubaie opined that
the Iraqi government will be happy to have them return and
looks forward to further integrating Iraqis into a government
of reconciliation and unity.
5. (C) In addition to the formal bi-lateral meetings, CODEL
Inhofe had the opportunity to interact with Iraqi soldiers at
the Monument to the Unknowns. Soldiers who chose to speak
with members of the CODEL emphasized they identified
themselves not as Shia or Sunni, but as Iraqis for Iraq.
Several soldiers made a point they had Shia and Sunni family
members under one roof.
6. (C) NOTE: CODEL Inhofe was scheduled to meet with new
Minister of Interior Jawad Al Bolani and tentatively with
Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki, but those meetings were
cancelled because of an unscheduled Council of Minister,s
meeting on the morning of June 11. END NOTE.
7. (C) COMMENT: Minister of Defense was refreshingly
forthcoming about the strengths and weaknesses of the Iraq
Armed Services, something that his predecessor failed to do
with CODELs. He was candid in his assessment about the
immediate need to address the problems with logistics and
payroll distribution. The Senators, impromptu discussions
with Iraqi soldiers revealed a different attitude about their
sense of identity than many Americans hear on television. END
COMMENT
KHALILZAD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINS PTER REL LE SY JO IZ
SUBJECT: CODEL INHOFE MEETS WITH NEW MINISTER OF DEFENSE
AND NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR
Classified By: Counselor for Political Military Affairs David C. Litt f
or reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Senators James Inhofe, Oklahoma, and Daniel K.
Akaka, Hawaii, visited Iraq June 10-11 with their staffs to
congratulate senior security officials on their recent
cabinet appointments and for their contributions to
operations resulting in the death of Abu Musab Zarqawi.
2. (C) CODEL Inhofe,s first meeting was with
recently-named Minister of Defense Abdul Qadir Mohammed
Jasim. Senators Inhofe and Akaka began the meeting
congratulating Minister Jasim on Iraqi Security Forces
contributions to the death of Abu Musab Zarqawi. The Senators
and Minister also extensively discussed the future of the
Ministry of Defense, specifically the changes required for
Iraqi forces to take control of battle space from American
troops. Minister Jasim opined that the biggest challenge
facing the Ministry if the lack of logistics capabilities,
though he offered no solutions to this problem.
3. (C) Next CODEL Inhofe met with National Security Advisor
Dr. Mowaffak Rubaie. This meeting focused nearly exclusively
on the challenges posed by the insurgency to the new
government of Iraq, beginning with the disposition of the
body of Abu Musab Zarqawi. Dr. Rubaie informed the Senators
that Jordan did not want the body of Zarqawi, though he
specifically stated that the Iraqi government would provide
an Islamic burial.
4. (C) Dr. Rubaie opined that Zarqawi,s death would
motivate insurgents to join the political process, informing
the CODEL that he had received two phone calls from
insurgents in Beirut and Damascus exploring options for
joining the Iraqi political process. Dr. Rubaie opined that
the Iraqi government will be happy to have them return and
looks forward to further integrating Iraqis into a government
of reconciliation and unity.
5. (C) In addition to the formal bi-lateral meetings, CODEL
Inhofe had the opportunity to interact with Iraqi soldiers at
the Monument to the Unknowns. Soldiers who chose to speak
with members of the CODEL emphasized they identified
themselves not as Shia or Sunni, but as Iraqis for Iraq.
Several soldiers made a point they had Shia and Sunni family
members under one roof.
6. (C) NOTE: CODEL Inhofe was scheduled to meet with new
Minister of Interior Jawad Al Bolani and tentatively with
Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki, but those meetings were
cancelled because of an unscheduled Council of Minister,s
meeting on the morning of June 11. END NOTE.
7. (C) COMMENT: Minister of Defense was refreshingly
forthcoming about the strengths and weaknesses of the Iraq
Armed Services, something that his predecessor failed to do
with CODELs. He was candid in his assessment about the
immediate need to address the problems with logistics and
payroll distribution. The Senators, impromptu discussions
with Iraqi soldiers revealed a different attitude about their
sense of identity than many Americans hear on television. END
COMMENT
KHALILZAD