PLAN FOR SECURITY TRANSFER OF MUTHANNA PROVINCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002046 SIPDIS SIPDIS CONFIDENTIAL/REL UK,AU,JA,IZ SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/16/2016 TAGS: PINS MOPS PREL AS UK JA IZ SUBJECT: PLAN FOR SECURITY TRANSFER OF MUTHANNA PROVINCE REF: A. A. BAGHDAD 1056 ¶B. B. BAGHDAD 3853 ¶C. C. BAGHDAD 3731 Classified By: Political-Military Counselor David C. Litt for reasons 1.4 (a),(b),(d). ¶1. (C/REL AU,JA,UK, IZ) The May 2006 Provincial Security Transition Assessment concluded that Muthanna province is ready for transition to Iraqi civilian authority. Muthanna met the four necessary transfer conditions: the threat level is low, Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) have reached a level of competency and self-sufficiency, the governor is capable of overseeing security operations, and MNF-I is postured to reinforce the Iraqi Armed Forces as necessary. ¶2. (C/REL AU, JA, UK, IZ) Based on the assessment results, the Joint Committee to Transfer Security Responsibility (JCTSR) will recommend to the Ministerial Committee National Security (MCNS) a mid- to -late July transition and request their immediate approval of the Transition Implementing Arrangement. (NOTE: The MCNS, is the ultimate authority and should meet by Sunday, June 18. The Implementing Arrangement is the Memorandum of Understanding that outlines the transfer process. END NOTE.) ¶3. (C/REL AU, JA, UK, IZ) If MCNS approval is granted, the JCTSR leadership will request that Prime Minister Maliki make a public announcement on the subject by June 22. Once the public announcement is made, the JCTSR will have up to forty-five days to carry out the transfer. In initial consultations with representatives from Iraqi senior leadership, Multi National Division-South East, Multi National Force -Iraq, Multi National Corps-I, and the UK, Australian, and Japanese Missions in Baghdad, all on aboard with the mid- to -late July transfer. ¶4. (C/REL AU, JA, UK, IZ) The JCTSR has begun a series of meetings with relevant stakeholders to develop a coordinated public campaign strategy for the planned transfer. Participants include MNF-I Office of Strategic Communications, Public Affairs officers from the US, UK, Japanese, and Australian missions along with POLMIL officers from the US and UK missions. The next meeting will include a Public Affairs officer from PM Maliki's office. SPECKHARD