Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD2161
2006-06-23 18:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
MINISTER OF HUMAN RIGHTS REQUESTS GOI OBSERVERS
how-toVZCZCXRO9220 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHGB #2161 1741849 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 231849Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5275 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE RHEHWSR/WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002161
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2016
TAGS: PHUM PNAT KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: MINISTER OF HUMAN RIGHTS REQUESTS GOI OBSERVERS
FOR HADITHA INVESTIGATION
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR MARGARET SCOBEY, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B)
AND (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002161
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2016
TAGS: PHUM PNAT KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: MINISTER OF HUMAN RIGHTS REQUESTS GOI OBSERVERS
FOR HADITHA INVESTIGATION
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR MARGARET SCOBEY, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B)
AND (D)
1. (C) On June 20, Minister of Human Rights Wijdan Mikhail
Salim met with Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Bill
Caldwell to request that the U.S. military Haditha
investigation include Iraqi government observers. The
Minister explained that the presence of these observers would
bring a higher level of legitimacy to the investigation in
the eyes of the Iraqi people. Minister Wijdan maintained
that this legitimacy was especially important given the
growing lack of confidence among Iraqis that crimes are
punished in Iraq. She added that Iraqi confidence in the
U.S. was also declining, primarily due to the effects of
negative media coverage. Therefore, she suggested that Iraqi
observers, along with joint USG-GOI press conferences
assuring the Iraqi people that a credible and detailed
investigation was underway, would be beneficial for both
sides.
2. (C) MG Caldwell indicated that the U.S. would review this
request. He explained that the criminal portion of the
investigation was still underway, and that help was needed to
convince the families to allow the exhumation of the victims'
remains. Explaining that the U.S. would welcome and
facilitate family members and/or GOI medical staff
accompanying the remains, MG Caldwell asked for the
Minister's assistance in engaging these families. The
Minister replied that she would try to think of ways to
assist, but that MoHR investigators had encountered
resistance from the families when conducting their own
investigation. Minister Wijdan presented a copy of the
Ministry's report on its own investigation. MG Caldwell
passed this Arabic version of the report and CD to the MNF-I
legal representative present for further use. (MNF-I NOTE:
LTC Bagwell assumed control of the items.)
3. (C) Finally, the Minister urged the U.S. to more
proactively engage in media activities to explain to the
Iraqi public their efforts on the Haditha investigation. She
lamented that an excess of negative media coverage against
the U.S. had not only widened the gap between Iraqis and
Americans, but had also manipulated the attention away from
pertinent issues. She cited the March raid on the Husseiynia
as an example where the frequency and tone of the media had
served to hide the criminal nature of activities at the
Husseiynia by diverting negative press onto the U.S. She
maintained that joint GoI/USG media conferences on sensitive
issues would help to some degree to restore public confidence.
KHALILZAD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2016
TAGS: PHUM PNAT KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: MINISTER OF HUMAN RIGHTS REQUESTS GOI OBSERVERS
FOR HADITHA INVESTIGATION
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR MARGARET SCOBEY, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B)
AND (D)
1. (C) On June 20, Minister of Human Rights Wijdan Mikhail
Salim met with Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Bill
Caldwell to request that the U.S. military Haditha
investigation include Iraqi government observers. The
Minister explained that the presence of these observers would
bring a higher level of legitimacy to the investigation in
the eyes of the Iraqi people. Minister Wijdan maintained
that this legitimacy was especially important given the
growing lack of confidence among Iraqis that crimes are
punished in Iraq. She added that Iraqi confidence in the
U.S. was also declining, primarily due to the effects of
negative media coverage. Therefore, she suggested that Iraqi
observers, along with joint USG-GOI press conferences
assuring the Iraqi people that a credible and detailed
investigation was underway, would be beneficial for both
sides.
2. (C) MG Caldwell indicated that the U.S. would review this
request. He explained that the criminal portion of the
investigation was still underway, and that help was needed to
convince the families to allow the exhumation of the victims'
remains. Explaining that the U.S. would welcome and
facilitate family members and/or GOI medical staff
accompanying the remains, MG Caldwell asked for the
Minister's assistance in engaging these families. The
Minister replied that she would try to think of ways to
assist, but that MoHR investigators had encountered
resistance from the families when conducting their own
investigation. Minister Wijdan presented a copy of the
Ministry's report on its own investigation. MG Caldwell
passed this Arabic version of the report and CD to the MNF-I
legal representative present for further use. (MNF-I NOTE:
LTC Bagwell assumed control of the items.)
3. (C) Finally, the Minister urged the U.S. to more
proactively engage in media activities to explain to the
Iraqi public their efforts on the Haditha investigation. She
lamented that an excess of negative media coverage against
the U.S. had not only widened the gap between Iraqis and
Americans, but had also manipulated the attention away from
pertinent issues. She cited the March raid on the Husseiynia
as an example where the frequency and tone of the media had
served to hide the criminal nature of activities at the
Husseiynia by diverting negative press onto the U.S. She
maintained that joint GoI/USG media conferences on sensitive
issues would help to some degree to restore public confidence.
KHALILZAD