POSSIBILITIES FOR GERMAN SUPPORT OF IRAQI POLICE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000285 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER IZ GM JO SUBJECT: POSSIBILITIES FOR GERMAN SUPPORT OF IRAQI POLICE TRAINING REF: BERLIN 0053 Classified By: Political Military Counselor David C. Litt for reasons 1 .4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. In response to REFTEL, Post and Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq (MNSTC-I) welcome German initiatives to consider expanded training for Iraqi police. Although amenable to German proposals for different training sites, the incorporation of German trainers at the Jordanian International Police Training Center (JIPTC) is advantageous for multiple reasons. Post and MNSTC-I look forward to exploring options for German police training initiatives in more depth. END SUMMARY ¶2. (C) The desire of the German government to provide targeted training for three types of police - senior and middle management, specialists, and trainers (&train the trainers8),is understood, and further discussions will enable integration of German initiatives into the Iraqi Police Service (IPS) training framework. Close coordination with MNSTC-I and the Iraqi Ministry of Interior on the curriculum will ensure that German initiatives are linked closely with IPS needs and priorities. ¶3. (C) While training Iraqi police in Iraq is the ideal course of action, MNSTC-I is amenable to discussions on sites outside the country, with a preference for training at regional locations. JIPTC would be an advantageous location for German training initiatives. This modern facility is a permanent location with a total student capacity of 3,500, with the center typically filled with 3,200 basic trainees. JIPTC currently offers two operational syllabi: the Iraqi Basic Police Course and the Officers Tactics and Leadership School course for first-line officers. The training at JIPTC is an international effort, with staff members from 11 countries currently instructing. ¶4. (C) Policies and procedures for instructor life support issues have already been established, making any German initiatives at JIPTC significantly easier to coordinate and more cost effective than initiating a training program in another third country. German participation in established JIPTC training efforts is encouraged; options for new training initiatives at the facility could be explored in more detail. German proposals to train Iraqi police in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey or Germany, would be open for discussion. However, any venues outside locations in Iraq, other than JIPTC, would be more difficult to coordinate with the Coalition and Iraqi Government. The start-up costs would be considerable for any new training site and the German government would be expected to negotiate all logistical basing requirements with the government of that third country. ¶5. (C) REFTEL discusses a lack of qualified Arabic trainers from Germany. Although translators are currently employed at JIPTC, there is no excess language translation capability at the center. Post encourages the German government to coordinate with other European countries that might provide the appropriate language support. ¶6. (C) Post and MNSTC-I look forward to working with German government representatives to translate this initiative into an effective contribution to development of the Iraqi Police Service in concert with the Iraqi Ministry of Interior,s needs and desires. Post recommends that the German government send a delegation to JIPTC in Amman to discuss steps forward on curriculum and coordination, to which MNSTC-I will send a delegation. KHALILZAD