IRAQI MOI - TERRORISTS AND SECTARIAN DEATH SQUADS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002924 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2016 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL MOPS IZ SUBJECT: IRAQI MOI - TERRORISTS AND SECTARIAN DEATH SQUADS MAIN THREATS TO IRAQ, ACTION ON SITE FOUR WARRANTS SOON Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for Reasons 1.4 (b),(d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: In an August 7 meeting with Minister of Interior Jawad al-Bolani, Ambassador Khalilzad stressed the importance of rapidly quelling the cycle of violence in Baghdad. The Ambassador also urged Bolani to execute outstanding "Site Four" arrest warrants as soon as possible, underlining the need to meet the human rights requirements established in the Leahy Amendment. Bolani stated that the legal administrative papers needed to execute the warrants were nearly completed and promised action by August 10. In contrast to many Iraqi Shi,a political leaders, Bolani agreed with the Ambassador,s assessment that Baghdad,s security threats include sectarian death squads as well as terrorists. He said that both threats must be attacked simultaneously. Bolani predicted that the Baghdad Security Plan will succeed. END SUMMARY. -------------- Baghdad Security Threats, How to Win -------------- ¶2. (C) The Ambassador stressed the urgency of quelling the cycle of violence gripping the Iraq, emphasizing that the issue is critical to both Iraq,s government and U.S. domestic support. Bolani agreed that ending the recent upsurge in Baghdad violence is the most important near-term challenge for Iraq,s future, but complained that the international media maintains an excessive focus on the city at the expense of positive news from around the country. He stated that he was confident in the new Baghdad Security Plan and believed that it had enough forces to succeed. He added that security was both a military and social concept; to gain peoples, confidence, most areas needed both security and social services. ¶3. (C) Bolani agreed with the Ambassador(and Iraqi Minister of Defense Abdul Qader al-Mufraji) that more than one element was responsible for the current violence, citing a variety of factors including: Al Qaeda; Ba,athists; sectarian death squads; and common criminals. It was the duty of the government, Bolani added, to identify these "bad elements" and fight them. He added both Shi,a and Sunni death squads exist and observed that Iraq was the front line against global terror and must succeed in that war. Bolani opined that the best way to defeat these forces is through flexible approaches with mobile forces making the maximum use of intelligence, commenting that "death squads don,t have tanks." -------------- Action on Site Four Warrants Promised -------------- ¶4. (C) The Ambassador emphasized that Bolani must order execution of the "Site Four" warrants as soon as possible, cautioning that leaving them outstanding harmed the Ministry of Interior,s human rights credibility and put Iraq at risk of sanctions under the Leahy Amendment. Bolani agreed that the warrants must be executed and promised to get back to the Ambassador within seventy-two hours. (NOTE: This would mean no later that August 10. End Note.) -------------- Progress of MOI Reform -------------- ¶5. (C) Bolani assured the Ambassador that he is making progress in reforming MOI in accordance with a strategic plan built and staffed by loyal people. He joked that he has been in the position now for fifty-nine days and has much more to do. Bolani claimed that he has already fired close to fifteen hundred people for corruption and human rights violations and said that it would take time to replace them. He noted improvements in the quality of several areas, including investigatory capacity, adding that the FBI has provided excellent assistance. The Ambassador assured Bolani of support for meaningful MOI reform efforts. Bolani thanked the Ambassador for his long commitment to Iraqi people. KHALILZAD