INITIAL BAGHDAD SECURITY PLAN SUCCESSES IN FIRST

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002969 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/15/2016 TAGS: PGOV KDEM PTER IZ SUBJECT: INITIAL BAGHDAD SECURITY PLAN SUCCESSES IN FIRST FOCUS AREA Classified By: COL Kenneth Fisher, Baghdad PRT Deputy Team Leader, for reasons 1.4 b and d. ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. One week after Baghdad Security Plan (BSP) initiatives began in Al Doura, Al Rasheed District, District Advisory Council (DAC) members expressed the community's satisfaction with the results and requested an expansion of the initiative's scope to the entire district. DAC leaders applauded the ISF and CF's "daily cooperation" with community leaders. To continue public awareness about the new plan and to amplify Iraqi participation, the Al Rasheed DAC formed a committee of Sunni and Shia tribal leaders and clerics, local police, military, intelligence, and DAC members. The groups will meet on Aug 16 to hold elections for representatives to the committee. As the situation normalizes in Al Doura, the DAC members reported that citizens are returning to the streets for the first time in weeks and shops are beginning to re-open. However, departed residents have not yet begun to return to Al Doura. With security returning to the area, the DAC members quickly returned to the familiar refrain of inadequate municipal services, which they see as key for the return of residents, and continued detention of "innocent individuals," especially clerics and tribal leaders. We see the DAC's development of a new committee as a very positive step and, if successful, hope it will have a cross-pollination effect to other districts in Baghdad. END SUMMARY. NORMALIZATION BEGINS -------------- ¶2. (C) On Aug 15, one week after the new Baghdad Security Plan initiatives began on Aug 7 in Al Doura, PRT Offs met with Al Rasheed DAC Chairperson Sabeeh Radhy LA Kaaby and members Malek Al Sayed Hussien and Setar Selman Hassan. During the meeting, the Chairman expressed the community's satisfaction with the initiative and requested that it be expanded to include the entire district of Al Rasheed. With the area normalizing, community members have begun returning to the market and shops have started to re-open. COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR THE BSP -------------- ¶3. (C) Following BSP initiatives, DAC leaders engaged area Sunni and Shia tribal leadership, resulting in a joint letter issued by local tribal leadership, police, and military, under the auspices of leading Sunni cleric Abdul Ghafour Al Sammrraie. The statement called for an end to violence, mutual respect for all groups, and support for Iraqi and CF forces. A similar statement was also released jointly by the Sunni and Shia religious leadership in the area. ¶4. (C) In order to bolster support for the initiative in the community and maintain positive relations with the CF, Al Rasheed DAC decided to form a committee of Sunni and Shia tribal leaders and clerics, local police, military, intelligence, and DAC members. Elections for the committee members will be held during the DAC's weekly meeting on Aug ¶16. If successful, the committee will provide an excellent interlocutor for US Mission and CF officials on security issues on the local level. SECURITY AND SERVICES NECESSARY FOR IDP RETURN -------------- - ¶5. (C) Although the security situation has already improved markedly, the Al Rashid District Chairman indicated that no internally-displaced persons (IPDs) have returned to the area. He seemed to think that IDPs would not begin to return until, in addition to improved security, municipal services had improved. He listed trash collection, water distribution, and sewage collection as integral to making the area livable again. ¶6. (C) The DAC members used the discussion on IDPs to segue into complaints about "innocent detainees," especially members of the clergy and tribal leaders. They appealed for civility and respect when making necessary arrests, "for the sake of the families." COMMENT -------------- ¶7. (C) The Al Rasheed District's appreciation of and support for the newly beefed up community security is extremely positive. The home-grown plan to have a community committee to engage specifically on this issue also demonstrates a new-found level of Iraqi ownership in community security, which may replicate well to other districts. It is BAGHDAD 00002969 002 OF 002 particularly welcome if it continues to evolve as a cross-sectarian effort. That said, we agree with the Chairman's assessment that IDPs will likely not return to the area until they are assured of continued security and reliable municipal services. END COMMENT. KHALILZAD