BAGHDAD SECURITY PLAN SUCCESSFULLY EXPANDS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003015 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/17/2016 TAGS: PGOV PTER KDEM IZ SUBJECT: BAGHDAD SECURITY PLAN SUCCESSFULLY EXPANDS REF: A. BAGHDAD 2969 ¶B. BAGHDAD 2997 Classified By: COL Kenneth Fisher, PRT Deputy Team Leader, for reasons 1.5 b and d. ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. Key Al Mansour District Advisory Council (DAC) members praised the initial successes of the Baghdad Security Plan's (BSP) second round of initiatives that began in the Ameriya and Ghazaliya neighborhoods of Al Mansour District over the past week. Confirming popular support for the initiative, they said some area residents have slowly begun to re-open their businesses and return to the markets, while cautioning that fear persists among many. They characterized the rest of the Al Mansour District as in a state of "collapsed security" and called for the Coalition Forces (CF) - not the Iraqi police -- to expand to other areas in the District with permanent checkpoints and roving patrols. Acknowledging that the BSP was in its initial stages in Ameriya and Ghazaliya, they expressed hope that the area will see "successes similar to Al Doura" in improved security, trash collection, and returned municipal services (reftels). They also noted the importance of conducting arrests properly, as some innocent individuals were being detained. Residents' confidence in Iraqi police and security forces remains low, and with pockets of the city normalizing, districts are calling for CF to expand the BSP initiatives. Districts are also calling for the provincial leadership, including the Mayor, to come down to the districts to listen to the DACs' needs and to provide essential services. END SUMMARY. INITIAL BSP SUCCESSES IN AL MANSOUR -------------- ¶2. (C) In an August 17 meeting, key Al Mansour DAC members Jaafar Al Ali and Jebar Shibeeb told PRT offs that the BSP initiatives are normalizing the security situation in the District's Ameriya and Ghazaliya neighborhoods since the operations began over the past week. They indicated that area resident are very supportive of the initiative, and while some have re-opened businesses and markets, many have persisting fears about the security situation. A CALL FOR EXPANDED BSP OPERATIONS -------------- ¶3. (C) Al Ali and Shibeeb said that the security situation in the rest of the Al Mansour District dominates most DAC meetings. Characterizing the rest of the District as in a state of "collapsed security," they said that "life is dying in many neighborhoods." They suggested that the BSP initiatives be expanded to the rest of the District in the form of permanent checkpoints and roving patrols, manned by the CF. Terming the Iraqi police a "source of chaos," they added that area residents have lost confidence in Iraqi police and security forces and emphasized that the CF must be fully engaged in the initiative. ¶4. (C) Hearing about the improved situation in Al Doura, Shibeeb visited the area and expressed hope that the CF would assist with trash collection and the return of municipal services in Ameriya and Ghazaliya as well. He surmised that internally displaced individuals (IDPs) would return once residents are convinced the long-term security situation is stable, employment opportunities are available, and municipal services have returned. He specifically mentioned the area's need for a hospital, which has been budgeted for with the Provincial Council. ¶5. (C) They both mentioned the need to conduct arrests properly, as some innocent individuals are being detained. COMMENT -------------- ¶6. (C) As areas of the city normalize, the DACs are calling for greater CF engagement in local security in all areas of their Districts. Confidence in the local Iraqi police and security forces remains low, and area residents are hopeful that local security will remain in the hands of the CF for the time being. The DACs also expect provincial and ministry leaders to provide for the needs of the citizens in their communities. END COMMENT. KHALILZAD