AUGUST 18 MEETING BETWEEN IRAQI PM, AMBASSADOR,

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003053

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/21/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINS PNAT PREL PTER MOPS IZ
SUBJECT: AUGUST 18 MEETING BETWEEN IRAQI PM, AMBASSADOR,
AND MNF-I CG

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Daniel V. Speckhard for Reasons 1.4 (b
) and (d).


1. (S//REL GBR AUS) SUMMARY: At an intense August 18 meeting
with Prime Minister Maliki, MNF-I Commander General (CG)
Casey and the Ambassador, the PM reacted negatively to
American news reports that the PM is willing to kill Sunnis,
but shield Shia including Moqtada al-Sadr from MNF-I raids.
The PM said that his objection is not to the targets of the
attacks, but to their impact on reconciliation and MNF-I's
methods, which he believes involve considerable collateral
damage. The CG briefed on the success to date of the Baghdad
Security Plan (BSP). END SUMMARY.

PM Impressed by Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF)
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2. (S//REL GBR AUS) On August 18, the Ambassador, CG Casey,
and Pol-Mil Counselor (notetaker) attended a briefing at the
Prime Minister's Residence. The PM expressed his appreciation
for the training of the Iraqi Special Operations Forces
(ISOF). In his estimation, 60,000 ISOF would be equal to
four times that number of regular Iraqi Army forces. The PM
wants the ability to order the ISOF on important
counter-terrorism missions.

BSP - The Difficulty will be to Sustain Progress
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3. (S//REL GBR AUS) General Casey then gave his briefing on
the Baghdad Security Plan (BSP) Phase II. The PM remarked
that the people of the Doura area of Baghdad, where the
"clear" phase of the BSP had been completed, were very happy
with the peace and security there. Other areas are eagerly
waiting for their turn, he said. The Ambassador reported his
conversation with a district leader in Doura, who noted that
900 tons of trash had been hauled away, and that merchants
were able to reopen their shops. He added that the Iraq
Reconstruction Management Office (IRMO) and USAID had
allocated $200 million to promote economic activity in the
cleared areas of Baghdad. General Casey noted that as Phase
II expands, the challenge will be for Iraqi forces alone to
maintain security of the cleared areas.

PM Denies "Attack Sunnis and Shield Shia" Charge
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4. (S//REL GBR AUS) Turning to "politics," the PM said he has
heard that American media is reporting that the Prime
Minister orders attacks on Sunnis but shields Shias, and this
causes frustration among the American military. He claimed
that MNF - I has reported this to Washington. General Casey
noted that the PM had rejected five MNF-I requests for
operations, all against Shia targets in densely populated
Sadr City. The PM had been concerned that those operations
could impact his reconciliation efforts and that innocent
people would be killed, especially if the MNF-I operation
involved tanks or aircraft. Firmly rejecting charges of
ethnic bias, the PM asserted that he will detain any person
of any ethnic origin. For example, earlier this week a Shia
militia group occupied Karbala public offices, and he ordered
the Iraqi Army to attack this insurgent group - even though
Karbala is home to a major Shia shrine. The stories imply
that he shields the Sadr's Jaysh al-Mahdi (JAM) to protect
the Shia from the
Sunnis. This is false -- he wants to get rid of the JAM. He
intends to surround Sadr City, and pressure Moqtada there and
pressure the Shia in Basrah. In fact, Iraqi National
Intelligence Service (INIS) Chief Shawani told him of a JAM
plot to assassinate him in Najaf, and he was forced to cancel
a trip. The PM urged General Casey to continue to propose
operations, but to try to plan them with a lower profile.
(NOTE: In an earlier meeting discussing MNF-I tactics, the PM
had suggested that the Saddam Hussein's low key "snatch and
grab" tactics were what he has in mind. END NOTE.)

General Casey - Iraqi Sovereignty Respected
--------------


5. (S//REL GBR AUS) General Casey responded that contrary to
what the PM had seen from the U.S. media, he had in fact told
President Bush that as the leader of an independent Iraq, the
Prime Minister has the right to exercise sovereignty. While
he is sure that some American military officers in MNF-I are
frustrated with the PM's decisions, there are certainly also
those frustrated with some of the CGs decisions as well. He
gives military advice and does not make political judgments.
In conclusion, he cited an American saying - "don't take
political advice from a soldier, and don't take military

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advice from a politician." The PM had a good laugh, and the
meeting ended on a lighter note.
SPECKHARD