MALIKI SAYS IRAQI POLICE NUMBER ONE PROBLEM;

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SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINS PNAT PREL PTER MOPS IZ
SUBJECT: MALIKI SAYS IRAQI POLICE NUMBER ONE PROBLEM;
ACCEPTS AMBASSADOR'S SOLUTION TO 'FLAG' ISSUE

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Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (S//REL GBR AUS) SUMMARY: On September 6, during a
briefing on the Baghdad Security Plan (BSP),Prime Minister
Maliki told MNF-I Commanding General (CG) Casey and the
Ambassador that he sees reforming the Iraqi Police as his
number one issue, and key to solving other related problems.
When the CG briefed him on plans to clear future areas of
Baghdad under the BSP, the PM did not object to clearing Sadr
City. Maliki reacted surprised when told that Sunni regard
the Shia ministers of electricity and health as favoring Shia
and discriminating against Sunnis. The Ambassador proposed a
face-saving solution to Kurdistan's "flying the Iraq flag"
problem. The CG urged Maliki to encourage the Finance
Minister to release previously promised funds for the
rebuilding of Anbar Province. END SUMMARY.

Violence and Murders Down in Baghdad in August
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2. (S//REL GBR AUS) On September 6, MNF-I Commanding General
(CG) George Casey, and the Ambassador briefed Prime Minister
Nuri al-Maliki (PM) on comparisons of the months of July and
August for violence in Baghdad, and on the results of public
opinion polls in Baghdad in mid-August concerning militias.
In general, August had the lowest rate of violence and
murders since the month of April, down significantly from
July, but with a violent surge during the last week of
August. The CG was optimistic that while there would be
"good weeks and bad weeks," the trend would be downwards.
Public opinion polls showed that while many people in Sadr
City thought that militias provided some security, nearly
one-third also favored their disarmament. In the whole of
Baghdad, most people thought that people joined militias for
money, rather than for religious reasons or to provide
security.

Iraqi Police the Prime Minister's Number One Problem
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3. (S//REL GBR AUS) Noting that the MNF-I's polls showed that
"security" was one reason why Baghdad citizens supported the
militias, the PM added that he is most concerned about the
Iraqi Police (IP),which he deemed his "number one issue" and
the key to solving the other security-related problems. They
have a deservedly bad reputation because the IP either "join
militias, lend them their vehicles, or do not resist them
because they are cowards." Probably fifty percent of the IP
cars are used by militias, he added. A focused effort will
be necessary to solve the IP problem.

The PM Did Not Object to Clearing Sadr City
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4. (S//REL GBR AUS) The CG briefed the PM on his strategy for
turning to Sadr City as a focus area of the Baghdad Security
Plan (BSP). The CG said that Sadr City would be cleared in
tranches, so as to concentrate security efforts in parts of
Sadr City that see the most violence. The PM did not object
to the strategy, though he did question the CG's choice of
which area of Sadr City to clear first. The PM also
suggested that the CG refrain from telling the residents of
any particular neighborhood in advance that theirs would be
the next area to be cleared. He urged the CG to act secretly
in the future until all areas of Baghdad had been cleared.
The CG assured PM that once the one area of Sadr City was
cleared, he would consult with the PM before moving to the
next area. (Note: Although the CG did not ask the PM to
concur with the plan to clear Sadr City, the PM did not raise
any immediate objections to this proposal. End Note.)

GOI Ministers should be "Ministers for all Iraqi Citizens"
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5. (S//REL GBR AUS) The CG urged the PM to encourage his
service ministers, especially those for health and
electricity, to visit the cleared areas to show their
solidarity with the Baghdad residents. Many of the cleared
areas had mixed Sunni and Shia populations. The popular
perception is that the Shia areas get medical services and
electricity, and the Sunni areas are ignored. The PM seemed
genuinely upset at this remark, and insisted that his
ministers should be "ministers for all Iraqi citizens."

Ambassador's Solution to Kurdistan's Iraqi Flag Issue
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6. (S//REL GBR AUS) The Ambassador proposed a solution to the

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Iraqi flag issue created when Kurdistan Regional Government
(KRG) President Masud Barzani allegedly "banned" the flying
of the current (Ba'athist) Iraqi flag in Kurdistan, and
permitting only the pre-Ba'athist July 14, 1958 Republican
flag. This ban was based on an article in a Kurdistan law.
The Ambassador proposed to the PM that Barzani abolish this
article of the Kurdistan law, and in return the Kurds would
fly the current Iraqi flag only over buildings housing
central government offices. Citing an Arabic proverb about
helping a stumbling horse, the PM agreed that he had to help
Barzani save face, and he did not object to the Ambassador's
solution. The PM did remark that he would now have to
temporarily shelve a pre-existing plan to convoke a committee
to examine the question of the Iraqi national anthem and
national flag because people would say that he was "doing it
because of Barzani."

Solving the Money Release Problem before going to Ramadi
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7. (S//REL GBR AUS) When the CG asked about the PM's proposed
trip to Ramadi, the PM replied that he would probably go
later this week. The CG urged him to speak to Finance
Minister Bayan Jabr, because the money that the GOI had
promised to rebuild Anbar Province had yet to be released by
the MOF. Somewhat surprised, the PM agreed that Anbar's
tribal leaders needed money to fight terrorists, stabilize
the province and start reconstruction. The CG closed by
suggesting that he resolve the "MOF release of funds" issue
before he goes to Anbar.
SPECKHARD