Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD3374
2006-09-11 06:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
ABU GHRAIB PRISON TRANSFERRED TO GOI, FUTURE USE
how-toVZCZCXRO6362 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHGB #3374 2540649 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 110649Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6810 INFO RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC//NSC// PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ2// PRIORITY RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003374
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2016
TAGS: PGOV PTER PINS KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: ABU GHRAIB PRISON TRANSFERRED TO GOI, FUTURE USE
TO BE DETERMINED
Classified By: Political Counselor Margaret Scobey, for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003374
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2016
TAGS: PGOV PTER PINS KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: ABU GHRAIB PRISON TRANSFERRED TO GOI, FUTURE USE
TO BE DETERMINED
Classified By: Political Counselor Margaret Scobey, for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
1. (U) This is a PRT Al Anbar cable.
2. (C) SUMMARY: Effective September 1, 2006,
responsibilities for securing and administering Abu Ghraib
prison transferred to an on-site Iraq Army unit and
Ministry of Justice officials. A platoon of U.S. Marines
will remain at the location until mid-September, to help
support security efforts. The acting prison warden told Al
Anbar PolOff August 30 that GOI officials had not yet
determined the future use of the facility. He noted that
repairs would be made on the facility and that "if security
in Iraq stabilizes, we might continue to use it as a
prison." All options would be examined over the upcoming
six months. The last groups of detainees were transferred
to Baghdad's Camp Cropper in late July and early August
2006. END SUMMARY.
--------------
ABU GHRAIB TRANSFER COMPLETE;
FUTURE USE TO BE DETERMINED
--------------
3. (C) Al Anbar PolOff and Marine Regimental Combat Team 5
Commanding Officer visited Abu Ghraib Prison August 30,
2006, to confirm handover arrangements with IA officers and
MoJ officials. The transfer became official September 1,
with primary security responsibilities for the attack-prone
site given to an IA unit that had previously been stationed
in the Fallujah area. A previously assigned four-person
military transition team (MTT, U.S. Army) will continue to
mentor and train IA soldiers at Abu Ghraib for the duration
of the IA unit's assignment there - at least through the
end of 2006. A separate platoon of Marines will remain on
location through mid-September to facilitate the
transition. NOTE: the original plan for Abu Ghraib's
security centered on MoJ's assumption of responsibilities.
MoJ officials were unable to deliver resources, so MNF-W
had to deploy CF and IA units to the site, reducing
security effectiveness in areas east of Fallujah. END
NOTE.
4. (C) Overall administrative functions will be handled by
an MoJ team, which will number approximately 100 persons
rotating in and out of the prison in coming months. The
MoJ warden indicated that the GOI had not yet decided what
future use the facility would have; a decision would be
made based on security conditions in Iraq over a six to
eight month timeframe.
--------------
IRAQI ARMY SOLDIERS OFFER VIEWS
--------------
5. (C) Iraqi Army soldiers told PolOff that they felt
confident about their security responsibilities at Abu
Ghraib, despite its violence-prone past and proximity to
dangerous neighborhoods. One soldier remarked, "It does
not matter if we are assigned to Abu Ghraib, Ramadi,
Fallujah - all are the same." Several urged that the
coalition continue to focus on preventing militia activity.
One IA officer said blunty, "we are stronger than the
militias and the parties that control them. This is the
same army that fought Iran for ten years." Another said
his unit favored inclusion of Sunni-Arabs into the army.
One said that Abu Ghraib remained a troubling marker in the
minds of Iraqis, both under Saddam Hussein and based on CF
abuses there: "no one likes what this place represents in
the mind."
6. (C) COMMENT: The transfer of Abu Ghraib marks a key
transition, symbolic and substantive. The prison is
located in a volatile suburb of Baghdad; it remains a
possible target for future insurgent and terrorist attacks.
The IA unit charged with the site's security appears
prepared for this task. The usual logistical support
issues (food, generators, fuel, medical, quick reaction
force, etc.) will require, however, some CF assistance
until MoD supplies and services are on-line. MoJ officials
noted that repairs at Abu Ghraib are being made in line
with prison standards - whether or not the GOI eventually
decides to reopen the notorious site for that purpose. END
COMMENT.
KHALILZAD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2016
TAGS: PGOV PTER PINS KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: ABU GHRAIB PRISON TRANSFERRED TO GOI, FUTURE USE
TO BE DETERMINED
Classified By: Political Counselor Margaret Scobey, for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
1. (U) This is a PRT Al Anbar cable.
2. (C) SUMMARY: Effective September 1, 2006,
responsibilities for securing and administering Abu Ghraib
prison transferred to an on-site Iraq Army unit and
Ministry of Justice officials. A platoon of U.S. Marines
will remain at the location until mid-September, to help
support security efforts. The acting prison warden told Al
Anbar PolOff August 30 that GOI officials had not yet
determined the future use of the facility. He noted that
repairs would be made on the facility and that "if security
in Iraq stabilizes, we might continue to use it as a
prison." All options would be examined over the upcoming
six months. The last groups of detainees were transferred
to Baghdad's Camp Cropper in late July and early August
2006. END SUMMARY.
--------------
ABU GHRAIB TRANSFER COMPLETE;
FUTURE USE TO BE DETERMINED
--------------
3. (C) Al Anbar PolOff and Marine Regimental Combat Team 5
Commanding Officer visited Abu Ghraib Prison August 30,
2006, to confirm handover arrangements with IA officers and
MoJ officials. The transfer became official September 1,
with primary security responsibilities for the attack-prone
site given to an IA unit that had previously been stationed
in the Fallujah area. A previously assigned four-person
military transition team (MTT, U.S. Army) will continue to
mentor and train IA soldiers at Abu Ghraib for the duration
of the IA unit's assignment there - at least through the
end of 2006. A separate platoon of Marines will remain on
location through mid-September to facilitate the
transition. NOTE: the original plan for Abu Ghraib's
security centered on MoJ's assumption of responsibilities.
MoJ officials were unable to deliver resources, so MNF-W
had to deploy CF and IA units to the site, reducing
security effectiveness in areas east of Fallujah. END
NOTE.
4. (C) Overall administrative functions will be handled by
an MoJ team, which will number approximately 100 persons
rotating in and out of the prison in coming months. The
MoJ warden indicated that the GOI had not yet decided what
future use the facility would have; a decision would be
made based on security conditions in Iraq over a six to
eight month timeframe.
--------------
IRAQI ARMY SOLDIERS OFFER VIEWS
--------------
5. (C) Iraqi Army soldiers told PolOff that they felt
confident about their security responsibilities at Abu
Ghraib, despite its violence-prone past and proximity to
dangerous neighborhoods. One soldier remarked, "It does
not matter if we are assigned to Abu Ghraib, Ramadi,
Fallujah - all are the same." Several urged that the
coalition continue to focus on preventing militia activity.
One IA officer said blunty, "we are stronger than the
militias and the parties that control them. This is the
same army that fought Iran for ten years." Another said
his unit favored inclusion of Sunni-Arabs into the army.
One said that Abu Ghraib remained a troubling marker in the
minds of Iraqis, both under Saddam Hussein and based on CF
abuses there: "no one likes what this place represents in
the mind."
6. (C) COMMENT: The transfer of Abu Ghraib marks a key
transition, symbolic and substantive. The prison is
located in a volatile suburb of Baghdad; it remains a
possible target for future insurgent and terrorist attacks.
The IA unit charged with the site's security appears
prepared for this task. The usual logistical support
issues (food, generators, fuel, medical, quick reaction
force, etc.) will require, however, some CF assistance
until MoD supplies and services are on-line. MoJ officials
noted that repairs at Abu Ghraib are being made in line
with prison standards - whether or not the GOI eventually
decides to reopen the notorious site for that purpose. END
COMMENT.
KHALILZAD