SEPTEMBER 17 MEETING OF THE MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003555

SIPDIS

SIPDIS, NOFORN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/23/2016
TAGS: IZ PGOV PREL PTER PINS MOPS
SUBJECT: SEPTEMBER 17 MEETING OF THE MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE
ON NATIONAL SECURITY (MCNS)

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Daniel Speckhard for reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d).


1. (S/NF) SUMMARY:

-- Casualty Figures: The GOI agrees to establish a single
point of contact for casualty numbers.

-- The PM's Visit to Iran: The Prime Minister reported the
he had raised Iranian support for anti-GOI groups during his
recent visit to Tehran. Iran agreed to stop providing
weapons to anti-GOI groups in Iraq.

-- Baghdad Security Plan (BSP): Additional checkpoints will
be established by September 23. Charge reiterates the
importance of the economic side of the BSP. A Salafist
terrorist with possible plans to kidnap British citizens is
captured.

-- The killer of a Russian diplomat is captured.

-- Diyala/Militias: Minister of Defense al-Mufraji argues
that Coalition and ISF forces need to fill the security gap
in Diyala before militias do.

-- A meeting will be held to discuss the weakness of the
police. The possibility of Emergency Battalions composed of
police from outside the area they serve in will be explored
by deputies. END SUMMARY

Casualty Figures
--------------


2. (S/NF) Prodded by PM Maliki, MNFI Commanding General
Casey asked for a discussion of differences in casualty
figures between GOI sources. While participants blamed some
of the discrepancies on press exaggeration (whether
intentional or not),they agreed that the GOI's decentralized
method of providing casualty data was also at fault. When
some members -- including PM Maliki and Minister for State
for National Security Shirwan al-Waeli -- argued that perhaps
casualty figures should not be published at all, Charge
argued forcefully that publication of the real numbers was
the only way the GOI and the Coalition would be able to
combat the inflated numbers appearing in the press. Maliki
took the point, but noted that sometimes for operational
reasons numbers might have to be withheld. MCNS members
decided that the GOI should issue casualty data through a
single authorized point of contact or spokesman, doing
everything possible to guarantee that the information
reported was vetted for accuracy. Furthermo
re, the GOI undertook to better coordinate their casualty
data with the Coalition.

The Prime Minister's Trip To Iran
--------------


3. (S/NF) Maliki said that during his visit to Tehran he had
complained about Iranian interference in Iraqi affairs and
had asked for Iran's help in controlling the security
situation in Iraq. He said that Iran had committed to stop
providing weapons and money to anti-government groups in
Iraq, to provide intelligence on the Al Qaeda threat, to help
control the borders, and to put pressure on Syria to take
similar actions. Nevertheless, the Prime Minister did point
out that despite Iranian assurances otherwise, Tehran was
still holding six Iraqis captured during an incident along
the border. (NOTE: In a private discussion after the
meeting, National Security Advisor Rubaie told General Casey
and Charge that the Iraqi delegation had made clear its
displeasure with Iranian interference, noting that Iranian
weapons were being used to undermine Iran's own long-held
dream of a Shia-dominated government in Iraq. END NOTE)
Maliki said the two sides also discussed a variety of
economic issues, including the importation of oil and
electricity from Iran. Iraq declined an Iranian offer of a
USD 1 billion loan at five and half percent interest, noting
that Japan was offering a loan at much better terms (i.e. 10
years interest free).

The Baghdad Security Plan Update
--------------


4. (S/NF) Minister of Defense Abdul Qader Jasim said that
Baghdad Security Plan operations continued, noting that at
one location no less than one ton of explosives had been

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discovered. Jasim said an increased number of Baghdad
checkpoints will be in place by September 23. When asked,
Gen. Casey said MNF was still working to assist the GOI to
get additional technical equipment for inspection at the
checkpoints.


5. (S/NF) Charge reiterated the importance of the economic
piece of the BSP, praising the recent creation of a
Reconstruction Task Force that will work with U.S. experts to
expedite the contracts for projects in cleared areas. He
once again encouraged the GOI to send senior officials from
essential service ministries to the cleared areas, promising
to help provide protection for them. (NOTE: Following the
meeting, the GOI spokesman told Charge that Grand Ayatollah
SISTANI was also urging ministries to send representatives
out into the neighborhood. Charge suggested that Maliki
should issue a directive on this issue. END NOTE)


6. (S/NF) Iraqi National Intelligence Service (INIS)
Director General al-Shawani reported that an extremist
Salafist terrorist with connections to Al Qaeda in Iraq had
been captured. Al-Shawani said the terrorist may have been
trying to finance operations to kidnap British subjects in
Iraq.

Killer of Russian Diplomat Captured
--------------


7. (S/NF) Minister of State for National Security al-Waeli
reported that the killer of a Russian diplomat had been
arrested on unrelated battery charges and was being held by
the Iraqi 5th Division. Under interrogation he admitted to
being a former intelligence officer with ties to the Syrian
intelligence service and Ba'ath Party.

The Militias and Diyala
--------------


8. (S/NF) MinDef Jasim argued that the security gap in
Diyala needed to be quickly filled by Coalition and Iraqi
Security Forces (ISF). He said that if the security gap
continued, militias might move in to try to fill it. Jasim
said ISF and Coalition units should respond quickly to any
attempts by the militias to move into the area.

Police Weakness and Emergency Battalions
--------------


9. (S/NF) Commanding General Babakir Baderkhan Zibari said
the police suffer from a lack of weapons and equipment,
laying the blame at least partially on lack of support from
the Ministry of Interior (MOI). MinDeF Jasim blamed
interference from the provincial councils under which the
police operate, causing Maliki to suggest that a meeting be
convened to discuss whether the police should be removed from
provincial control. UK Ambassador Asquith said the MOI
already has the legal authority to put forward the candidates
for chiefs of police in provinces. The PM said that when
Interior Minister Bolani returns from travel a meeting on the
status of the police should be held with a view on improving
CPA Order 71.


10. (S/NF) Al-Waeli argued that a major weakness of the
police could be traced to the tribal links police officers
had with people in their area of responsibility. He
suggested creating Emergency Battalions for each province
composed of officers from another province, drawing from the
existing pool of police. General Casey suggested that
deputies look at the pros and cons of this idea, as well as
the likely costs. The Prime Minister said he would task the
MOI with following up on this issue.


Facility Protection Service
--------------


11. (S/NF) NSA Rubaie said another week was needed to review
the recommendations that had previously been made regarding
Facility Protection Service (FPS) personnel. Maliki said
General Casey had agreed to look into a request for a camp
where FPS personnel could be trained. (NOTE: In a later
meeting with the Charge and General Dempsy, General Casey
said the U.S. did not have spare facilities where this
training could be conducted. END NOTE)
SPECKHARD