MINISTER BOLANI TELLS CODEL BURR OF MOI REFORM

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003558

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/23/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL MOPS IZ
SUBJECT: MINISTER BOLANI TELLS CODEL BURR OF MOI REFORM


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


1. (C) SUMMARY: During Iraqi Minister of Interior Jawad
al-Bolani's September 9 discussions with CODEL Burr, he
highlighted the success of the Baghdad Security Plan and
explained his efforts to reform the corrupt Ministry of
Interior (MOI). Bolani said the MOI's efforts to "win the
Iraqi peoples' trust" would include retraining several units
and equipping them with new uniforms that will be more
difficult for insurgents and death squads to counterfeit.
Bolani noted that MOI provides many non-security related
services including passport issuance, births registration,
and licensing. This activity amounts to nearly two million
transactions per month. END SUMMARY

--------------
Baghdad Security Plan Is Succeeding
--------------

2. (U) Senators Richard Burr (R-NC),David Vitter(R-LA),and
Thomas Coburn (R-OK) met with Iraqi Minster of Interior Jawad
al-Bolani. While providing an overall situation update,
Minister Bolani touted the success of the Baghdad Security
Plan stating that it has sharply reduced the number of
sectarian attacks in the areas where it has been implemented.

--------------
Police: Retraining, Oaths, and New Uniforms
--------------

3. (C) Bolani told the delegation that MOI is progressing
well in training, operations and reform. He touted his
ministry as being the first in the Iraqi government to submit
to the Council of Representatives a strategic reform plan.
While not elaborating on the plan's metrics, he emphasized
three tenets: loyalty, responsibility, and performance. The
ministry, Bolani added, will carefully vet its personnel and
take "appropriate measures" against those who are criminal,
corrupt, or have membership in sectarian militias. Bolani
did not, however, offer specifics on arrests or suspensions
of MOI personnel accused of criminal offenses.


4. (U) In October, several units will receive re-training,
take a loyalty oath, and receive the new MOI uniform. Bolani
considers the new initiative important to MOI's credibility
because death squads and insurgents now frequently disguise
themselves in the police uniforms. It is hoped that the new
uniform's distinctive camouflage pattern will be more
difficult to counterfeit.

--------------
MOI's Size and Wide Ranging Duties
--------------

5. (U) Bolani stated that MOI occupies 640 police stations,
258 border stations, and thirteen border crossing points.
These are located in throughout the country and along Iraq's
border. He added that nearly fifty percent of the police
stations currently have modern equipment and that he hoped to
have all the stations completely fitted by the end of 2007.
Bolani noted that MOI is a "busy ministry" with many
non-security transactions including births registration,
passport issuance, and licensing. These transactions amount
to nearly two million transactions per month.
SPECKHARD