PRT TIKRIT INAUGURATION LEADS TO SECURITY AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 004042 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2016 TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM IZ SUBJECT: PRT TIKRIT INAUGURATION LEADS TO SECURITY AND RECONCILIATION DISCUSSION Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. After the Salah ad Din (SaD) PRT's October 12 inauguration ceremony, the Ambassador and MND-North CG Major General Mixon discussed security issues and reconciliation with SaD Governor Hamad Hamood al Shakti, Deputy Governor General Abdullah Al Jbarah, and Provincial Council Chair Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed Osman. The provincial leaders are very concerned about attacks on roadways between principal cities throughout the province and terrorist activities along the province's northern border with Kirkuk. Re-affirming their commitment of support to Coalition Forces (CF),the provincial leaders agreed to meet with MG Mixon and SaD-based Iraqi Army (IA) General Aziz to further cooperation. The provincial leaders asserted that current de-Baathification policies need to be reviewed in order for reconciliation to move forward. The Ambassador said that a review is currently underway and that revisions may see de-Baathification applied to as few as 1,200 former Baath party members. The Ambassador encouraged the provincial leaders to engage their colleagues at the national-level on this issue. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) On October 12 the Ambassador inaugurated the Salah ad Din (SaD) Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) at a ceremony at the PRT's operating base, Forward Operating Base (FOB) Speicher. The Ambassador, MND-N Commanding Major General Mixon, SaD Governor Hamad Hamood Al Shakti, and the PRT Team Leader gave remarks. Following the ceremony, the Ambassador, MG Mixon, and the PRT Team Leader held a private meeting with al Shakti, Deputy Governor General Abdullah Al Jbarah, and Provincial Council Chair Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed Osman. -------------- Security in the Salah ad Din -------------- ¶3. (C) The provincial leadership highlighted attacks on roadways between principal cities throughout the province and terrorist activities along the province's northern border with Kirkuk as their primary areas of concern. They indicated that the some members of the Iraqi police are assisting insurgent activities. Demonstrating their commitment to supporting Coalition Forces (CF),they cited specific areas where terrorist activities had been occurring and made suggestions for further coordination. At the Ambassador's suggestion, the provincial leaders agreed to meet with General Mixon and SaD-based Iraqi Army General Aziz (Division Commander of the fourth IA) to work through the details of their security concerns and increased coordination. -------------- Reconciliation and De-Baathification -------------- ¶4. (C) The provincial leaders stressed the need for revision of the de-Baathification policies, noting that the current framework had caused a major unemployment problem and that many SaD retirees were currently not receiving their pensions. Indicating that most political parties agreed that de-Baathification had gone too far, the Ambassador said that a review is currently underway and that revisions may see de-Baathification applied to as few as 12,000 former party members. The Ambassador encouraged the provincial leaders to engage their colleagues at the national-level on this issue in order to influence the re-shaping of the policies. ¶5. (C) The Ambassador also said that reformed Baathists still have the opportunity to engage in the political process. The provincial leadership acknowledged that there needs to be more engagement from Sunnis and former Baathists on the national level. The Ambassador suggested that it might benefit former Baathists who want to engage in national politics to bring a united plan under clear leadership to the table; then they could exchange abandoning violence for a stronger welcome to the political process. The Ambassador indicated that the USG could assist as a facilitator. KHALILZAD