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.

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Security in the Salah ad Din
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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.

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Reconciliation and De-Baathification
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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