Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD4054
2006-10-29 18:26:00
SECRET
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR AND DCM MEET WITH IRAQI NATIONAL
how-toVZCZCXRO3291 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHGB #4054/01 3021826 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 291826Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7742 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC//NSC// IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 004054
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS JO SA AEMR IZ
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND DCM MEET WITH IRAQI NATIONAL
SECURITY ADVISOR RUBAIE
Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 004054
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS JO SA AEMR IZ
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND DCM MEET WITH IRAQI NATIONAL
SECURITY ADVISOR RUBAIE
Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (S) Summary: Ambassador and DCM held a wide-ranging
discussion with Iraqi National Security Advisor Muwafaq
al-Rubaie immediately following the Ambassador's October 27
meeting with PM Maliki:
- Rubaie portrayed the PM as under pressure, worried about
failure, and without adequate staff to advise him and
implement his decisions;
- Rubaie said the PM hopes to bring Moqtada al-Sadr into the
political process; the Ambassador urged that the PM also
needs to explain his plan for confronting militias;
- The Ambassador urged the GOI to promptly come to agreement
with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) on hydrocarbons,
and he and Rubaie discussed possible solutions to the Iraqi
flag issue;
- The Ambassador urged Rubaie to move to get internal GOI
agreement on UNSCR rollover;
- The Ambassador and DCM urged Rubaie to raise Site 4 issues
with the PM;
- Rubaie welcomed efforts to engage Iraq's neighbors to help
quell Sunni violence;
- Rubaie requested a U.S. political advisor on security and
counter-terrorism and assistance with transportation to the
International Compact conference in Kuwait. End Summary.
Rubaie on PM Maliki
--------------
2. (S) Rubaie was upbeat about the Ambassador's
just-completed meeting with PM Maliki. According to Rubaie,
the PM is under "tremendous pressure" and feels frustrated;
he has "responsibility without authority." In response to a
question by the Ambassador, Rubaie said the PM has few people
he feels he can turn to for sound policy options and advice.
The PM thinks in terms of people, not institutions, and is
slow to trust new people. He makes good decisions, Rubaie
continued, but has no one to follow up and implement them.
3. (S) In a discussion with the PM Rubaie said he had just
before the PM's meeting with the Ambassador, Rubaie had found
the PM preoccupied with the prospect of failure for which he
would be blamed. Rubaie urged him to think instead of what
is needed for success, including focusing on strategic
partnership with the US.
4. (S) Rubaie said the PM is not intimidated by Moqtada
al-Sadr, nor does he feel politically dependent on him. The
PM hopes Sadr can be "tamed" and brought into the political
process. The DCM told Rubaie that the PM needs to explain
his plan for handling militias; the Ambassador noted U.S.
military frustration on this point.
Kurds, Oil and the Iraqi Flag
--------------
5. (S) The Ambassador noted that during his recent talks with
KRG President Barzani, Barzani had agreed not only that the
KRG would share hydrocarbon revenues with the rest of Iraq,
but also that it might share contracting authority for fields
in the KRG. This represents significant progress, the
Ambassador noted, and the GOI and KRG should seek to settle
the issue promptly.
6. (S) The Ambassador noted he had also discussed the Iraqi
flag issue with Barzani and asked Rubaie whether the GOI had
agreed on the issue with Barzani. Rubaie said there had been
agreement, but "under duress." The present flag is popular
with non-Kurdish Iraqis and changing it will be difficult.
The Ambassador and Rubaie agreed that perhaps some of the
present's flag's content could be retained in a new flag, but
with changed meaning.
Engaging Iraq's Neighbors
--------------
7. (S) The Ambassador briefed Rubaie on efforts to engage
Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the UAE with Iraq's Sunnis to help
quell Sunni violence, including AQI. Rubaie welcomed the
initiative, agreeing to identify Iraqi Sunnis with whom such
engagement would be productive and ways to measure whether
the efforts were being effective. The Ambassador suggested
that another visit by PM Maliki to Saudi Arabia would be
helpful.
8. (S) Rubaie asked about U.S. efforts to reach out to Sunni
insurgents. The Ambassador noted engagement, but only with
those who accept the legitimacy of PM Maliki's government.
Rubaie wondered whether GOI engagement would be productive.
BAGHDAD 00004054 002 OF 002
UNSCR
--------------
9. (S) The Ambassador urged Rubaie to come to agreement with
FM Zebari on the GOI approach to UNSCR rollover. The best
option would be GOI and USG letters stating that both
governments had reached agreement on renewal and formally
request renewal. The main focus should be to not re-open the
UNSCR. Rubaie asked about the possibility of one joint
letter that incorporates a bilateral agreement. Rubaie said
renewal must include the issue of authority to detain,
because PM Maliki is concerned about detentions which he says
he should know about, and give approval for, in advance.
Site 4
--------------
10. (S) The Ambassador asked for an update on the Site 4
case, noting that the Interior Minister had not announced the
measures the USG had hoped for in his October 12 press
conference. MG Mahdi had not been arrested; he had merely
been transferred to another MOI position. The DCM noted that
under Iraqi law, ministers must approve requests to detain
officials in their ministries, but Interior Minister Bolani
is taking too long. Rubaie promised to raise the issue with
the PM.
Two Requests for U.S. Assistance
--------------
11. (S) Rubaie requested the Ambassador's assistance in
finding him an Arabic-speaking U.S. advisor on political
matters, including security and counter-terrorism, similar to
his current U.S. military advisor, who Rubaie said had helped
him a great deal. The Ambassador agreed to look into the
possibility.
12. (S) Rubaie also requested U.S. assistance in transporting
him to the upcoming International Compact meeting in Kuwait.
Reconciliation and National Security Ministers
-------------- -
13. (S) The Ambassador asked Rubaie about the Ministers of
State for Reconciliation and National Security, noting that
National Security Minister Wa'ili had asked for USG
assistance. Rubaie said National Reconciliation Minister
Al-Hakim's "heart is not really in it." National Security
Minister Wa'ili is influenced by Iranian intelligence
services and beset by a recent corruption allegation that has
upset the PM.
KHALILZAD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS JO SA AEMR IZ
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND DCM MEET WITH IRAQI NATIONAL
SECURITY ADVISOR RUBAIE
Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (S) Summary: Ambassador and DCM held a wide-ranging
discussion with Iraqi National Security Advisor Muwafaq
al-Rubaie immediately following the Ambassador's October 27
meeting with PM Maliki:
- Rubaie portrayed the PM as under pressure, worried about
failure, and without adequate staff to advise him and
implement his decisions;
- Rubaie said the PM hopes to bring Moqtada al-Sadr into the
political process; the Ambassador urged that the PM also
needs to explain his plan for confronting militias;
- The Ambassador urged the GOI to promptly come to agreement
with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) on hydrocarbons,
and he and Rubaie discussed possible solutions to the Iraqi
flag issue;
- The Ambassador urged Rubaie to move to get internal GOI
agreement on UNSCR rollover;
- The Ambassador and DCM urged Rubaie to raise Site 4 issues
with the PM;
- Rubaie welcomed efforts to engage Iraq's neighbors to help
quell Sunni violence;
- Rubaie requested a U.S. political advisor on security and
counter-terrorism and assistance with transportation to the
International Compact conference in Kuwait. End Summary.
Rubaie on PM Maliki
--------------
2. (S) Rubaie was upbeat about the Ambassador's
just-completed meeting with PM Maliki. According to Rubaie,
the PM is under "tremendous pressure" and feels frustrated;
he has "responsibility without authority." In response to a
question by the Ambassador, Rubaie said the PM has few people
he feels he can turn to for sound policy options and advice.
The PM thinks in terms of people, not institutions, and is
slow to trust new people. He makes good decisions, Rubaie
continued, but has no one to follow up and implement them.
3. (S) In a discussion with the PM Rubaie said he had just
before the PM's meeting with the Ambassador, Rubaie had found
the PM preoccupied with the prospect of failure for which he
would be blamed. Rubaie urged him to think instead of what
is needed for success, including focusing on strategic
partnership with the US.
4. (S) Rubaie said the PM is not intimidated by Moqtada
al-Sadr, nor does he feel politically dependent on him. The
PM hopes Sadr can be "tamed" and brought into the political
process. The DCM told Rubaie that the PM needs to explain
his plan for handling militias; the Ambassador noted U.S.
military frustration on this point.
Kurds, Oil and the Iraqi Flag
--------------
5. (S) The Ambassador noted that during his recent talks with
KRG President Barzani, Barzani had agreed not only that the
KRG would share hydrocarbon revenues with the rest of Iraq,
but also that it might share contracting authority for fields
in the KRG. This represents significant progress, the
Ambassador noted, and the GOI and KRG should seek to settle
the issue promptly.
6. (S) The Ambassador noted he had also discussed the Iraqi
flag issue with Barzani and asked Rubaie whether the GOI had
agreed on the issue with Barzani. Rubaie said there had been
agreement, but "under duress." The present flag is popular
with non-Kurdish Iraqis and changing it will be difficult.
The Ambassador and Rubaie agreed that perhaps some of the
present's flag's content could be retained in a new flag, but
with changed meaning.
Engaging Iraq's Neighbors
--------------
7. (S) The Ambassador briefed Rubaie on efforts to engage
Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the UAE with Iraq's Sunnis to help
quell Sunni violence, including AQI. Rubaie welcomed the
initiative, agreeing to identify Iraqi Sunnis with whom such
engagement would be productive and ways to measure whether
the efforts were being effective. The Ambassador suggested
that another visit by PM Maliki to Saudi Arabia would be
helpful.
8. (S) Rubaie asked about U.S. efforts to reach out to Sunni
insurgents. The Ambassador noted engagement, but only with
those who accept the legitimacy of PM Maliki's government.
Rubaie wondered whether GOI engagement would be productive.
BAGHDAD 00004054 002 OF 002
UNSCR
--------------
9. (S) The Ambassador urged Rubaie to come to agreement with
FM Zebari on the GOI approach to UNSCR rollover. The best
option would be GOI and USG letters stating that both
governments had reached agreement on renewal and formally
request renewal. The main focus should be to not re-open the
UNSCR. Rubaie asked about the possibility of one joint
letter that incorporates a bilateral agreement. Rubaie said
renewal must include the issue of authority to detain,
because PM Maliki is concerned about detentions which he says
he should know about, and give approval for, in advance.
Site 4
--------------
10. (S) The Ambassador asked for an update on the Site 4
case, noting that the Interior Minister had not announced the
measures the USG had hoped for in his October 12 press
conference. MG Mahdi had not been arrested; he had merely
been transferred to another MOI position. The DCM noted that
under Iraqi law, ministers must approve requests to detain
officials in their ministries, but Interior Minister Bolani
is taking too long. Rubaie promised to raise the issue with
the PM.
Two Requests for U.S. Assistance
--------------
11. (S) Rubaie requested the Ambassador's assistance in
finding him an Arabic-speaking U.S. advisor on political
matters, including security and counter-terrorism, similar to
his current U.S. military advisor, who Rubaie said had helped
him a great deal. The Ambassador agreed to look into the
possibility.
12. (S) Rubaie also requested U.S. assistance in transporting
him to the upcoming International Compact meeting in Kuwait.
Reconciliation and National Security Ministers
-------------- -
13. (S) The Ambassador asked Rubaie about the Ministers of
State for Reconciliation and National Security, noting that
National Security Minister Wa'ili had asked for USG
assistance. Rubaie said National Reconciliation Minister
Al-Hakim's "heart is not really in it." National Security
Minister Wa'ili is influenced by Iranian intelligence
services and beset by a recent corruption allegation that has
upset the PM.
KHALILZAD