MOI BOLANI - MAIN THREAT IS SECTARIANISM; MOI

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 004256

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINS MOPS PNAT PINR IZ
SUBJECT: MOI BOLANI - MAIN THREAT IS SECTARIANISM; MOI
MAKING PROGRESS

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


1. (C/REL UK, AUS) SUMMARY: In a November 4 meeting with
Minister of Interior Jawad al-Bolani, Director of National
Intelligence John Negroponte stressed the need to quell
sectarian violence. Minister Bolani agreed, emphasizing that
the Baghdad Security Plan (BSP) is reducing abductions and
killings in the areas where it has been instituted. He cited
the return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) to Fallujah
as an example of recent positive trends. Bolani described
the MOI's role in providing essential non-security related
public services such as: birth/death registrations, passport
issuance, and licensing. He commented on the good
relationship between the MOI and the Ministry of Defense
(MOD) which he described as having a "sincere wish to improve
things." He stated that he is making changes at the MOI to
ensure that personnel are held accountable for their actions,
instituting committees to investigate compliance with
regulations. He is confident that the MOI will continue to
make progress and be able
to take over all security responsibilities in 2007. END
SUMMARY.

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BSP Is Reducing Abductions and Murders
--------------


2. (C/REL UK, AUS) Director Negroponte stressed the
importance of quelling the current cycle of violence in Iraq,
emphasizing that it is critical to both the Iraqi
government's credibility and U.S. domestic support. Bolani
commented that the Baghdad Security Plan is working: during
the past twenty days, murders were reduced by 35 percent and
abductions by 62 percent in the areas that have been cleared
by Iraqi and Coalition Forces. He did affirm that the
incidence of Improvised Explosive Devises (IED) and Vehicle
Borne Improvised Explosive Devises (VBIED) remain high.
(COMMENT: MNF-I's percentages are similar, showing abductions
decreasing by 69 percent (139 to 42) and murders decreasing
by 30 percent (1218 to 836) in the past 20 days, which
included the Eid, a period of reduced violence in past years.
We will need a few more days to draw conclusions about
trends. END COMMENT).

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Bolani Emphasizes the Positive
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3. (C/REL UK, AUS) Minister Bolani spent much of the meeting
emphasizing positive trends and success, noting that Iraq now
has a functioning and constitutionally-based government and
has held open national elections twice. He spoke of his
positive impressions from a recent visit to Fallujah, saying
that it is mostly free of criminals, Baathists, and Al Qaeda.
Director Negroponte asked if the many residents who left the
city's heavy fighting in 2004 had returned. Bolani replied
that this was the case. (Note: Sources confirm this
assertion that most Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) who
left during the November 2004 Marine offensive have returned
and that the overall security situation, while still
challenging, is improving. END NOTE) Bolani added that many
challenges remain, especially the negative influence of
sectarian politicians who use "the language of escalation to
incite their followers to behave emotionally and violently."
Until this is resolved, Iraq will require coalition
assistance in maintaining order. He added that security was
not only a question of force but also a social concept built
on the social services, economy, and the national
infrastructure that still needs to be developed. In the end
security will require a political solution and cooperation
among all ministries.


4. (U) Bolani described the MOI's role in providing essential
non-security related public services such as: birth/death
registrations, passport issuance, and licensing. These
functions are critical to Iraqi society and are largely
"invisible" to the public's understanding of the MOI. He
commented on the good relationship between the MOI and the
Ministry of Defense (MOD) which he described as having a
"sincere wish to improve things."

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Police: Bravery and Improvement
--------------


5. (C/REL UK, AUS) Bolani was confident that the MOI would
continue to make progress and believes it would be able to
take the lead for all security responsibilities in 2007.
While noting that Iraqi police forces continue to learn and
make mistakes, Bolani emphasized that they remain "very
brave", citing the deaths of ninety-six officers in the past
two weeks. He stated that he is making changes at the MOI to
ensure that personnel are held accountable for their actions,
instituting committees to investigate compliance with
regulations. He also noted improvements in the quality of
several areas such as investigatory capacity, adding that the
FBI has provided excellent assistance. He also intends to
develop a hostage rescue element to focus on ransom-inspired
kidnappings. He thanked Director Negroponte for all his help
and said the MOI would gladly accept additional foreign
training assistance. The DNI Bolani of his support for his
efforts. Bolani thanked him for his long commitment to the
Iraqi people.
Speckhard