NOVEMBER 19 MCNS: NAJAF TO PIC; BSP TO BE REVIEWED

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 004330

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/21/2016
TAGS: IZ MOPS PREL PGOV PTER
SUBJECT: NOVEMBER 19 MCNS: NAJAF TO PIC; BSP TO BE REVIEWED


Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Daniel Speckhard for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).


1. (S/REL UK, AUS) SUMMARY: The November 19 meeting of the
Ministerial Committee on National Security agreed to transfer
security responsibility for Najaf to Iraqi authorities. The
Committee also agreed to study the security situation in
Diyala, which PM Maliki referred to as being in the hands of
the terrorists. The November 14 mass kidnapping at the
Ministry of Higher Education led to a discussion of
weaknesses in the GOI intelligence, information sharing, and
coordination systems. At the suggestion of MNF-I Commanding
General Casey, PM Maliki agreed to a review of the Baghdad
Security Plan and how it should move forward. END SUMMARY.

Provincial Iraqi Control: Najaf to be Transferred
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2. (S/REL UK, AUS) On November 19, Deputy National Security
Advisor Dr. Safa'a Rasul informed the Ministerial Committee
on National Security (MCNS) that the Joint Committee for the
Transfer of Security Responsibility had recommended that
security responsibility for Najaf be transferred to Iraqi
control. The MCNS agreed to the recommendation. Noting that
December 13 was the earliest possible date for the transition
ceremony, Dr. Safa'a suggested that a public announcement
about the transfer be issued on November 21.

Security Situation in Diyala
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3. (S/REL UK, AUS) PM Maliki said that Diyala was in the
hands of the terrorists, adding that he believed the Iraqi
security forces there were insufficient. Complaining that
the GOI and MNF had been too reactive in their response the
terrorism (they attack and we defend),Maliki said the
situation should be studied. Safa'a said that the situation
required more than just a military solution, promising to
draft a paper that would look at the military, political, and
economic dimensions of the problem. The PM said that he
planned to meet with the Diyala tribes, which he said were
looking to form something like the Salvation Council in
al-Anbar province. When Minister of Interior Bolani
suggested creating a Security Committee for Diyala, Minister
of Defense Abdul Qader Jasim objected. He said that if the
GOI continues creating security committees it would destroy
the military command system. Minister of Justice al-Shibli
argued that Diyala had a "culture of killing" that had
resulted in the highest percentage of murders in Iraq over
the previous twenty years.

Mass Kidnapping Reveals GOI Intel and Coordination Gaps
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4. (S/REL UK, AUS) When Maliki complained about delays in the
operations to find the hostages kidnapped from the Ministry
of Higher Education on November 14, Abdul Qader said that
while there had been some initial problems with coordination
follow up had been good. Minister of Interior Bolani said
that one of the problems had been that MoI and MoD had
launched a large number of operations against targets based
on information that was misleading, adding that a national
coordination center was needed. The Deputy Director of the
Iraqi National Intelligence Service said that the GOI had
inadequate mechanism for distributing and following up on
intelligence. Maliki said that despite the fact that the GOI
had numerous operations centers, there had not been a
discernible difference on the ground. Abdul Qader noted,
however, that the High Level Working Group was considering
proposals for the National Operations Center (NOC) which
should significantly improve information sharing and
coordination. Safa'a agreed, noting that a proposal for the
NOC would be presented to Maliki in two weeks.

Baghdad Security Plan Stalled, Needs Review
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5. (S/REL UK, AUS) MNF-I Commanding General Casey said that
the MCNS members would benefit from taking a broad look at
how to move forward with the Baghdad Security Plan (BSP). He
suggested that the National Security Advisor's office convene
a meeting to work on and submit an integrated Plan that
addressed political and economic action, as well as security.
Maliki agreed that the "whole" BSP needed to be reviewed,
adding that "we cleared areas, but could not maintain
security." He also said that that a review should take place
of the 28 checkpoints that were instituted around Baghdad.

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Abdul Qader said that the checkpoints were manned, but needed
logistics to make the self-sustaining.
KHALILZAD