Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD4529
2006-12-12 13:23:00
SECRET
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

MCNS DECEMBER 3

Tags:  PREL PINS PGOV PNAT PTER MOPS IZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO2769
OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #4529/01 3461323
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 121323Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8443
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 004529 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2016
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PNAT PTER MOPS IZ
SUBJECT: MCNS DECEMBER 3


Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 004529

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2016
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PNAT PTER MOPS IZ
SUBJECT: MCNS DECEMBER 3


Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (S//REL GBR AUS) SUMMARY: During the December 3
Ministerial Council on National Security, Prime Minister Nuri
al-Maliki:

-- Responded to reports of attacks on downtown Baghdad banks
and government ministries by calling for "Green Zone" like
security zones in strategic areas of the capital;

-- Called for decisive action against all illegal armed
groups and condemned negotiating with them, as had occurred
in Samawah.

Maliki also reviewed progress on recently-launched Diyala
security operations. Deputy Prime Minister Zobaie had a
heated exchange with Minister of Defense Abdul Qader Mufraji
after he alleged that the Minister had failed to act on the
reports that he had submitted on various security issues.
END SUMMARY.

DISTURBANCES


2. (S//REL GBR AUS) The meeting began with Maliki inquiring
about a possible disturbance in Basra. He said that decisive
action must be taken against illegal armed groups, whether
gangsters or militia. The Governor of Samawah had reported
reaching an agreement with the militia, but he should not
have been negotiating with them at all, Maliki said. He
warned that militia could wreck the government. Maliki also
reacted strongly to Finance Minister Jabr's report that his
ministry had been subjected to an hours-long attack by
insurgents. Jabr said that downtown banks had also been
robbed. Maliki said that strategic commercial and government
areas should be made into secure "green zones."

BAGHDAD SECURITY


3. (S//REL GBR AUS) During the weekly briefing on Baghdad
security, the Minister of Defense reviewed plans to bring an
additional four Iraqi Army battalions to Baghdad, to be
deployed in the Karkh and Rusafa neighborhoods. Rubaie said
that the latest revisions to the Baghdad Security Plan were
being made in response to intelligence analysis that
indicated that controlling the outskirts of Baghdad and six

or seven key neighborhoods, such as Fadhil, was key to
bringing security. Minister of State for National Security
Waili, a former military engineer, said the area around
Baghdad needed to be surrounded by trenches and berms
defended by troops.


4. (S//REL GBR AUS) Rubaie characterized the new approach as
offensively minded. The intent was to "break the back" of the
terrorists so that security forces would not be reacting to
terrorists, but taking the initiative with targeted
operations. Maliki specified that terrorist action should
provoke a strong reaction, while targeted operations against
those responsible for extrajudicial killings would be
conducted on a planned basis.

5.(S//REL GBR AUS) The Commanding General of the Armed
Forces, General Babakar, alluded to efforts to work with the
Anbar tribes, which could be deployed to the South of Baghdad
and other areas. 33 Sheikhs would each furnish 50 young men
for military training. These tribal recruits could be used
to provide intelligence. Maliki said that money had been
given to the tribes to purchase weapons as the government had
none to provide them. He counseled that this work must be
consonant with the will of the tribal leaders in order to
avoid creating inter-tribal conflict. Maliki said some
tribes are unwilling to work under the provincial councils
and said that new Trial Councils would be created in some
areas. General Babakar complained that Coalition Forces were
not supporting the efforts of the Al Souda tribe to combat
the terrorists in Anbar province.


6. (S//REL GBR AUS) Deputy Prime Minister Zobaie was critical
of security efforts and changing plans. He asserted that
security plans needed more time to work out before they could
be evaluated. He listed a number of security problems he
felt needed to be resolved, such as removing officers who
fail to meet standards. He said the number of checkpoints
should not be reduced, as was planned, and called for
checkpoints to be manned by troops representing all sects and
security services. Minister of Defense Abdul Qader Mufraji
responded that the MCNS was not the appropriate forum for a
tactical discussion of checkpoints - three-quarters of which
were manned by the police. Zobaie continued, alleging that
Mufraji had failed to take action on reports he had

BAGHDAD 00004529 002 OF 002


submitted. The Minister of Defense vigorously defended
himself and a heated exchange lasting about ten minutes
ensued.

DIYALA SECURITY


7. (S//REL GBR AUS) Minister of Defense Abdul Qader Mufraji
reported that the Diyala security plan was underway; forces
had been deployed and were already conducting successful
operations. 43 terrorists had been arrested, a kidnapping
victim had been freed and car bombs had been seized, Mufraji
said. Maliki commented that there were both tribal and
sectarian dimensions to the conflict in Diyala and disclosed
that he had a productive meeting with Diyala Sheikhs the
previous day. He said Diyala had a foreign fighter problem
as well as a concentration of Baathists. Minister of Finance
Bayan Jabr urged the Defend Minister to publicize the seizure
of the car bombs.


8. (S//REL GBR AUS) Interior Minister Bolani said that he had
told Diyala tribal leaders to unify. There was pressure on
the security forces in Diyala, he said, and a need for
additional security forces. We can recruit more, he said,
but weapons and training are the limiting factor. He hoped
that this could be expedited as Diyala's police force was in
bad shape. In response to National Security Advisor Rubaie's
comment that Sunni extremists of the 1920 Revolution Brigade
had infiltrated the police, Bolani admitted that some had
been caught planting bombs and said that they were being
dealt with according to procedures.

SECURITY FORCE PROBLEMS


9. (S//REL GBR AUS) DPM Zawbai commented that CPA 71, which
allows provinces to hire police, must be amended. Commanding
General Babakar added that the erstwhile Iraqi National Guard
battalions raised during the CPA era were also problematic.
More than seventy soldiers had protested deployment the
previous day. He had instructed that they be dismissed, he
claimed, as more than 32,000 enlistees were waiting to be
called to duty. Maliki commented that both effective
punitive action and incentives were needed. Rubaie said of 5
Iraqi Army divisions in Diyala that, with one-third of its
troops on leave and another third engaged in service tasks at
any time, there were not enough combat troops available for
the large area the division had to control. He said that the
police were infiltrated and the Army too small. In response
to the Prime Minister's query on how to remedy the situation,
Defense Minster Mufraji said that a new brigade was being
sent to Diyala, although it had limited mobility. Mufraji
looked forward to the March completion of training for new
forces.
KHALILZAD