MCNS DECEMBER 10

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 004530

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS PTER PNAT MOPS IZ
SUBJECT: MCNS DECEMBER 10

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


1. (S//REL GBR AUS) SUMMARY: During the December 10
Ministerial Council on National Security, Prime Minister Nuri
al-Maliki asked for options to rapidly restore security to
the area around the Bayji Oil Refinery so that production may
resume. Ministers also discussed increasing prison security
after Saddam Hussein's nephew escaped from Baddush Prison.
Deputy National Security Advisor Al-Safi reported that Ansar
Al Sunnah was responsible for producing a climate of
intimidation in Iraqi universities that deterred most
students from attending class. Minister of Defense Abdul
Qader outlined his new plan to strengthen Baghdad Security by
reinforcing police stations. END SUMMARY.


2. (S//REL GBR AUS) Maliki pointed to the need to move
quickly to resume production of refined product at the Bayji
Oil Refinery, which has been halted due to security concerns
in the area. He said that the nearby town of Suniyah was
cordoned off after foreign fighters took refuge in the town.
Work at the nearby refinery and power plant had stopped as a
result. Defense Minister Mufraji explained that food was
being sent into town and civilians being allowed to leave,
but admitted that there is a possibility of collateral damage
if troops enter the town in pursuit of the foreign fighters.
Maliki called for a decision to be taken on whether to enter
the town and search for the fugitives or to lift the cordon
in an effort to get the refinery quickly back into
production. General Casey undertook to provide courses of
action for the Prime Minister's consideration.

BAGHDAD SECURITY


3. (S//REL GBR AUS) During the weekly briefing on Baghdad
security, Minister of Defense Abdul Qader laid out new plans
to enhance the capabilities of Baghdad police stations. The
MOD said that stronger manning and better communications
would enable stations to more actively patrol and respond to
problems in Baghdad's neighborhoods. He said that police
stations would contain a mix of Iraqi Army, Police and
Coalition force troops. Prime Minister Maliki underlined the
importance of quick reaction capabilities and active
intelligence-driven raids on insurgent targets.


4. (S//REL GBR AUS) Abdul Qader said that while some
additional materiel was required -- such as additional night
vision goggles -- he hoped to achieve security without
coalition assistance in some areas, such as Ghazaliyah. This
would allow coalition forces to pull back. General Casey
said it would be useful to test and evaluate new approaches
in a defined area. Maliki said the stress on stronger
checkpoints, raids and quick reaction capability was
consonant with his own thinking and asked for a detailed
briefing in coming days. He said that if the new approach
worked, it could be applied first in Baghdad, then in other
provinces.

PRISON PROBLEMS


5. (S//REL GBR AUS) Turning to the recent escape of Saddam
Ayman Al-Sabawi, the Minister of Justice said that a prison
service captain had helped Al-Sabawi escape and the Deputy
Governor of Baddush Prison had been arrested on suspicion of
involvement. He called the Iraqi Corrections Service "one
hundred percent corrupt" and described it as plagued by
sectarianism. He described other recent escapes that had
taken place with assistance from corrections officials. The
problem, he said, centered on loyalties: this was the same
problem that was destroying Iraq. He needed temporary
coalition assistance with security and described his efforts
to cope with the situation. Prisoners were being transferred
to the more secure facility at Susse. Ministers discussed
various options for creating additional secure prisons, such
as converting castles in Kurdistan into prisons.

CORRUPTION FIGHTING


6. (S//REL GBR AUS) The Commanding General of the Armed
Forces, General Babakar complained about the activities of
the Corruption Board of Investigation, which he said was
arresting military officers for not appearing to testify and
other petty reasons. Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh
suggested that someone new be named to head the CBI; he could
be nominated in the Ministerial Council on National Security
and confirmed by the Presidential Council on National
Security. Maliki agreed that the incumbent is rude and harsh
in his personal dealings. Barham Saleh commented that the
CBI was seeking PCNS approval to arrest ex-Minister Thamer,
causing Maliki to opine that the CBI was exceeding its

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mandate and arresting Iraqis without strong evidence. Maliki
asserted that the CBI was basing arrests on information from
the internet. Minister of State for National Security Waili
drew laughs by claiming that one Iraqi Army general officer
had been arrested by the CBI for misusing his cell phone.
KHALILZAD