MCNS DECEMBER 17

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 004715 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/25/2016 TAGS: PGOV PINS PNAT PREL PTER MOPS IZ SUBJECT: MCNS DECEMBER 17 BAGHDAD 00004715 001.3 OF 002 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Margaret Scobey for reasons 1.4 (b) an d (d). ¶1. (S//REL GBR AUS) SUMMARY: Deputy Prime Minister Salam Al-Zubai presided over the December 17 Ministerial Council on National Security, and discussed his trip to the Bayji area to observe security operations against Al Qaeda. Ministers again discussed increasing prison security. Minister of Defense Abdul Qader Mufraji provided additional details of his new Baghdad Security Plan. Ministers agreed to pursue expediting the transfer of security control over the Kurdish region to regional control. END SUMMARY. BAGHDAD SECURITY ¶2. (S//REL GBR AUS) During the weekly briefing on Baghdad Security, National Security Advisor Rubaie said that efforts to integrate US and Iraqi plans were proceeding well. Points left to be resolved included command arrangements, headquarters locations, and coordination between different agencies and systems. Minister of Defense Abdul Qader Mufraji said the intention of the new plan was to bring security to Baghdad's citizens by bringing the institutions of security closer to them. Baghdad would be divided into nine sections, he said, and quick reaction forces in each section would be more rapidly available. The 28 checkpoints on the Baghdad Ring would be strengthened and forces would be deployed around Baghdad's suburbs and approaches. Mufraji said that 19 Brigades were needed and 14 were now available for these tasks. ¶3. (S//REL GBR AUS) Deputy Prime Minister Al-Zubai described his trip to Siniya along with MNFI Deputy Commanding General Lamb. Al-Zubai said that Al Qaeda and terrorists had been able to win a base of support in the area and had targeted tribal leaders and government officials. He had met with tribal leaders and civil society leaders willing to cooperate with security forces. The military was attempting to root out Al Qaeda without causing any collateral damage. Al-Zubai praised the efforts that the province's governor and Iraqi Army commander had made to resolve the situation. PRISON PROBLEMS ¶4. (S//REL GBR AUS) Minister of Justice asked for help guarding prisons. Acknowledging that the Ministry of Interior had promised to send 150 police and some officers, he asked that prison security be made part of an internal security plan. Ministers made suggestions for sending additional forces. National Security Advisor Rubaie said that the Ministry of Justice had been tasked with a mission - prisons - that it lacked the resources to fulfill and suggested that the Ministry of Interior should again take over responsibility for administering the nation's prisons. He urged the Deputy Minister of Justice to begin to attend the Deputy Ministerial Council on National Security in order to pursue this issue. Al-Zubai noted that transferring control of the prisons away from the Ministry of the Interior had been considered an important step forward and asserted that many Iraqis had reason to fear the Ministry of Interior. The issue was referred to the DMCNS for further discussion. KURDISH REGION ¶5. (S//REL GBR AUS) Deputy National Security Advisor Safi said that Najaf was ready for the transfer of security of December 20. Provincial Iraqi Control of Kurdistan was set for January 30, 2007, once the Memorandum of Understanding was finalized. Kurdish Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih asked that this be expedited, urging that transfer of security control over the Kurdish region be effected before the end of the year. Rubaie said that Iraq had asked for the transfer of six provinces by the end of the year, but coalition forces had resisted. General Casey indicated coalition willingness to - as long as Peshmerga consolidation was handled on separate track - continue to try to expedite the transfer of security control over the Kurdish region. Ministers agreed to refer this to the DMCNS for further action. ¶6. (S//REL GBR AUS) Director of the Iraqi National Intelligence Service Shawani attended the MCNS for the first time in recent weeks. Shawani has been in Amman, apparently fearing prosecution by the anti-corruption mechanism - an organization that was the focus of criticism during the previous week's MCNS meeting and is perceived to be politically motivated. Deputy Prime Minister Salam Al-Zubai raised the need for the INIS to be funded through the regular Iraqi budget, saying that it would build accountability. BAGHDAD 00004715 002.2 OF 002 SCOBEY