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

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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.

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SCOBEY