PST BAGHDAD: PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTION OF A NEW

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000891 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA-I/POL E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/2016 TAGS: PGOV PINR IZ SUBJECT: PST BAGHDAD: PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ELECTION OF A NEW BAGHDAD CHIEF OF POLICE Classified By: Joe Gregoire for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (SBU) During a 15 March meeting of the Baghdad Provincial Council (PC) at Amanat (city hall) Baghdad, the PC voted Iraqi Army Colonel Jassim al-Jizany the new Baghdad Chief of Police. The Governor of Baghdad, Hussein Al-Tahan, attended the meeting, which was open to Iraqi media outlets. ¶2. (C) The election of Jassim follows the removal of former Baghdad Chief of Police Abdul Razzak by a vote of the PC. The PC based its decision on its interpretation of its powers or authorities as outlined in Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) Order 71. ¶3. (C) Jassim received 25 of 48 votes cast by PC members. The number of votes that Jassim got surprised some PC members and Baghdad political insiders including Karada District Council Chairman Mohammed Al-Rubiey. Before the vote, there had been widespread belief that Brigadier General Abu Waleed was going to be elected the new Baghdad COP. Abu Waleed received 19 votes. The remaining ballots were blank. ¶4. (C) Candidates for Baghdad Chief of Police included the Karkh Directorate Police Chief, the Rusafa Directorate Police Chief, and several other senior police officials from Baghdad. The final candidate list also included several Iraq Army commanders. ¶5. (C) Jassim was with the Al-Salam Brigade in the Mada'in Qada. Jassim is said to be a Badr Organization member from the Mada'in Qada of Baghdad Province. According to Al-Rubiey, Jassim was a member of the Ba'ath Party during the Saddam regime. ¶6. (C) Al-Rubiey let it be known that Jassim's successful candidacy was likely due to his Badr affiliation and the desire of the PC to ensure that the position of COP is filled by a member of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) and its Badr Organization. ¶7. (C) Governor Al-Tahan told a PRT member that he knows Jassim personally and professionally. He stated that during the selection process, he had hoped to see a candidate with "civilian" police experience selected, but in the end concluded that the police candidates were not adequately qualified to fill the COP position. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶8. (C) If it is indeed true that the PC elected Jassim as a result of his connection to the SCIRI/Badr bloc, this would be an indicator of the PC's consolidation of key government and security positions within Baghdad Province. ¶9. (C) However, the numerous discussions we have had with PC members suggest that their desire to choose a candidate with a strong military background was their primary consideration. Jassim's affiliation with Badr likely enhanced his candidacy. SATTERFIELD