BASRAH PROVINCIAL COUNCIL MEMBER DEPLORES SECURITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BASRAH 000161 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/15/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC IZ SUBJECT: BASRAH PROVINCIAL COUNCIL MEMBER DEPLORES SECURITY SITUATION CLASSIFIED BY: Ken Gross, Regional Coordinator, REO Basrah, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (b) ¶1. (C) Summary: On October 15, the Regional Coordinator (RC) and poloff met with Basrah Provincial Council (BPC) member Sayed Ghali Nujem Mutar. The discussion focused on the miserable security situation in Basrah and the ineffectiveness of the security committee led by General Ali al-Hammadi and Operation Sinbad. Sayed Ghali also warned the RC about an Iranian-funded group in Basrah whose focus is to attack Coalition bases and personnel. End Summary. ¶2. (C) The RC and poloff met with BPC member Sayed Ghali Nujem Mutar on October 15 to discuss the security situation in Basrah. (Note: Sayed Ghali is the former head of the Iraqi National Accord in Basrah and the current Chairman of the Basrah Provincial Reconstruction and Development Committee. End note.) Sayed Ghali confirmed that on October 7 he survived a second assassination attempt; one bodyguard was killed and four others wounded. According to him, he is under constant threat by Sayed al-Shuhadaa and Jaysh al-Mahdi, and have attempted to assassinate him twice (the first one occurred in late July) because they view him as "an agent of the United States." Despite these attempts, Sayed Ghali stressed the importance of continued engagement with both the REO and the British for the future of Basrah and Iraq. ¶3. (C) Sayed Ghali criticized the Basrah security committee led by General Ali al-Hammadi and said that Hammadi was weak. He described Hammadi as a "talker" who fails to act. Sayed Ghali opined that both the security committee and Operation Sinbad are ineffective since assassinations and terrorist operations continue unabated. He said that the security committee members know who the perpetrators are, but they are afraid or unwilling to share that information with Coalition Forces. Sayed Ghali said that the continued assassinations, indirect fire and improvised explosive devices are inciting increased hatred of the coalition since many in Basrah blame them for the violence. When asked about the presence of Coalition Forces in Basrah, he replied that it would be a disaster if they were to withdraw. He remarked that the appropriate time for the Coalition Forces to leave would be when a strong government is established. ¶4. (C) Sayed Ghali also warned the RC that "there is something dangerous working against you" in Basrah. Though unable or unwilling to articulate further, he claimed that Iran is training and supplying with sophisticated weaponry an organization called the "Popular Group" that plans to attack Coalition elements in Basrah. He said that suicide bombers were part of this group. Sayed Ghali repeatedly warned the RC that the REO should be alert and take the necessary precautions for its defense. ¶5. (C) Comment: Sayed Ghali is a frequent REO contact and firmly believes in the importance of continued Coalition presence and engagement. Although he has survived two assassination attempts on his life, he is a willing partner and advocate for the coalition. He would relish closer contact with the coalition, including funding for educational programs he says are necessary to curtail the influence of the religious parties. End Comment. GROSS