BABIL OFFICIALS TELL DAS GODEC THEY LIKE PRT AND PRDC BUT

UNCLAS HILLAH 000017

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

BAGHDAD FOR NCT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: BABIL OFFICIALS TELL DAS GODEC THEY LIKE PRT AND PRDC BUT
RECONSTRUCTION TOO SLOW

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION


1. (U) This is a Babil PRT cable.


2. (U) SUMMARY: Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near
Eastern Affairs Robert Godec met with Babil province officials
to discuss the Babil Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) and
the Iraqi-run Provincial Reconstruction Development Committee
(PRDC). The discussion was cordial but the Provincial Council
Chairman stressed the need to show tangible results in
reconstruction sooner rather than later. END SUMMARY.


3. (U) During a visit to Regional Embassy Office (REO) Al
Hillah on February 4, DAS Godec met with senior members of the
Babil PRT and the Iraqi representatives of the PRDC. PRT
members briefed him on the PRT's structure, interaction with the
local government, their direction, goals, and needs. PRDC
members - Deputy Governor Hasoon Ali Hasoon, Provincial Council
Chairman (PCC) Muhammed Ali Hussein, and Hillah Mayor Imad Lefta
Merdan Al-Bayati - met with DAS Godec to discuss the interaction
between the PRT and the PRDC.


4. (SBU) The PCC characterized the PRT-PRDC relationship as a
full partnership. He said he appreciated the cooperation
between the U.S. members of the PRT and the Iraqi
representatives of the PRDC in all phases of reconstruction
projects, and praised the Americans for their generosity in
supporting Iraqi reconstruction. However, the PCC did note some
problems with the quality of past projects and cooperation with
other coalition partners. While discussing the PRT, the Deputy
Governor explained that there is impatience with reconstruction
projects among the Iraqi public. He stated that he felt like
"all we do is wait." The Deputy Governor also noted that with
the provincial elections approaching, local officials cannot
show any tangible results in reconstruction. The PCC and the
Hillah Mayor echoed the Deputy Governor's comments.


5. (SBU) After the PCC and Deputy Governor complained that the
quality of some projects would reflect badly on the U.S. and the
U.S.-Iraqi partnership, DAS Godec noted that the PRDC is a
mechanism for bringing Iraqi influence to bear on the quality of
work done in these projects. The Iraqis commented on the poor
quality of the Polish and El Salvadoran projects. Specifically,
the PCC, Deputy Governor, and the Mayor noted seven water
projects that, although recently completed, did not function.
Although no details of the problems were offered, the PRT will
follow up with the PRDC on this. (NOTE: For at least six months
the Coalition Forces staff in Babil has been pressing Iraqi
officials to make project site visits to address some of their
concerns over quality, but the officials have yet to do so. END
NOTE.)


6. (SBU) COMMENT: Although the meeting was cordial, the message
from Iraqi officials was that Iraqis are impatient with the slow
pace of reconstruction. The Deputy Governor's comment -- which
the PCC and Hillah Mayor reaffirmed -- that provincial officials
cannot demonstrate progress on reconstruction come election time
indicates the importance officials and voters place on the
issue. There also appeared to be a subtle but noticeable change
in the relative roles of the Deputy Governor and the Provincial
Council Chairman in the meeting. In the past the Deputy
Governor would have taken a prominent role in the discussions.
During this meeting, the Provincial Council Chairman took the
lead, calling on the Deputy Governor to speak only after he was
finished. In doing so, he referred to him as "a citizen of
Babil Province," not as the Deputy Governor. This would not
have happened six months ago and may reflect the growing stature
and assertiveness of Provincial Council members relative to the
Governor and Deputy Governor. END COMMENT.



ANDERSON

FONTENEAU