Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KIRKUK140
2006-08-15 11:35:00
CONFIDENTIAL
REO Kirkuk
Cable title:  

KIKRUK POLICE CHIEF ON KIRKUK SECURITY AND HIS IMPENDING

Tags:  PHUM PGOV PINS PINR PREL PTER IZ KDEM 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0646
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL
DE RUEHKUK #0140 2271135
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P R 151135Z AUG 06
FM REO KIRKUK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0712
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0674
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RUEHKUK/REO KIRKUK 0740
C O N F I D E N T I A L KIRKUK 000140 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

BAGHDAD FOR POL, POLMIL, NCT, IRMO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 8/15/2016
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PINS PINR PREL PTER IZ KDEM
SUBJECT: KIKRUK POLICE CHIEF ON KIRKUK SECURITY AND HIS IMPENDING
RETIREMENT

REF: KIRKUK 00000139

CLASSIFIED BY: Jim Bigus, PRT Leader, POL, Department of State.

REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L KIRKUK 000140

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

BAGHDAD FOR POL, POLMIL, NCT, IRMO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 8/15/2016
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PINS PINR PREL PTER IZ KDEM
SUBJECT: KIKRUK POLICE CHIEF ON KIRKUK SECURITY AND HIS IMPENDING
RETIREMENT

REF: KIRKUK 00000139

CLASSIFIED BY: Jim Bigus, PRT Leader, POL, Department of State.

REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)

1. (C) Kirkuk police chief General Sherko Shirku told IPAO on
July 25, 2006, that security is better in Kirkuk than most other
places in Iraq. When informed that most sources thought
security was deteriorating in recent months, he said he believed
that was because two months ago Sadr said that the "Kurds were
the enemies of Iraq and that Kirkuk would never become part of
Kurdistan." Sherko said historically there has never been a
problem between Shia and Sunni in Kirkuk but that Shia were now
being expelled from the Hewija area. Sherko believed there were
many Ba'ath members in the police force. When asked about the
de-ba'athification process he avoided the question and said
actually the main problem was that he had no power to fire
policemen. He also complained that it took six months to hire
new officers because of approvals needed from the MOI in
Baghdad. When asked about the ethnic breakdown in the
department Sherko said that Kurds patrol Kurdish areas and Arabs
control Arab areas. He also admitted that he had not been in
the Arab areas of Kirkuk Province in Hewija for years. General
Sherko complained that the police couldn't do their best work
because they are constrained by human rights issues and could
not arrest or beat known terrorists.

(C) POLICE CHIEF'S RETIREMENT
--------------

2. (C) In March 2006, the Kirkuk provincial council announced
General Sherko's retirement from the police force. At that time
the council also heard speeches from 12 replacement candidates
for the position of police chief. The council's action in March
was taken only after several months of postponements and after
three separate notices from the MOI in Baghdad insisting that
Sherko retire. When asked about the process Sherko became
defensive and said he would not retire and would remain in his
position indefinitely.

(C) LEADERSHIP ASSESSMENT
--------------

3. (C) IPAO recently met separately with five top security
leaders in Kirkuk including the heads of PUK and KDP Asayish,
the Turcoman Deputy Police Chief, the PUK head of Emergency
police, and the KDP general in command of provincial police. To
varying degrees all commented that General Sherko was
ineffective. Comments ranged from "worthless" and "an under
zero rating" to derogatory references to his age and to the fact
that he was useless. All leaders privately agreed without
reservation that it was time for him to retire but noted that
they were not willing to say anything publicly because they
believed President Talabani protected him and that the American
military preferred he remain. (Note. Sherko has on several
occasions produced a letter from the coalition saying he should
remain in his position. End Note.) All five leaders stated he
had little control over the force and that the regular police do
not respect Sherko's orders. However, while all agreed he should
be replaced there was little agreement as to who his successor
should be.

JBIGUS