ADM FALLON'S MARCH 26 MEETING WITH THE PRIME

S E C R E T BAGHDAD 001188

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2017
TAGS: IZ MOPS PTER PREL PGOV
SUBJECT: ADM FALLON'S MARCH 26 MEETING WITH THE PRIME
MINISTER

Classified By: Charge Affaires Daniel Speckhard. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and
(d).


1. (S) SUMMARY: During the March 26 meeting between Iraqi PM
Maliki and CentCom Commander Admiral Fallon, the PM focused
on our shared interests and the need to work together to
achieve our mutual goals. He reaffirmed his commitment to
defeat terrorism and expressed some hope that he was seeing
some initial signs of success on the security side. First
among these signs was the demonstrated loyalty and commitment
of the armed forces to the country, and not to narrow
sectarian interests. For Maliki, the joint security stations
in Baghdad represented a better level of coordination among
the Iraqi army and the police forces, as well as with
Coalition Forces. Admiral Fallon stressed the urgency to
move forward on multiple issues in the shortest time possible
so that this progress could persuade the American people to
remain patient. Maliki responded he understood that security
alone was not sufficient and that his government had to make
progress along three pillars: national reconciliation,
improved securit
y for the population, and economic movement, including the
provision of public services. While agreeing that these were
the key areas, Admiral Fallon re-emphasized that it was
critical to show success quickly. END SUMMARY.

SIGNS OF HOPE
--------------

2. (S) In his initial meeting with Iraqi PM Maliki, CentCom
Commander, Admiral William J. Fallon expressed his hope that
the current U.S. efforts would provide Maliki the confidence
to take on some of the hard challenges he is facing. Maliki
responded that both countries agree on the need to defeat
terrorism, and that he has been very reassured by the strong
alliance between our two countries. "This is good for the
world. While the price is heavy, it will be worth it. We
must break terrorism." He added his hope that the policies
of the U.S. will succeed.


3. (S) Maliki said that he sees some positive signs on the
security front and hoped that these will continue. "Our
forces are working in a manner that demonstrates loyalty and
commitment to the country, and not just for one's own small
interests." He claimed that the population was helping more
these days to fight against Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) and that
there was improved coordination between Iraqi security forces
and the Coalition. "I believe we're going to succeed.
However, there remain some problems with the delivery of
equipment and the need to get it here quickly." He said that
he had raised this at high levels of the U.S. government to
help expedite weapons deliveries.


4. (S) Maliki reiterated some of the progress that Iraq had
achieved on the political side -- the completion of the
constitution, the successful elections, and establishment of
the parliament (Council of Representatives). He hoped that
Admiral Fallon's briefings and visits around Iraq had been
going well, and that he had received a positive impression of
what had been achieved. He acknowledged, though, that the
Admiral had also probably heard some negative things.
"That's natural. But now I believe that there is a unified
vision in Iraq against Al Qaeda and the militias, and in
support of the military." On this latter, Maliki asserted
that citizens were growing to trust the security forces and
were helping them in their efforts. He noted that the people
of Anbar, Diyala, and Baghdad were rising up to fight Al
Qaeda. He also thought that coordination with the Coalition
had improved the ISF capabilities.

THE SECURITY CHALLENGES
--------------


5. (S) Admiral Fallon agreed that Al Qaeda and the various
militias are the most serious near-term threats. He added
that he had been struck during his trip by the common
understanding among Iraqi and Coalition leaders about the
security challenges that they face. Admiral Fallon's
interlocutors also expressed cautious optimism that the
security trends have been moving in the right direction.
Similarly, some of the average citizens Admiral Fallon has
been able to approach on his walk through a Baghdad market
seemed to have welcomed the presence of Coalition forces in
their neighborhoods and were grateful that they could now
more easily conduct their business. Admiral Fallon said that
he hoped these trends would continue as more U.S. troops flow
in for the surge. MNF-I Commander, General Petraeus, added
that the situation should also improve with the addition of
over 10,000 more Iraqi Security Forces personnel scheduled to

graduate soon from the training academies.


6. (S) In addition to Al Qaeda and its Sunni extremist
supporters, and the militias (particularly Jaysh al-Mahdi),
Maliki said that he would add the Saddamists as the principle
security challenges facing Iraq. Maliki claimed that the
Saddamists supported groups on both sides of the
ethno-sectarian divide. National Security Advisor Rubaie
said that he would add members of organized crime to the
list, too. Petraeus said that the Iranian Quds Force should
also be considered a significant threat, noting that it also
supported both sides in the ethno-sectarian conflict.
Arguing that the Iranians would try to hurt anything that
supported U.S. interests, Maliki said that he had asked the
U.S. to "please try" to solve its problems with Iran so that
Iraq could avoid being drawn into this potential conflict.


7. (S) Despite the increased coordination between MNF-I and
the ISF, Maliki said that there were still a few issues
between them which needed to be resolved, such as when U.S.
weapons Iraq had requested (M-16s and M-4s) would be
delivered. He noted that he had raised this issue with the
White House. Petraeus said that MNSTC-I Commander, General
Dempsey, would brief the Prime Minister on the status of the
equipment deliveries later in the week.

URGENT NEED FOR PROGRESS
--------------

8. (S) Admiral Fallon impressed upon Maliki the importance of
making near-term progress in the political and economic
spheres to support the war effort. These spheres needed to
be addressed in parallel with work in the security sphere.
Maliki agreed, nothing that his government was focused on
three main pillars: national reconciliation, security, and
the economy and services. But this will require some
patience because Iraq was going through big changes that
would take time as well as a step-by-step approach to manage.
He said that the political process has been born, but would
now have to be nurtured. Maliki said the legacy of the
Saddam years had sown the seeds of the present
ethno-sectarian conflict by propagating the notion that one
sect should dominate. Maliki said that the divisions within
the country as how to deal with the Baathists created further
problems. He hoped that the draft DeBaathification law
(agreed to that day by the PM and President) would be able to
walk the tight rope between th
e two extremes of "killing them all" or "bringing them all
in." While acknowledging these challenges and reaffirming
U.S. support, Admiral Fallon stressed the need to make
progress very quickly across all three pillars because time
was of the essence. He concluded by urging Maliki to work
diligently with General Petraeus inside the country, while
concurrently he would try to maximize external support for
Iraq from within the region.


9. (U) This cable has been cleared by Admiral Fallon.
CROCKER