PRT TIKRIT: PRT-BCT RELATIONS MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000134 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPART FOR NEA/I/KATIE NUTT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV MOPS ECON IZ SUBJECT: PRT TIKRIT: PRT-BCT RELATIONS MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL IN SALAH AD DIN REF: A. 06 BAGHDAD 4501 ¶B. 06 BAGHDAD 4408 ¶1. (U) This is a PRT Tikrit, Salah ad Din cable. It has been cleared by the 3rd Brigade of the 82nd Airborne Division (3/82) Brigade Combat Team (BCT),which is the Coalition Forces (CF) task force with responsibility for the province of Salah ad Din (SaD). ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY. PRT Tikrit and 3/82 BCT have a mutually beneficial relationship from which the SaD provincial government profits. 3/82 has the lead on security-related issues in the province, and the PRT spearheads reconstruction and development initiatives. Through daily contact at both the leadership and operational levels, we coordinate policy, engagements, and implementation of these goals. While the PRT and BCT have different objectives, which merit separate chains of command, close coordination has made them complementary in Salah ad Din. Through this close, cooperative relationship, both the PRT and BCT have been able to achieve more than they would have individually, as each acts as a force multiplier for the other. All of this is further enhanced by the tremendous policy and logistics support we receive for PRT objectives from the 25th Infantry Division responsible for MND-N. END SUMMARY. -------------- Reconstruction, Non-Kinetic Engagements -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The PRT spearheads reconstruction and development initiatives through its functional teams focused in Governance, Rule of Law, Economic Development, Infrastructure Reconstruction, and Focused Stabilization in Samarra. In an effort to streamline reconstruction efforts, the 3/82 BCT re-arranged its non-kinetic operations targeting to parallel these functional teams. Planning for all reconstruction and non-kinetic operations is completely coordinated, with PRT elements from each of the functional groups as well as our two Iraq Provincial Action Officers (IPAOs - Foreign Service officers assigned to do political and economic reporting) participating in BCT planning and BCT elements engaging in PRT planning. As a result of the joint planning platforms, the PRT and BCT also coordinate on usage of reconstruction funds, such as CERP, IRF, and ESF. ¶4. (SBU) Through conferences and visits, the PRT provides expertise to the Civil Affairs (CA) Teams in the BCT's Area of Operation to enable them to replicate initiatives the PRT has made at the provincial government level at the city, qada, and nahia (or subordinate district) levels. For example, working with the PRT, the Provincial Council recently approved rules to govern its internal operations, thus enhancing transparency and accountability in governance. In January, the PRT is hosting a conference to present those rules and related information to the civil affairs (CA) Teams so that they can work to have their respective local councils adopt similar rules, an effort supported by the Provincial Council. ¶5. (SBU) To demonstrate a unified front and synched policy messages, PRT and BCT representatives regularly hold joint engagements. In December 2006, the BCT hosted a Dialogue and Communication Conference (DACC) where PRT and BCT representatives led community leaders in discussions on governance, economic development, rule of law, education, and medical issues (reftel A). All participants were enthusiastic about the event and requested a continuation of them; a follow-on DACC is planned for February. In November 2006, the PRT hosted a provincial sheikhs' council meeting and luncheon where PRT and BCT representatives engaged tribal sheikhs from throughout the province on their role in security (reftel B). We will be participating in another sheikhs, council meeting the week of 14 January to discuss the way forward and reconciliation in a post-Saddam, democratic Iraq. -------------- Security and Kinetic Operations -------------- ¶6. (SBU) 3/82 BCT has the lead for all security, anti-terrorism, and kinetic operations. The BCT regularly meets with the provincial government leadership, including political and ISF representatives, to coordinate initiatives and garner political support. The PRT encourages support for security and the ISF in meetings with contacts as well. The BAGHDAD 00000134 002 OF 002 IPAO Political and Economic Officers provide situational awareness about the political and economic context in the province that informs the planning process for some operations. -------------- Synching and Presenting -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Both the leadership and operational levels of the PRT and BCT meet regularly and communicate daily for coordination. A 3/82 BCT Liaison Officer (LNO) attends daily PRT staff meetings and works as the PRT "Desk Officer" in the BCT to promote PRT-related issues in the BCT. The 3/82 BCT S9 ) Civil Military Operations Officer encourages PRT participation in BCT planning and serves as the BCT "Desk Officer" in the PRT to promote BCT-related issues at the PRT. (NOTE: Physically, both the LNO and S9 sit at the brigade, though both are at the PRT Building on a daily basis. END NOTE.) Conversely, members of the PRT spend time at the BCT headquarters and in the field at the component battalions, working on both policy and practical issues (e.g. How is corruption at the oil refinery affecting the security situation and the legitimacy of the provincial government? How can we measure the corruption?). A PRT-maintained SIPRNET site allows BCT access to PRT political and economic reporting as well as weekly situation reports and monthly assessments. In addition, the PRT and BCT mutually include each other in briefs to VIPs visiting both institutions. Through joint presentations, we are able to communicate better both the security and reconstruction dimensions of the situation in the province, giving a more holistic picture of the current state of play. -------------- Challenges -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Most coordination challenges stem from the interaction of the two organizations' parent bureaucracies, which is minimized to the extent possible on the ground. However, differences in Areas of Operations (AOs) and in other similar functional divisions, at times, provide challenges. For example, the PRT has responsibility for the political footprint of the province of Salah ad Din; whereas, the BCT's AO does not include the province's eastern district of Tuz Khurmatu, whose Provincial Council members are currently boycotting PC meetings, inhibiting forward movement on a number of governance issues. This requires additional planning when, for example, using CERP money for the entire province. The BCT has worked diligently to smooth any challenges. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶9. (SBU) The PRT and BCT have different, though mutually supporting, objectives in Salah ad Din, and achieving those objectives requires separate chains of command. Through close coordination, the PRT and BCT have created a multiplying effect and a complementary relationship. The strong leadership of the BCT has been instrumental in fostering this productive relationship. The Salah ad Din provincial government is benefiting from this relationship through consistent USG policy and coordinated reconstruction and security initiatives. We are seeing progress in governance, economic development, rule of law and other areas that is faster and more sustainable than if we were acting independently. ¶10. (U) For additional reporting from PRT Tikrit, Salah ad Din, please see our SIPRNET Reporting Blog: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Tikrit. KHALILZAD