MALIKI BLOCKS MEETING WITH OCINC ADVISOR (S)

S E C R E T BAGHDAD 001401 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/06/2017 TAGS: PINR PREL PGOV PTER MOPS PNAT IZ SUBJECT: MALIKI BLOCKS MEETING WITH OCINC ADVISOR (S) Classified By: A/POL-MIL COUNSELOR APAR SIDHU FOR REASONS 1.4 (A/B/D) ¶1. (S) Prime Minister Maliki has apparently barred employees of the Office of the Commander in Chief from meeting with coalition representatives according to a National Security Council official, Major General Naqshbadne. On April 24, polmiloff arrived for a scheduled meeting with the Director of the Office of the Commander in Chief, Lieutenant General Faruq Al- Arji, that was intended to discuss the roles and responsibilities of the Office of the Commander in Chief within the Iraqi national security architecture. Upon our arrival at the site, Naqshbadne explained that Maliki had directed Faruq to cancel the meeting. He went on to indicate the meeting was unlikely to be rescheduled. ¶2. (S) Comment: Maliki is clearly aware of the concern by both coalition and Iraqi officials over the growing size and power of Office of the Commander in Chief and today seemed to signal that he does not intend to allow any interference in its functions. CROCKER