MAY 11 IRAQ-EXECUTIVE STEERING COMMITTEE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001582 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2027 TAGS: ECON ECPS IZ PGOV PHUM SUBJECT: MAY 11 IRAQ-EXECUTIVE STEERING COMMITTEE Classified By: DCM DANIEL SPECKHARD, E.O, 12958, REASONS 1.4 (b)(d) ¶1. Summary: The principal purpose of the May 11, 2007, Executive Steering Committee meeting was to obtain the Committee,s assessment of the effectiveness of Operation Fardh al-Qanoon (FAQ) to date. Prime Minister Maliki asked the Committee members whether the public felt that improvements are being made and if not, where additional support by the Committee should be focused. End Summary. Security Update ¶2. (C). General Aboud, Commander of Baghdad, addressed issues related to security in the Baghdad area. He mentioned improvements in trash collection, sewage pipeline repairs, electrical line repairs, and additional blood being donated for wounded soldiers. He also noted that some streets have been repaired and some local councils are cooperating with the Iraqi army to increase security. ¶3. (C) General Petraeus noted that FAQ had achieved a two-thirds reduction in the numbers of sectarian murders over those recorded during the months of January and February, and that this reduction was a tribute to the Iraqi security forces. He also noted the recent capture of the leader of a bomb-making group in Karkh. General Petraeus also suggested that General Aboud meet with the CoR and detail the progress achieved by the FAQ. ¶4. (C) General Petraeus also noted that this month, 12,000 soldiers will graduate from basic training and many of these soldiers will be sent to the Baghdad area. General Petraeus encouraged the Minister of Electricity to obtain an increased supply of fuel for the Mussaib electricity generating plant. ¶5. (C) Dr. Chalibi, Popular Mobilization Committee Chair, discussed the need for additional security at universities during final exam periods, and asked that a security plan be prepared by General Aboud. Political Committee ¶6. (C) The Political Committee reported that many of its members were traveling and could not be present. Deputy PM Zobai reported that committee members had met with some of the leadership of the Council of Representatives (CoR) in an effort to persuade the CoR to minimize the length of its summer recess. Committee representative noted that the dates for the CoR recess have not been finally set, and that additional meetings would be held. He also noted that the 
CoR agreed that there was a real political incentive to support the FAQ in order to enhance progress toward the goal of reconciliation. Economic and Services Issues ¶7. (C) Karim Wahid, the Minister of Electricity, addressed the benefits of the Mussaib project, and noted that some of the problems associated with fuel supplies included the fact that pumping stations along strategic supply lines were not working. He also stated that he had spoken with the Kuwaiti Minister of Oil and hopes to meet with him shortly to resolve issues associated with importating of fuel from Kuwait. Minister Wahid also requested that the Prime Minister direct the Minister of Oil to provide the fuel necessary to operate the Mussaib facility. ¶8. (C) Dr. Chalibi identified the need to quickly rebuild the Sarafiya Bridge. General Aboud noted that pontoon bridging materials have arrived, and the necessary heavy equipment is being transported to the site. A number of Committee speakers noted the need to expedite repair of the bridge, and requested support for decision that work hours be extended and shift work be authorized. Direction was given to follow-up on this recommendation with the Ministry of Industry. ¶9. (C) Members of the Committee also discussed a plan to support returning displaced families, noting that there are approximately 1,860 returning to the Baghdad area. Some 460 of these families are being assisted by local branches of the government. A mechanism was recommended to prevent fraud and abuse associated with monetary grants to these families. Ali Alyasery, ESC Deputies Committee Chair, also noted that repairs to certain significant streets were not on schedule and that these repairs would have a significant beneficial psychological impact on members of the community if successfully completed. ¶10. (C) Deputy PM Zobai discussed issues associated with the removal of temporary protective barriers in certain neighborhoods and the establishment of parking areas in BAGHDAD 00001582 002 OF 002 Baghdad. The Committee recommended that representatives from the Ministries of Transportation, Defense and local town halls coordinate the resolution of these issues, as well as issues associated with closed gas stations. ¶11. (C) Minister Karim Wahid, identified the need for additional security to protect crews that are assigned to repair damaged electrical lines. He noted that most strategic lines will be repaired within the next two weeks. He also noted that the transportation of fuel for electricity generators was hampered by wasted time passing through check points, even though the fuel truck drivers had all needed authorizations. He noted that three water plants had been damaged by insurgent activities and requested General Petraeus to establish security check points around these areas. ¶12. (C) Ambassador Carney requested the Committee to review its budget execution process, noting that some ministries have not begun to spend significant amounts of their budgets. General Petraeus recommended a meeting be held to discuss which ministries have not opened their capital budget accounts. He recommended a directive be sent to each minister to execute his respective budget. Ambassador Carney noted that budget execution merited attention, along with various programs that could result in the opening of factories and increasing employment levels. The discussion also involved the lack of significant banking resources in Iraq. Communications ¶13. (C) Yassin Majeed, Media Committee Chair, was asked to report on media issues. He reported the impression of media outlets was that improvements from FAQ had slowed. He recommended a program that provided T-shirts to school children with slogans of peace and reconciliation. He noted that terrorists were successful in using the media as a weapon, and stated that the Iraqi media, for the most part was not comprised of professionals. Detainees ¶14. (C) The Committee meeting concluded with a substantial discussion of the number and treatment of detainees and the forced migration of approximately 79,000 families from the Baghdad area. Dr. Chalibi began the discussion and noted progress in his fact-finding missions to prisons holding approximately 37,000 persons detained as a result of FAQ activities. Committee members noted there were too few investigative judges, and that those judges were not given access to all of the files for each prisoner. CROCKER