CODEL BAIRD VISITS RAMADI, MEETS WTIH LOCAL

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 001747

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV OEXC PREL IZ
SUBJECT: CODEL BAIRD VISITS RAMADI, MEETS WTIH LOCAL
OFFICIALS



1. (U) This is a PRT Anbar reporting cable.


2. (SBU) Summary: CODEL Baird, which consisted of
Representatives Brian Baird (D-WA) and Christopher Shays
(R-CT),visited Camp Blue Diamond in Ramadi on May 22, where
the congressmen met with the Mayor of Ramadi and Sheikh Ahmed
Abu Risha, a Provincial Council member and the older brother
of Sheikh Sattar Abu Risha, who has led local tribal leaders
in the battle against al-Qaeda. Ahmed described U.S. forces
in Iraq as &friendly forces,8 cautioned against a
precipitous U.S. withdrawal, and foresaw the need for Iraq to
enter into a security arrangement with the U.S. similar to
those between the U.S. and other Gulf states. Ahmed is part
of a PRT Anbar-nominated International Visitors delegation.
The CODEL urged us to expedite the travel of that delegation
to the US. End Summary.

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U.S. is a "Friendly Force"
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3. (U) Codel Baird traveled to Camp Blue Diamond in Anbar
Province on May 22 for an area orientation brief by MNF-West
Commanding General, MGen Walter Gaskin, MNF-W G-5 Chief and
PRT Anbar Political Officer. Also at Blue Diamond, the CODEL
met with Ramadi Mayor Latif Abbod Iada and Sheikh Ahmed Abu
Risha, a member of the Anbar Provincial Council and a
founding member of the Iraqi Awakening Movement (SAI),an
anti-insurgent tribal coalition operating in the Ramadi area.



4. (SBU) After an exchange of warm greetings, Sheikh Ahmed
repeated a phrase used frequently bySAI members: he
described U.S. forces in Iraq as "friendly forces." He
expressed appreciation for the sacrifices the U.S. has made
in blood and treasure in Iraq, and signaled his personal
strong relationship with U.S. forces in the province and with
PRT Anbar. Ahmed urged an ongoing U.S. presence to defeat
Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI).

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U.S. Withdrawal Would be a "Catastrophe"
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5 (SBU) Ahmed observed that Anbar Province has made
significant progress on the security front in the past six
months, and that AQI has been "severely diminished." He
stated that AQI is an illegitimate force that would ruin
Iraq, and that Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) are still not
strong enough to defend the country. Ahmed foresaw the need
for the U.S. to remain committed to Iraq until the ISF can
stand on its own, building not a sectarian Iraqi Army but a
national one.


6. (SBU) Ahmed opined that a precipitous U.S. withdrawal
would be a "catastrophe" for Iraq and the region, occasioned
by mass killings in Iraq, and &chaos8 in Jordan and Saudi
Arabia. In his view, a U.S. departure would leave Iraq wide
open to be taken over by Iran. He offered that Syria and
Iran are colluding to destabilize the country. Ahmed
envisioned that Iraq eventually would establish a cooperative
security agreement with the U.S., similar to agreements the
U.S. has with the other Gulf Arab nations.

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PRT Anbar Comment
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7. (SBU) PRT Anbar has nominated Sheikh Ahmed and seven other
Anbari leaders, including Gov. Ma,amoun Sami Rasheed, to
participate in the Department,s International Visitor,s
Leadership Program (IVLP). Our target date for the group to
arrive in Washington is the first week of September.
However, the CODEL urged us to expedite the travel so that
the Anbaris might tell the U.S. public of the progress that
has been achieved in their province.
CROCKER