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. -------------- U.S. is a "Friendly Force" -------------- ¶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). -------------- U.S. Withdrawal Would be a "Catastrophe" -------------- 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. -------------- PRT Anbar Comment -------------- ¶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