READ OUT FROM JUNE 17 MCNS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BAGHDAD 002055

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/21/2017
TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR PINS PNAT PINR IZ
SUBJECT: READ OUT FROM JUNE 17 MCNS

Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C/REL MNF-I) SUMMARY: Prime Minister Maliki presided over
the June 17 meeting of the Ministerial Committee for National
Security, during which:

--Maliki conveyed his outrage over a public conference held
by the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MeK) earlier in the week and
stressed that the GOI should take the lead in securing the
MeK camp in Ashraf while the government works with the U.S.
Embassy to dissolve the camp immediately.

--Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh congratulated Maliki on
his timely response to the Samara bombing but emphasized the
government must do more to secure Iraq's sacred sites.
National Security Advisor Rubaie, among others, lamented the
failure of the Iraqi security forces to act on the
intelligence provided two weeks prior to the attack that
predicted the mortaring of the two minarets. Maliki asked
all present to refrain from public statements of blame until
the on-ground investigation was completed.

--Maliki led the discussion on the plan to secure Basrah
which includes: replacement of the governor, provincial
police chief and the emergency security committee;
reconfiguration of the Tenth Division; and the appointment of
an overall Basrah Operations Commander direct the army and
the police. Maliki directed all Ministers to support the
plan noting force alone would not solve the complex political
problems of Basra.

--National Security Advisor Rubaie outlined his proposal to
establish an Iraqi-managed and resourced national
reconciliation committee to work with the Coalition on a
tribal and armed group engagement program.

--National Security Advisor Rubaie asked if the ministers had
any comments on the draft National Security Strategy for
Iraq. None appeared to have read the document and Rubaie
said that he would redistribute the NSS and requested
ministerial comments before it was submitted to a future MCNS
for approval.

--General Petraeus discussed the surge operations and asked
for all ministers to use their Sadrist contacts to tell JAM
to stand down while the Coalition and Iraq security forces
take on Al Qaeda.

--Maliki told General Petraeus that he had warned Sadrists
not to march to Samara on July 6 as it was dangerous and
would disrupt ongoing security operations against the enemy.
END SUMMARY.

Maliki's Way Forward on MeK
--------------


2. (C/REL MNF-I) Maliki expressed continued frustration with
the MeK Camp and his outrage over the recent conference they
held, despite GOI opposition. The conference, he noted,
brought hundreds of Iraqis together, including Salah Mutlak,
to discuss the state of Iraq. He fumed that the MeK is a
terrorist group, working against his government and his
people and they have no legal right to remain in Iraq. They
all must go either to Iran or a third country that will
accept them. He added only those with Iraqi judicial arrest
warrants against them may remain in Iraq.


3. (C/REL MNF-I) After his tirade which was supported by
other ministers including Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh,
Minister of Defense Abdul Qader, and Interior Minister Jawad
Bulani, Maliki requested that MNF-I turn protection
responsibilities of the MeK over to the Iraqi security forces
so they can ensure that no one leaves the camp and that
outside visitors do not get in. Maliki said this force would
be provided while the Iraqi government works with the U.S.
Embassy to dissolve the camp.


4. (C/REL MNF-I) The Ambassador assured Maliki that he was
consulting with Washington on a way forward with the MeK and
General Petraeus committed to reviewing the legality of
having ISF assist with protecting the camp. The Ambassador
also recommended GOI and USG host a conference with countries
that might be willing to take some of the MeK members who
currently hold UNHCR refugee status. Both the Ambassador and
General Petraeus stressed that while the USG would like to
resolve the MeK issue quickly, it would take time due to
international laws and policies that the USG is obligated to
uphold with regard to the MeK. Maliki retorted that the USG
and the international community must also recognize and

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respect the international laws regarding a nation's
sovereignty and anti-terrorism.

Samara Mosque Attack
--------------


5. (C/REL MNF-I) Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salah thanked
Maliki for his handling of the Samara mosque bombing but
stressed that the government must do a better job of
protecting Iraq's holy sites. Maliki agreed, saying that in
the days leading up to the bombing, the Facilities Protection
Service and police responsible for the protection of Samara
mosque had assured him and others that all was secure.
Bulani interjected that National Police commander Adnan
Thabit was responsible for Samara security and had informed
Iraqi officials that all was fine prior to the attack.
Rubaie asserted that the blame lay with the ISF commanders
who did not act on intelligence reports that projected the
minarets would be mortared in the coming days. Maliki said
that whoever is responsible would be identified and held
accountable but asked all to refrain from assigning blame
until the investigation was completed and its findings were
reported to him.

Maliki's Security Plan for Basrah
--------------


6. (C/REL MNF-I) Maliki said securing Basrah remained a
priority and that he expected all ministers to support the
implementation of his new security plan. Maliki said his
proposal calls for immediate replacement of the governor of
provincial police chief and the disbanding of the current
emergency council. He noted a new emergency committee would
be formed by Acting Justice Minister, Dr. Safaa al-Safi.
(NOTE: Safi seemed caught off guard by this order.) Bulani
said that to support the plan, his staff was vetting all
current Basrah police and would fire all those determined
corrupt or complicit in militia activities. Minister of
Defense Abdul Qader explained that he was in the midst of
replacing the ineffective First Brigade of the Tenth Division
with the better qualified Third Brigade of the same division
and said that he was also working with MNSTC-I to create a
new brigade for deployment to Basrah. Abdul Qader also noted
that Major General Mohan would become the overall security
commander of Basra with the 10 Division's commander and the
police chief reporting to him. Maliki questioned Mohan's
appointment, saying he thought Mohan was recently deployed to
Karbala to be overall commander of that province. UK
Ambassador Asquith suggested that Maliki provide a written
directive laying out the elements of the plan in order to
clarify the confusing situation.

Rubaie's National Reconciliation Committee
--------------


7. (C/REL MNF-I) Rubaie briefed his proposal to establish a
national reconciliation committee to review groups and
individuals who claim they want to "lay down their arms" and
join the political process. He said the window of
opportunity was now given the recent uprising against Al
Qaeda and the Al Anbar tribal "awakening." He stressed the
committee would be a Government of Iraq-owned and resourced
committee that would work closely with the Coalition. He also
emphasized the committee should be small and have the
authority to determine the eligibility of candidates for
reconciliation. He also explained that this committee would
also work elements of disarmament, reintegration into the
armed force and civilian programs, as well as amnesty.
Maliki agreed with the concept but warned Rubaie that he
wanted just one, small committee not an organization with
several sub-groups and complex command structure. Maliki
said that he desires a simple process for engagement but also
one that ensures the loyalty of those
entering the process. Maliki also warned this group must be
able to identify con-artists and ensure against the
reconstitution of the Ba'ath party. Deputy Prime Minister
Salaam Zubaie cautioned against being to strict against
Ba'athists as there were thousands of them that would want to
reconcile and had no interest in the Ba'athist ideology.

Surging Against Al Qaeda
--------------


8. (C/REL MNF-I) General Petraeus told the meeting
participants that all US surge combat forces were now in
place and that these forces were starting multiple offensive
operations against Al Qaeda in Baghdad, around the Baghdad
belts, Anbar, Diyala, and wherever else Al Qaeda may seek to
open battle fronts. He asked all of the ministers to use all

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of their contacts to get JAM "off our backs" while we go
after Al Qaeda, stressing "We will never have an opportunity
like this to go after Al Qaeda" and we cannot afford to
divert troops from fighting Al Qaeda toward taking on JAM and
extremist Shia militias.


9. (C/REL MNF-I) Maliki responded that Iraqi security forces
must work in coordination with the Coalition, but that all
forces must retain the independence and capability to rapidly
react to enemy movements. Maliki agreed to Bulani's
recommendation that the Government of Iraq put out a public
statement telling all Iraqis that the fight is concentrated
on everyone's enemy in Iraq, Al Qaeda and that being the case
we need all Iraqis to respect the law. Failure to do so will
result in action against them.
CROCKER