JANUARY 14 MCNS: HAIFA STREET, BSP, MAYSAN PIC

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 BAGHDAD 000210

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2017
TAGS: IZ MOPS PREL PGOV PTER
SUBJECT: JANUARY 14 MCNS: HAIFA STREET, BSP, MAYSAN PIC
DELAY

REF: BAGHDAD 75

Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (S/REL UK) SUMMARY: During the January 14 meeting of the
Ministerial Committee on National Security (MCNS),
participants discussed the ongoing operation in the area
around Baghdad's Haifa Street, noting the need to have
situational awareness of the humanitarian situation in the
area. PM Maliki blamed the violence on "foreign guests" --
Syrians, Palestinians, and Sudanese -- who he wanted removed
from the area. Participants also discussed preparations for
the revised Baghdad Security Plan (BSP),including the
appointment of LTG Aboud as the Baghdad Operational Commander
and elements of new restrictions to be applied under the
State of Emergency. When National Security Advisor Rubaie
stressed the importance of non-military aspects of the Plan,
Deputy Prime Minister al-Zubaie spoke about the importance of
moving toward political reconciliation by taking steps on
de-Baathification and detainees while others focused on media
relations and public opinion. Rubaie said the Deputy
Ministerial Committee on National Security would soon submit
recommendations relating to the possible closure of Iraq's
borders during portions of the BSP. The Prime Minister
agreed to delay the transfer of security responsibility for
Maysan. Rubaie reported that the ministerial committee
tasked with examining Ministry of Interior reform had met
during the previous week, focusing on structural changes for
the ministry. Minister of Defense Abdul Qader reported that
implementation of MOD reform was continuing, with certain
positions in the ministry being found to be inconsistent with
the Constitution. END SUMMARY

--------------
The Battle for Haifa Street
--------------


2. (S/REL UK) At the January 14 meeting of the Ministerial
Committee on National Security (MCNS),Deputy Prime Minister
al-Zubaie expressed concern for the innocent civilians living
in the area of Baghdad's Haifa Street. He said that a
sustained Iraqi Security Force (ISF) and Coalition operation
in the area had resulted in civilian casualties. He also
said that the Red Cross and other NGOs had complained of
inadequate access to the Haifa Street area. The Ambassador
said that it was important to have situational awareness
about the humanitarian situation in the area, asking if
stores were open and people were able to obtain food.
Minister of Defense Abdul Qader said that stores were open,
denying that the area was cordoned off or that access had
been refused to humanitarian groups. He also said that ISF
snipers were supported by spotters in order to make sure that
they did not shoot innocent civilians. At the same time,
Abdul Qader made clear that there was a need to clear the
area of terrorists.


3. (S/REL UK) PM Maliki agreed with Abdul Qader, ordering
that each house in the area needed to be searched. He blamed
"foreign guests" -- Syrians, Palestinians, and Sudanese --
for much of the violence in the area, arguing that they need
to be removed so that their homes can go back to the
professors and teachers who used to live in the area.
National Security Advisor Rubaie said the Deputy Ministerial
Committee on National Security should be tasked with
examining the issue of what to do with foreigners who had
come to Iraq and been given a place to live. Maliki argued
that the Syrians and Palestinians had forced out the teachers
and professors by force.

--------------
Baghdad Security Plan Updates
--------------


4. (S/REL UK) Abdul Qader said that Phase 1 (preparation) of
the revised Baghdad Security Plan was progressing. He
reported on the selection of the Baghdad Operational
Commander, LTG Aboud, noting that he would be headquarted at
Adnan Palace. Deputy National Security Advisor Safa'a Rasul
said that the two subordinate commands, at Rusafa and Karkh,
would be able to hold approximately 1,000 and 160-170
detainees, respectively. Abdul Qader also said that he
planned to travel to Sulaymaniyah for discussions regarding
the movement of Iraqi Army troops to Baghdad. He said that
Phase 2 of the Plan (clearing and redeployment) was scheduled
to start on February 1, as opposed to January 15 as
originally discussed. Abdul Qader said that he anticipated

BAGHDAD 00000210 002 OF 003


that Phase 2 would take 60-90 days to complete, at which time
Phase 3 (hold and secure) operations would commence. The
final phase -- Phase 4 -- would see a hand over of
responsibility from the Coalition to the GOI. The Deputy
Director of the Iraqi National Intelligence Service said that
it would be important to continually monitor the plan,
assessing it in order to apply "lessons learned" and fixing
small problems before they become big ones. The Prime
Minister thought this was a good idea, allowing commanders
the opportunity to reinforce positive trends and make
decisions on how to reverse negative ones. Foreign Minister
Zebari said that after early stages of the plan, ministers
should make public appearances in "cleared" areas.


5. (S/REL UK) Abdul Qader noted that the Prime Minister
intended to release a statement describing new steps to be
taken under the State of Emergency, including treating any
vehicles without a license plate as a potential terrorist
targets. (Note: The State of Emergency has technically
lapsed because the Council of Representatives has been unable
to muster the quorum it needs to extend it. The State of
Emergency has to be extended every 30 days. End note.)
Rubaie added that the statement would also include items
relating to the closure of borders, the status of houses of
worship, and weapons licenses. Noting that police and other
government cars are sometimes used to conduct illegal
activities, the Prime Minister said he would make clear that
any government car parked at a house overnight would be
considered stolen. UK Ambassador Asquith asked if these new
steps would require Council of Representatives approval.
Maliki said it did not have to go through the parliament,
arguing that it could be done through the "terrorist act."
(Note: GOI officials have argued that several different
authorities -- including the PM's commander-in-chief
authorities under Article 78 of the constitution -- provide
the GOI the ability to implement these measures. We have
pushed back on these arguments based on concerns that they
would cede too much power to the Executive. We have argued
that the best route would be for the parliament to extend the
State of Emergency. End Note)

--------------
Non-Military Aspects of the Plan
--------------


6. (S/REL UK) Rubaie said that non-military parts of the
Plan were crucial to its success. The Deputy Minister of
State for National Security agreed, stressing the importance
of building public opinion around the plan. He said that
there were rumors circulating that the city's young men will
be interned. Maliki said that the newly created media
committee should confront such rumors. Rubaie said that it
was important that the government "all speak off of the same
sheet of music" regarding the plan. He said that while
dissenting opinions could be expressed in private
discussions, such as MCNS meetings, publicly all government
officials were expected to support the plan.


7. (S/REL UK) Zubaie said that the most important "new"
element to the U.S. strategy announced by President Bush on
January 10 was the push to have the GOI deal with the
political failure in Iraq. He said that MCNS members should
admit that the GOI had failed to find political agreement on
a number of key issues. Noting that reconciliation efforts
had been further damaged by the controversy surrounding the
execution of Saddam Hussein, Zubaie urged movement on the
issues of de-Baathification reform and detainees.

--------------
Border Closings
--------------


8. (S/REL UK) PM Maliki asked about plans for closing Iraq's
borders, including whether there were sufficient forces to do
the job. He said that he had heard that a large number of
Algerians had crossed the border, adding that "I know them
(the Algerians). They don't fear death and fight like
barbarians." When MNF-I Commanding General Casey reminded
Maliki that the Deputy Ministerial Committee on National
Security (DMCNS) was examining the issue of the borders,
Rubaie said that the DMCNS would submit recommendations to
him within the next week or two.

-------------- -
Transfer of Security Responsibility for Maysan
-------------- -

BAGHDAD 00000210 003 OF 003




9. (S/REL UK) Following up on the previous week's discussion
(reftel) of the transfer of Provincial Iraqi Control (PIC)
for Maysan province, Rubaie said that an order had been
prepared for the PM's signature canceling the province's
Emergency Security Committee. MNF-I Commanding General Casey
said that he had been to Maysan during the last week and had
been impressed by the interaction between the governor and
his top security officials. Nevertheless, Casey said that
the MND-SE Division Commander still had concerns about the
police in Amarah. Casey suggested that the Ministry of
Interior be tasked with sending a team to Amarah to assess
the police, delaying transfer of security responsibility at
least until the assessment team had reported back.
Commenting that there was "not a rush," Maliki agreed. He
said that with the newest phase of the Baghdad Security Plan
(BSP) about to start, violent groups might leave Baghdad and
move to the south or west. He said that since there had been
problems in Amarah in the past, it made sense to wait to
transfer until after the GOI had had a chance to assess the
impact of the BSP and the capability of the local police.
Rubaie pointed out that this would mean the transfer of
Maysan would not be accelerated as planned, urging a speedy
transfer if the MOI police assessment was positive.

--------------
MOI Reform
--------------


10. (S/REL UK) Rubaie said that the ministerial committee
tasked with making recommendations on reform of the Ministry
of Interior (MOI) had held its third meeting during the
previous week. The committee had made progress on
restructuring the ministry. When Rubaie said that the issue
of "balancing" the ethno-sectarian and party affiliation
within the ministry would be discussed in the coming week,
the Prime Minister said that the MOI had already provided him
a list to be used for "balancing" and that he would pass the
list to Rubaie. Rubaie also said that the MOI should provide
a full report on the status of the Facility Protection
Service.

--------------
MOD Reform
--------------


11. (S/REL UK) Abdul Qader provided an update on MOD reform,
noting that a review of certain positions had found them to
be inconsistent with the Constitution. He also said that a
committee had been formed to follow through with required
security checks. (Note: Arabic language handout on this issue
has been e-mailed to NEA/I. End note.)
KHALILZAD