PESHMERGA FORCE UNIFICATION, IRAQI KURDISTAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002242

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINS IZ
SUBJECT: PESHMERGA FORCE UNIFICATION, IRAQI KURDISTAN

Classified By: Deputy Political Counselor Robert Gilchrist for reason 1
.4(b) and (d)

This is a Regional Reconstruction Team (RRT) Cable.


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Peshmerga forces of the Patriotic Union
of Kurdistan (PUK) and Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) are
scheduled to unify by the end of 2007 (NOTE: The PUK and KDP
originally committed that unification would be complete by
the end of 2006). This requires ambitious regulatory and
political measures. The unified force will be deployed first
in the Kurdistan Region, and later in other parts of the
country upon request by the Prime Minister and approval the
KRG President. The new command structure will represent the
two dominant political parties whereas future rank-and-file
will join the Peshmerga on a non-partisan basis. The
Peshmerga will be united organizationally but political
control appears shared along party lines. End Summary.

PUK PESHMERGA
--------------


2. (C) On May 22 RRTOff met in Sulaimaniyah with General
Mustapha Said Qadir, Deputy Commander of the Peshmerga Forces
of the PUK. General Qadir reports directly to Jalal
Talabani, Commander of PUK Peshmerga Forces and the President
of Iraq.


3. (C) General Qadir told RRTOff there are approximately
50,000 PUK Peshmerga soldiers and 20 brigades. He claims
there are about the same number of KDP Peshmerga soldiers.
KRG officials have reported to the GOI over the past several
months that the total Peshmerga force is 190,000. The
General said the PUK Peshmerga field of operations covers
Sulaimaniyah Province, the Iraq-Iran border area in
Sulaimaniyah Province, Khanaqin and Kifri in Diyala Province,
and areas surrounding the city of Kirkuk. (Note: It is
interesting he includes Peshmerga units outside the KRG that
presumably do not have Government of Iraq approval, e.g.
Kirkuk

UNIFICATION OF THE PUK AND KDP PESHMERGA FORCES
-------------- --


4. (SBU) The name "Peshmerga" is sacred, General Qadir
emphasized, and it will be retained after the PUK and KDP
Peshmerga Forces integrate and become a regional guard. He
stated that in official documents the term "Regional Guard
(Peshmerga)" would be used.


5. (SBU) The unified Peshmerga will be part of the National
Guard, the General said (NOTE: This formation has not been
agreed to by the GOI). The Peshmerga will be financed by the
KRG, and although part of Iraqi national defense forces, the
Peshmerga will first be deployed in the Kurdistan Region.
The units will remain at their current location but will
redeploy to other parts of the Kurdistan Region if the
security situation requires. Deployment to other parts of
Iraq is possible, if the Iraqi Army (IA) makes the request
through the Prime Minister or Ministry of Defense in Baghdad.
The General added that if the IA wants to come to the
Kurdistan Region, they must ask the KRG. (NOTE: GOI
maintains the position that the GOI can deploy in and
outside of the Kurdish region after consultation with the KRG
president. Approval by the KRG president, however is not
necessary. )


6. (C) The General estimated the PUK and KDP Peshmerga
Forces will be unified by the end of 2007. (Note: The
establishment of a regional guard is mandated in the Iraqi
Federal Constitution, Article 121/Fifth paragraph, the KRG
Unification Agreement of January 2006, and the Memorandum of
Understanding concerning the transfer of Regional Iraqi
Control.)

COMMAND STRUCTURE
--------------


7. (C) General Qadir said the command structure of the
unified Peshmerga Forces will include the President of the
Kurdistan Region as its Commander and the Vice-President of
the Kurdistan Region as Deputy Commander. There will also be
a committee, he continued, comprised of the current PUK and
KDP Ministers of Peshmerga, their deputies and one
high-ranking officer (Major General or Brigade General) from
the PUK and KDP. The other members are the PUK and KDP
Ministers of the Interior and their respective General
Directors of Intelligence (Asayish).

PESHMERGA RETIREMENT PLAN
--------------


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8. (C) The Peshmerga commanders, the General said, have
stressed the rights of retired KDP and PUK Peshmerga. There
is a draft law on Peshmerga retirement issues that was
introduced by the Peshmerga law committee and which is
pending in the Kurdistan National Assembly, he noted. The
retirement policy will cover PUK and KDP Peshmerga members
and creates a Retirement Committee. General Qadir
underscored that the Veterans Peshmerga Association will also
facilitate implementation of the Peshmerga retirement law.

PESHMERGA SELECTION COMMITTEE
--------------


8. (C) The General said the draft law on Peshmerga
retirement also calls for the creation of a Peshmerga
Selection Committee, and changes in hiring the new members of
the unified Peshmerga force, including:

-- Elderly and ill or disabled members will leave the
Peshmerga. There will be a policy of promotion within to
replace them that accounts for age and seniority.

-- New members will be volunteers.

-- New members will require a security clearance.

-- Hiring will not be based on party loyalty. General Qadir
emphasized that the Peshmerga is a Regional Guard that is
part of the National Guard, and that political affiliation
would not be a selection criterion.


9. (C) General Qadir told RRTOff that after the KDP and PUK
Ministries of Peshmerga are unified, additional legislation
is under review to address other issues relevant to the
management of Peshmerga forces, including the questions of
uniforms, training, and unit names.


10. (C) COMMENT: Peshmerga force integration will be an
important process to monitor this year as part of KRG
consolidation into a force pursuant with the National
Constitution. KRG officials have stated publicly their
commitment to force integration and signed agreements for
establishing a regional guard. However, unification means
significant political collaboration on the part of the KDP
and PUK whose relationship is marked by animosity, suspicion,
and competition. The parties decided on a joint Peshmerga
command structure that will satisfy the need to unite
organizationally without compromising KDP and PUK party
control in their respective provinces. END COMMENT
CROCKER