PRT TIKRIT: TRIBAL SECURITY INITIATIVES IN SALAH

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 002344 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PINR MCAP IZ SUBJECT: PRT TIKRIT: TRIBAL SECURITY INITIATIVES IN SALAH AD DIN DIFFERENT FROM ANBAR REF: BAGHDAD 2155 ¶1. (U) This is a PRT Tikrit, Salah ad Din cable. ¶2. (SBU) Since the Salah ad Din (SaD) Support Council, a grouping of tribal sheikhs fighting al Qaeda in the province, formed in mid-June (reftel),two major differences have emerged which distinguish the SaD efforts from the tribal security initiatives in al Anbar. First, the SaD sheikhs have made it clear they want to work under the auspices of the provincial government, with the approval of the GOI, and in coordination with the Iraqi security forces (ISF) already in their areas. They see the provincial government of Salah ad Din as largely functional and legitimate. As such, they chose the name "support council" because they want to support the provincial government and ISF in security initiatives, rather than take the lead. Select members of the Support Council have begun regular meetings with representatives from the Prime Minister's Office. (NOTE: They specifically chose not to include "awakening" or "salvation" in the council's name because, in their opinion, the province is already "awake to secure issues" and does not need "saving." END NOTE.) ¶3. (SBU) Second, the leadership of the Support Council said that their tribal security initiatives will only be local, with province-wide security left to the ISF. According to the rules set forth by the Support Council, each tribe will work with the local Iraqi Police (IP) and Iraqi Army (IA) to secure its area, and its area alone. Tribes, therefore, will not cross into to other tribes' areas to conduct security-related operations. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The provincial government hopes that keeping tribal security initiatives local and under the control of the ISF will allow for the continued long-term and sustainable development of the provincial government, while also allowing the tribes to assist the ISF in securing the province. Additionally, they hope the localized nature of the movement will prevent armed disputes among tribes. Provincial leaders, both governmental and tribal, have been consistent in their message that they do not want to form militias and that they see a legitimate government as the best way forward for the province's long-term stability. END COMMENT. ¶5. (U) For additional reporting from PRT Tikrit, Salah ad Din, please see our SIPRNET Reporting Blog: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Tikrit . CROCKER