PRT-WASIT: PROVINCIAL COUNCIL VOTES TO DISMISS

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002615 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2017 TAGS: PGOV PINS PINR IZ SUBJECT: PRT-WASIT: PROVINCIAL COUNCIL VOTES TO DISMISS WASIT POLICE CHIEF Classified By: PRT Wasit Team Leader Wade Weems for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S/NF) Summary. On 4 August the Wasit Provincial Council (PC) voted to relieve the Provincial Police Chief. According to the new acting Police Chief, Brigadier General Alawi Hussein Kadhim, the PC's decision will not be final until the Minister of Interior (MOI) agrees and appoints an interim chief. Alawi thought the eventual chief should be Major General Khalid Abdel Sataar Azaz, the current head of the Provincial Joint Communication Commission (PJCC). In a 5 August meeting on FOB Delta, Khalid confirmed that his name, along with two others, would be sent to the MOI by the PC as candidates for the police chief job. End summary. ¶2. (S/NF) On 4 August BG Alawi met with ePRT team leader and FOB Delta Commander a few hours after the PC's vote. Alawi said the motion to fire MG Husayn Abd Al Hadi passed with ninety percent of the vote but did not know specific details about the PC session (i.e. how individual members voted) nor did he know the specific reasons for the dismissal. Alawi said the vote was taken in a secret meeting of the PC. ¶3. (S/NF) When congratulated by FOB Delta Commander on his new role as acting Police Chief, BG Alawi was gracious but noted that he was now in charge of dealing with the problems in the province including fuel and power shortages, high unemployment and a security crisis in Al Kut. ¶4. (S/NF) Although the replacement procedures were not entirely clear from his explanation, Alawi noted that the PC's vote would not officially take effect until it was approved by the Minister of Interior. Alawi said the logical permanent choice was current PJCC chief MG Khalid as he had the rank, experience and was a good officer. ¶5. (S/NF) When asked by ePRT team leader about his immediate plans as acting chief, BG Alawi replied that he had no "magic stick" to address the significant security problems but his experience over the last month had given him insight into the main issues to be addressed. (Note: BG Alawi was acting chief for part of June and July while Husayn was in Iran and France. End note.) ¶6. (S/NF) FOB Delta Commander noted that the success of the province depended on the police force, he expressed hope the Iraqi Police (IP) would be more effective with Alawi in charge and offered his command's full support. BG Alawi expressed his thanks for the offer of support and asked for help renovating and building police stations in Al Kut. ¶7. (S/NF) In a 5 August meeting with FOB Delta Commander, MG Khalid confirmed the information as related by BG Alawi a day earlier. Khalid related that, in addition to his nomination, two other names would be sent to the MOI for confirmation. He said "if I am police chief, Alawi will be kept as Deputy." In the meetings, MG Khalid passed on documents to Col Baker that he said would be of significant intelligence value and noted that he was willing and well-positioned to continue to supply more high value intelligence. ¶8. (S/NF) Comment: Regardless of the performance of MG Khalid, or whoever else is appointed Wasit Police Chief, the dismissal of MG Husayn is a positive development for the province. In the last eight months, the security situation in Al Kut has declined steadily. The Al Kut police ranks and city streets are filled with Sadrist militia who terrorize the local populace and launch rockets at FOB Delta. Additionally, politicians throughout the provincial and district governments feel threatened and intimidated by unchecked militia strength in the city. The second positive aspect to this development is our cautiously optimistic view that both MG Khalid and BG Alawi are the right officers for the job. Initial meetings with each have gone very well; both appear motivated to work closely with CF to combat the security problems in the province. End comment. ¶9. (S/NF) Biographical notes. Major General Khalid Abdel Sataah Aziz Current position. Director, Provincial Joint Communication Committee for Wasit Professional: -- Entered Iraqi Army in 1973 -- Promoted to BG in 1993 -- Spent five years in USSR in Electronic Warfare training -- Served seven years in "war zone" during Iran-Iraq war -- Spent seven years as an EW instructor training Iraqi Officers Personal: -- Originally from Wasit, moved to Baghdad to attend military school when seven years old. BAGHDAD 00002615 002 OF 002 -- Has family ties to MG Muhammed, current Commanding General of Iraqi Army 3 BDE, 8th DIV. -- Oldest son was killed by "terrorists" in 2005. (No additional details.) -- Fluent Russian, Fair English. End Bio notes. CROCKER