INITIAL DISCUSSION WITH IRAQI MOD, CO-CHAIR OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003164 SIPDIS SIPDIS LONDON PASS TO AMBASSADOR CROCKER E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/19/2017 TAGS: AMGT ASEC PREL PTER IZ SUBJECT: INITIAL DISCUSSION WITH IRAQI MOD, CO-CHAIR OF JOINT COMMISSION ON PERSONAL SECURITY DETAIL ISSUES REF: A. BAGHDAD 03156 ¶B. BAGHDAD 03143 ¶C. BAGHDAD 03136 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Patricia A. Butenis for reasons 1.4 (b ) and (d) CONFIDENTIAL SIPDIS (C) 1. On September 20, Charge d'Affaires Butenis, accompanied by MG Barbero, Regional Security Officer, and Embassy Legal Advisor, met with Minister of Defense (MOD) Abdul Qadr who has been appointed as the Iraqi co-chair of the USG-GOI Joint Commission reviewing Personal Security Detail (PSD) issues and the September 16 incident involving Blackwater. The Charge expressed regret for the loss of life and said the USG took very seriously the Commission's upcoming review, which was underscored by the telephone call from Secretary Rice to PM Maliki. Charge said the USG was conducting an internal investigation and reviewing all PSD procedures. She provided MOD Qadr with a list of U.S. members of the Joint Commission. (C) 2. MOD Abdul Qadr acknowledged the expression of regret and said he would rely very heavily on the internal USG investigation in his role as co-chair. He said it was important to view this incident in terms of individual actions and responsibility, not as something affecting the bilateral relationship. Abdul Qadr also told the Charge that he would act for now as the primary point-of-contact for day-to-day Iraqi issues concerning the Joint Commission, but he might later appoint either one of the Iraqi Commission members or someone from within the MOD to assume that role. (C) 3. When the Charge suggested that the Commission work could begin prior to official notification of all the members, Abdul Qadr replied that he had just received his own notification via phone call from National Security Advisor Rubaie and he would advise the U.S. Embassy further once he received official GOI instructions. (C) 4. As the meeting came to an end, MOD Abdul Qadr reiterated his personal belief as a former military general that this PSD incident was not a political issue; rather, it was about technical mistakes made by individuals in a wartime environment. The Charge and MOD Qadr agreed to keep in close contact as the Commission is assembled. BUTENIS