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