FM RECEIVES OBJECTIVE MASSEY BRIEF

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 004027 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ SUBJECT: FM RECEIVES OBJECTIVE MASSEY BRIEF Classified By: Classified by PolMil Minister Counselor Marcie Ries for Reasons 1.4 (d/b) ¶1. (C) On December 10, and in advance of what will be Foreign Minister Zebari's first official trip to Syria, PolMil Minister Counselor Ambassador Marcie Ries and MNF-I intel personnel provided him a foreign terrorist and facilitators (FTF) briefing based on Objective Massey data. Zebari listened attentively, took notes, and thanked the briefers several times at the end of the presentation. ¶2. (C) Zebari asked for clarification about monthly crossing trends, and noted that internal Iraqi reporting suggesting a drop in the number of FTF entering Iraq from Syria agreed with Massey findings. He believes the SARG has "internal grounds" to stem the FTF flow; that it had learned lessons from other countries in the region, particularly Lebanon, and concluded that FTF could easily become an "out of control" domestic problem. Despite the more positive recent trends, Zebari remains concerned the SARG could "reactivate" terrorist and facilitator networks whenever it suits them. ¶3. (C) Syria, Zebari went on, was only a part (albeit an important one) of a web of networks running though several countries in the region. Zebari thinks the SARG recognizes a stable Iraq is in its interest, but complained that on FTF issues, the GOI had provided mixed messages and not "dealt professionally" with Syria. Zebari said he intended to be "direct" and condition better bilateral relations on continued SARG FTF cooperation. He asserted that the GOI has other incentives, principally economic, to encourage greater SARG engagement across the range of bilateral issues. Zebari took care to point out that "our people in the North" (Kurdish leadership) also approved of the trip. ¶4. (C) Zebari admitted the GOI "have people" within Syrian intelligence and that he had approved an increase in the Damascus embassy's budget to cover rising asset recruitment and retention costs. But he worried that the GOI still does not have adequate clarity on SARG thinking. He hopes his trip will help remedy this and added that one of his main goals was "get a feel" for senior SARG leadership. He plans to meet President Assad, Vice President Attar, Foreign Minister Moallem and other "security doers." Zebari described Prime Minister Utri as "ineffective" and was not sure they would meet. BUTENIS