MARCH 2 BAGHDAD SECURITY PLAN EXECUTIVE STEERING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BAGHDAD 000795

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON IZ
SUBJECT: MARCH 2 BAGHDAD SECURITY PLAN EXECUTIVE STEERING
COMMITTEE

(U) Classified by Political Counselor Margaret Scobey,
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: The March 2 meeting of the Baghdad Security
Plan (BSP) Executive Steering Committee (ESC) focused on:

-- A security update by General Abboud (para's 2-4);

-- A report on the political committee's meetings aimed at
enhancing political parties' support for BSP (5-6);

-- Discussion of BSP and the upcoming neighbor's Conference
in Baghdad (7-8);

-- Services reports from DPM Zowbai and Electricity Minister
al-Hasan (9-13);

-- Popular mobilization committee emphasis on bringing to
light complaints of abuses by security forces (14-16);

-- General Odierno's briefing on MNF-I's activities and a
commitment by General Lamb to look into allegations of abuse
(17-18);

-- The media committee's report and discussion of how to
improve GOI contact with the media about BSP (19-21).

End Summary.

Security
--------------


2. (C) General Abboud reported on security operations over
the past week, including numbers of "terrorists" killed and
detained, vehicle bombs (VBIEDs) dismantled, and weapons and
other materials confiscated. He noted that BSP has at this
point resulted in fewer detainees than in past Baghdad
security efforts. Abboud claimed that internally displaced
persons (IDPs) are returning to several Baghdad
neighborhoods, some mosques and huseiniyas (Shiite houses of
worship) are re-opening, some hospitals have re-opened.


3. (C) Abboud urged that Baghdad streets and houses be
renumbered in order to help control neighborhoods, and that
street barriers and checkpoints not placed by the GOI be
removed. Abboud also called for increased security in
production and storage of chlorine gas, in light of recent
attempts to use chlorine in bombings. The ESC discussed
possible media messages about chlorine gas, but the PM
decided that this would be likely to cause panic. However,
the PM backed Abboud's call for better security in production
and storage.


4. (C) The PM asked Abboud why terrorists were allegedly
still moving freely about some areas of Baghdad. Abboud
cited what he said were still-insufficient Iraqi Security
Force (ISF) numbers. The PM asked about using the ISF Quick
Reaction Force (QRF) to help; Abboud pointed out the QRF is
not intended for normal "holding" operations.

Political Support Committee
--------------


5. (C) Walking stiffly due to injuries from a recent
bombing, political support committee head VP Abdel Mehdi was
present but left the ESC early. Political support committee
member Hashim al-Hassani reported in Abdel Mehdi's stead. He
reported that the committee met with Sunni Tawafuq bloc
leader Adnan Dulaimi regarding allegations raised at the
February 23 ESC that Dulaimi's personal security detail (PSD)
fired on returning IDPs; Dulaimi had pledged to cooperate in
the future.


6. (C) Al-Hassani also reported that he met with other
Tawafuq members and cross-sectarian secular Iraqiyya party
members, including Iraqiyya leader Ayad Allawi. Al-Hassani
said he thought that the reconciliation aspect of BSP has
been "forgotten" and said he would speak to Minister for
National Dialogue Akram al-Hakim about how to re-energize it,
including by accelerating de-Ba'athification reform.

BSP and the Neighbors Conference
--------------


7. (C) National Security Advisor Rubaie asked the political
support committee to meet with foreign attendees at the March
10 neighbors conference in Baghdad, and explain BSP's goals.
Rubaie emphasized that garnering awareness of and support for
BSP is a main goal of the conference. VP Mehdi said he had
done this during his recent trip to Turkey and would do so at
the conference.


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8. (C) The PM noted that he had hoped the conference would
be at the ministerial level, but that due to security
concerns other countries would only agree to subministerial
level. However, even so, he said the conference would be an
achievement for the GOI, and give the GOI a chance to
showcase its democratic government and constitution. The PM
said the GOI would seek assurances about the conference
agenda.

Services
--------------


9. (C) DPM Zowbai said he anticipated that a contract to
purchase solar powered street lights would be complete within
days. The services support committee is coordinating with
General Abboud and organizing its engineers into teams for
each of Baghdad's ten security areas; Abboud is naming
officers as liaisons to the services committee. Garbage
collection is now taking place during the evening as well as
during daylight hours.


10. (C) Zowbai noted that the Ministry of Defense (MoD) had
secured convoys carrying food rations. To answer complaints
that food rations are not being distributed due to security
problems, Zowbai suggested that ISF distribute food rations
while conducting patrols.


11. (C) Zowbai highlighted the shortage of doctors due to
migration abroad, and called for the GOI to create incentives
for them to return to Iraq.


12. (C) Electricity Minister Karim Wasid al-Hasan confirmed
the Ministry of Electricity (MoE) would soon finalize an
agreement to purchase solar street lights. He told the ESC
that MNF-I would begin to escort oil tankers from refineries
to a Baghdad-area power station to assure the station had the
necessary fuel. Delays at the refinery are due to
checkpoints and curfews, and often mean that fuel trucks must
stay overnight at the refinery.


13. (C) Zowbai urged that the GOI lower the price of heavy
fuel oil (HFO) in order to increase demand and alleviate the
glut of HFO at Iraqi refineries. The PM pointed out that
security for HFO transport is also a brake on demand.

Popular Mobilization
--------------


14. (C) Popular mobilization committee co-chair Nasir
Alaa'ni told the ESC that his committee is working to raise
public awareness of BSP and follow up on reports of abuses by
ISF, with more emphasis on the latter. He said the committee
has received hundreds of complaints, adding that the number
had dropped recently.


15. (C) Co-chair Ahmed Chalabi explained that the committee
investigated complaints and if they determined the complaint
is justified, write a letter to ISF. He reported that in one
case, militia members who had infiltrated ISF had distributed
flyers telling residents of a district to leave. Chalabi
claimed his committee had brought the matter to the attention
of the local ISF commander, who dispatched ISF to the
neighborhood to tell residents to ignore the flyers.


16. (C) Chalabi raised allegations of abuses by members of
an ISF special forces unit, including what he claimed was an
unjustified killing of a suspect's relative when special
forces raided a home and did not find the suspect. The PM
called for the investigation of the incident.

Generals Odierno and Lamb
--------------


17. (C) General Odierno told the ESF he understood the
frustrations with security. However, under General Abboud's
leadership there has been gradual improvement. Security will
continue to improve, but it will take months. The Coalition
is continuing to flow forces into Baghdad, with particular
attention to areas where VBIED attacks are occurring. MNF-I
would continue to move into Baghdad neighborhoods, get to
know the residents, and let the residents get to know them.


18. (C) General Lamb told the ESC MNF-I is conscious of
complaints, but noted that special forces only engage in
targeted operations based on specific information. He
promised to follow up on the alleged unjustified killing.

Media Committee
--------------


19. (C) Media committee co-chair Majeed reported on his
committee's media events and statements over the past week.

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He raised the need to remove barriers and heavy weapons in
front of buildings occupied by political parties. The PM
questioned whether this was feasible, given terrorist threats.


20. (C) The ESC then debated efforts to work with satellite
TV channels, including international channels that featured
unfavorable coverage of BSP. Al-Hassani urged more GOI
speakers appear on such channels, in order to have the GOI
viewpoint reflected. Several ESC members called for more GOI
leaders to appear in the media, in addition to official
spokesman General Qassim.


21. (C) General Lamb pointed out that MNF-I has one
spokesman but encourages local commanders to share their
experiences with the media. MNF-I Strategic Effects
Communications Chief Admiral Fox explained that MNF-I's media
philosophy as "one message, many messengers" and offered his
assistance to the media committee.
KHALILZAD