Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BAGHDAD985
2007-03-21 09:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

READ OUT FROM MARH 18 MCNS

Tags:  MOPS MARR PINS PNAT PINR PREL IZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0963
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #0985/01 0800905
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 210905Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0292
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000985 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2017
TAGS: MOPS MARR PINS PNAT PINR PREL IZ
SUBJECT: READ OUT FROM MARH 18 MCNS

REF: BAGHDAD 879

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Daniel V. Speckhard for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000985

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2017
TAGS: MOPS MARR PINS PNAT PINR PREL IZ
SUBJECT: READ OUT FROM MARH 18 MCNS

REF: BAGHDAD 879

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Daniel V. Speckhard for reasons
1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Prime Minister Maliki presided over the March
18 meeting of the Ministerial Committee for National
Security, during which:

-- Minister of State for National Security Affairs Sirwan
al-Waeli said the security crackdown in Baghdad was bringing
calm to the capital. However, the situation in the Karkh
area was grave, especially in the Dora and Saydiyah
neighborhoods of the Rashid district where militia activities
including 'assassinations and beheadings' were still very
high.

--Minister of Interior Jawad Bolani said he and Minister of
Defense Abdul Qader met with the PM-endorsed Diyala Rescue
Committee and pledged to provide additional security support
to the province.

--Minister of Interior Jawad Bolani said his ministry was
pressing forward with facility protection service reform.

--Deputy National Security Advisor Dr. Safi Al-Safaa
submitted his weapons buyback program for Baghdad proposal to
the Prime Minister and requested his approval.

--Prime Minister approved Deputy Ministerial Committee for
National Security's recommendation to transfer security
authority of Maysan Province to Iraqi control on April 18,
despite Waeli's plea to postpone the decision.

-- Minster of State for National Security Sorwan al-Waeli
outlined recommendations for addressing the Improvised
Explosive Device crisis in Iraq. END SUMMARY.

FARDH AL-QANOON
--------------


2. (C/MNF-I) Minster of State for National Security Sirwan
al-Waeli said that while security operations in Baghdad were
proving successful, the situation in Karkh was dire. He said
the neighborhoods of Dora and Saydiyah within the Rashid
district were experiencing an increase in militia activity,
including a rise in assassinations, beheadings, and
displacements. Prime Minister asked for immediate crackdown

in the area while Commander of the Joint Forces General
Babakir Badrkhan Zebari said that two Iraqi army battalions
of the 2nd Division were directed to deploy in the next day
to Karkh to address the problems.


3. (C/MNF-I) General Patraeus agreed these areas needed
attention but urged patient adherence to the plan. He said
efforts were already underway to address the Kharkh
situation. In the coming days part of a newly arrived U.S.
brigade was moving into the Dora area. There were also plans
to take out a death squad operating in the zone. He also
said the security forces planned to increase operations in
Mansour and Ghazaliyah in the coming days.


4. (C/MNF-I) Petraeus stressed to the Prime Minister and to
Babakir the importance of not moving Iraqi army units
frequently around the city. He said the units were given
designated locations throughout their 90 day deployments. He
explained that counterinsurgency forces are most effective
when they remain in the same operating locations for extended
periods and can develop local contacts and exploit
information.

MORE SECURITY FORCES FOR DIYALA
--------------


5. (C/MNF-I) Following up on last week's Diyala discussion
(Baghdad 879),Minister of Interior Jawad Bolani said he and
Minister of Defense Abdul Qader met with the PM-endorsed
Diyala Rescue Committee. He said the committee was
representative of the province, comprising members from all
sects and tribes. Bolani said he and Qader pledged their
assistance in helping them establish three local police
battalions and in improving coordination among the security
forces currently operating in Diyala.

FACILITY PROTECTION SERVICE REFORM: SLOW MOVING
-------------- --


6. (C/MNF-I) Minister of Interior Jawad Bolani said his
ministry was pressing forward with facility protection

BAGHDAD 00000985 002 OF 002


service reform. He estimated the service would likely be
reduced by 75%. He stressed the need for cross-ministry
support especially in terms of ensuring compensation and
employment opportunities for the thousands of members that
would be released from the service. He requested that the
Minister of Finance transfer the FPS budget to the MoI so
that he could better control these forces.


7. (C/MNF-I) Minister of Finance Bayan Jabr pressed Bolani
for a list of the names of the 'estimated 40,000 ghost
employees' of the FPS so he can adjust funding allocations.
He also asked for a clear date when he should transfer FPS
funding to the MOI rather than individual ministries as he is
currently doing. Bolani admitted he still did not know the
exact number of FPS members or the number of legitimate
versus illegitimate employees. Once all are identified, his
ministry will begin vetting them. He called for patience and
cautioned that stopping salary payment before the reform
process was complete would be disastrous for security. The
Prime Minister asked the ministers for a follow-up report on
the FPS situation.

WEAPONS BUYBACK PROGRAM SUBMITTED TO PM
--------------


8. (C/MNF-I) Deputy National Security Advisor Dr. Safi
Al-Safaa submitted his Baghdad weapons buyback program
proposal to Maliki and requested his approval. No one raised
concerns or objected to the plan, including Jabr who had
strongly objected to the program in previous discussions.
(Baghdad 879)The other regular critic of the buyback program,
Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Salaam Zawba'i was not in
attendance this week. The PM said that he will sign the
appropriate Executive Order.

MAYSAN APPROVED FOR TRANSFER
--------------


9. (C/MNF-I) Safaa told Maliki that based on February
provincial assessments, Maysan had met the necessary criteria
for transfer to Iraqi provincial control and the Joint
Committee for the Transfer of Security Responsibility (JCTSR)
recommends transfer on April 18. Maliki welcomed the news
and agreed to the transfer date of April 18.


10. (C/MNF-I) Waeli cautioned Maliki against approval, saying
several provincial council members had reported to him an
increase in instability and violence in Maysan. As evidence
Waeli cited the statistic of 'seven assassinations in past
four days' and an increase in 'fighting in the streets."
Waeli also advised against transfer until a permanent
provincial police chief was appointed and actually serving in
the job. Maliki disregarded the advice, agreeing instead with
Bolani in saying the transfer was based on an overall
assessment. The incidents reported by Waeli were isolated
events and only based on the role of one person.

WAELI'S STUDY ON IEDS
--------------


11. (C/MNF-I) MSNS Waeli said his office had conducted a
study on Improvised Explosive Devise proliferation in Iraq
that concluded with recommendations for addressing the IED
crisis in Iraq. He said the GOI could begin addressing the
problem by improving the security of state owned
manufacturing companies and weapons depots. He also
recommended consulting with expert scientists who may be able
to assist in developing counter-measures against the
proliferation of IEDs. Maliki agreed with the concept and
asked which ministry would take charge. Waeli said his
office was willing to implement the recommendations but
Maliki said this seemed unreasonable since Waeli has neither
security forces nor FPS within his organization.
KHALILZAD