MARCH 16 BAGHDAD SECURITY PLAN EXECUTIVE STEERING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BAGHDAD 000994 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2017 TAGS: PGOV PINS KDEM IZ SUBJECT: MARCH 16 BAGHDAD SECURITY PLAN EXECUTIVE STEERING COMMITTEE (U) Classified by DCM Daniel Speckhard, E.O. 12958, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) The March 16 Baghdad Security Plan (BSP) Executive Steering Committee focused on: -- A report by General Abboud highlighting security improvements and calling for removal of barriers in Baghdad streets (paragraphs 3-6); -- A reminder from CG Petraeus about the need to balance security and free movement (7-8); -- Chief Justice Medhat,s al-Mahmoud,s report on the activities of judicial teams adjudicating detention hearings (9-11); -- Extended discussion of detainees, especially those held by MNF-I (12-15); -- Reports from the popular mobilization committee (16-17), political committee (18) and media committee (19-21); -- Discussion about how to energize a proposal for micro credits to start small businesses (22). End Summary. ¶2. (C) The PM opened the meeting noting the absence of several BSP committee chairs: VP Abdel Mehdi (political committee),DPMs Barham Saleh (economic committee) and Zawbai (services committee). Security -------------- ¶3. (C) General Abboud briefed the ESC on security activity over the past week. He presented a series of slides that showed decreased figures for deaths, violence and crime in Baghdad, although the slides left unclear what time periods were covered. Abboud later explained that they compared figures from "before" BSP began (NFI) to figures since it began (presumably, 14 February). Abboud said he plans to implement the reward program for the top Iraqi Security Force (ISF) units and checkpoints discussed in previous ESC meetings. ¶4. (C) Abboud called for the Ministry of Interior (MoI) to develop standards to govern political leaders' personal security detail (PSD) members. ¶5. (C) Popular mobilization committee co-chair Ahmed Chalabi, who with the PM was the meeting's most frequent speaker, said that there are several Baghdad neighborhoods without sufficient forces. CG Petraeus said that not all forces are yet present in Baghdad and that CF and ISF would be thickening up the security in those areas shortly. ¶6. (C) Abboud noted that barriers in front of buildings occupied by political parties had not been removed. Some streets were blocked by concrete blocks and palm tree trunks. He singled out one street in an area that where foreign journalists were housed in hotels. Balancing Security and Free Movement -------------- ¶7. (C) CG Petraeus warned that some of the barriers had been intentionally placed as part of BSP to protect markets, to serve as traffic control points, and to create "gated communities." Such barriers were helping make vehicle borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs) less effective. These must not be removed. The CG suggested that Generals Abboud and Odierno meet to determine which barriers may and may not be removed. ¶8. (C) The CG pointed out that some areas may be closed off entirely as BSP progresses, and that there is a necessary balance between the need for security and free movement. The CG also suggested that ISF units not be moved in and out of neighborhoods, but that they remain in neighborhoods and get to know them. He warned against frequent ISF unit moves once in Baghdad and said that the planning for future replacements for those battalions must begin in earnest. Chief Justice Medhat Reports -------------- ¶9. (C) Iraqi Chief Justice Medhat al-Mahmoud reported that teams of judges have been visiting detention sites to hold hearings. Since BSP began, the judges have heard hundreds of cases and released many detainees for lack of evidence. The BAGHDAD 00000994 002 OF 003 courts had been successful in protecting witnesses who had come forward. The PM welcomed Medhat's report about releases and suggested the figures of cases heard and releases be published to the media. ¶10. (C) Medhat requested assistance in transporting judges to detention sites, particularly in Anbar. He also asked for increased protection for judges in light of the assassination the previous week of one judge whose PSD, he claimed, was unarmed. ¶11. (C) The CG congratulated Medhat and noted that, with the prior concurrence of the PM, MNF-I is assisting the construction of a "Rule of Law Green Zone" which included detention and court facilities as well as accommodations for court personnel. Detainees -------------- ¶12. (C) Political committee member Hajim al-Hassani claimed that MNF-I had many detainees who had been held for long periods, and the MNF-I system for adjudicating detainees was unclear. The CG welcomed the opportunity to explain MNF-I's detention review procedures or to provide a tour of the facilities to anyone who is interested. ¶13. (C) The CG expressed concern over the recent mass prison break in Badush prison, noting that 72 dangerous foreign fighters had escaped. MNF-I would like to get out of the detainee business, the CG noted, but needs assurances detainees will not escape nor be mistreated. The CG asked that the investigation results of the Badush breakout be given to this body soon. ¶14. (C) Chalabi said his popular mobilization committee is focusing on detainees, families. Some, he claimed, did not know where their relatives were being held, or even if they were in custody. He claimed that there were over 200 detainees in a Muthanna facility that included women and juveniles. He complained that although MNF-I detainee review committees included Iraqis, they did not include Iraqi judges and detainees did not have access to attorneys. ¶15. (C) The PM noted that many MNF-I detainees are security detainees held on evidence from intelligence sources, not ordinary criminal detainees; the CG confirmed this and stressed the need to protect intelligence sources and methods. Moreover, the CG noted, U.S. military attorneys carefully reviewed each case and the reasons for which each detainee is being held. UK Ambassador Asquith urged that detainees cases be adjudicated as soon as possible to determine guilt or innocence. Popular Mobilization Committee -------------- ¶16. (C) Chalabi claimed that his popular mobilization committee has spent the past week focused on re-opening mosques and on detainee cases. He claimed that 2000 families of internally displaced persons (IDPs) had returned to Baghdad. He also claimed he is working on getting food rations to families. ¶17. (C) Trade Ministry official Naim Aziz said the main problem is security for convoys that move food rations from warehouses to neighborhood distribution points. Aziz said he had requested help from Abboud. The PM ordered the Trade Ministry to meet with Abboud and come up with a plan. Political Committee -------------- ¶18. (C) Hajim al-Hassani said the political committees work slowed in the past week. He hoped fellow political committee member FM Zebari (who was absent) would convoke foreign ambassadors resident in Baghdad to brief them on BSP. Media Committee -------------- ¶19. (C) Media committee co-chair Yassin Majeed said the committee had put up BSP posters and would begin distribution of badges and t-shirts promoting BSP. He noted that Chalabi had appeared on television in a re-opened mosque - it was refreshing to see Chalabi praying for a change, Majeed noted, prompting laughter. ¶20. (C) Charge called for regular meetings between Majeed,s committee and Embassy, MNF-I and ISF spokespersons. ¶21. (C) Al-Hassani pointed out Iraqi media reports about BAGHDAD 00000994 003 OF 003 excess damage caused when houses were raided as part of BSP. Abboud and DCG Lamb said this is contrary to ISF and MNF-I policy and promised to reinforce that down the chain of command. Micro Credits -------------- ¶22. (C) Chalabi asked the status of a prior ESC proposal to grant GO micro credits to start small businesses. The PM said the proposal lacked funding. State Minister Wa,ili proposed that the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs could finance the program by stopping income support payments and instead granting loans. A series of $5000 loans would generate 25,000 jobs, he claimed. KHALILZAD