REO BASRAH EAC MEETING ON 01/24/2007

C O N F I D E N T I A L BASRAH 000012 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR DS/DSS, DS/ITA/NEA, DS/IP/OPO/HTP. NEA/EX E.O. 12958: DECL: 1/28/2017 TAGS: ASEC AMGT IZ SUBJECT: REO BASRAH EAC MEETING ON 01/24/2007 REF: BASRAH 004 CLASSIFIED BY: Bryan T. Bachmann, RSO, REO Basrah, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (g) ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: REO Basrah's Emergency Action Committee (EAC) convened on 01/23/07 to address the recent Indirect Fire (IDF) attacks, morale, and the general security environment in Basrah. The EAC agreed to limit time spent in residential trailers to one hour, continue the restriction on non-emergency personnel and maintain the mandatory wear of Personal Protective Equipment. The EAC agreed to request a visit from U.S. Embassy Baghdad Social Worker, Eric Cipriano. End summary. ¶2. (U) The Regional Director (RD) chaired a meeting of the Emergency Action Committee (EAC) on January 23, 2007, to discuss security on the Basrah Palace Compound (BPC). Attending the meeting were the Regional Security Officer, Management Officer, ORA chief, Director, Strategic Counter-Intelligence Directorate (SCID); and KBR. ¶3. (C) REO Basrah continues to take IDF, and the security conditions in the city continue to deteriorate. The frequency of IDF has declined, however the accuracy and complexity of the attacks have increased. Over the course of the past month, there have been 88 rocket/mortar impacts in and around the Basrah Palace. Fifty-five hit the Basrah Palace complex and 33 hit outside the Basrah Palace perimeter; 19 of these impacts hit within the U.S. REO compound. ORA gave examples of the complex coordinated attacks being launched on British Military patrols as evidence of the militias' increased determination to drive Multinational Forces (MNF) from Basrah. In addition to the threat to the MNF, local employee safety was discussed. The EAC was briefed that a local national employee working for the British military was recently tortured and told not to cooperate with the MNF. A day after the EAC meeting, on 01/24/07, it was reported that a local KBR employee who worked as a day laborer for the REO had been kidnapped. As of June 2006, three local employees who worked at the REO have been murdered. ¶4. (C) The EAC agreed to maintain certain security measures implemented in reftel. The EAC agreed that individuals should spend no more than one hour at a time in their residential trailers and wear PPE when not under hard cover. Regarding the staff of the REO, the EAC agreed that only essential staff should remain at the REO. The REO is already operating at minimized levels and cannot warrant the risk of non-emergency personnel. (Specific requests by the Regional Director regarding certain positions to return will be coordinated through the U.S. Embassy Baghdad Management and RSO office.) ¶5. (C) Morale is an issue at Post as employees live in either their offices or live under hard cover in shared open bay living quarters. It was reported that morale remains relatively well, but it is evident that the living conditions, while stable and safe, are wearing on the staff. The Regional Director asked for volunteers to coordinate MWR activities to help alleviate stress. The EAC felt that a visit by U.S. Embassy Baghdad's Eric Cipriano would be helpful. ¶6. (C) The EAC was informed by the Regional Director that there is no firm decision as of yet on whether the REO will remain at the Basrah Palace or move to the Basrah Air Station. The decision regarding the future of the REO was evidently on everyone's minds. BONO