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