KARBALA GEARING UP FOR PIC; CONTINUING SECURITY DIALOGUE

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 HILLAH 000142

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/17/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL IZ
SUBJECT: KARBALA GEARING UP FOR PIC; CONTINUING SECURITY DIALOGUE
WITH ANBAR

HILLAH 00000142 001.2 OF 002


CLASSIFIED BY: Angus T. Simmons, Team Leader, PRT Karbala,
Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)




1. (U) This is a PRT Karbala reporting cable.


2. (C) SUMMARY: BG Cardon (3ID D-CGS),Karbala PRT Leader,
PRTOffs and the local MiTT Team met with Karbala Governor Aqeel
October 16 in the 8th IA Division compound in Husseiniya to
discuss planning for the upcoming PIC (Provincial Iraqi Control)
ceremony scheduled for October 29. Other topics discussed
included the upcoming second round of the Anbar/Karbala security
dialogue October 20, the Southern Governor's Conference in
Baghdad October 18 and PRT movements in Karbala. The Governor
also expressed his objections to the implementation of the
Concerned Citizen Program (CCP, similar to the program being run
in North Babil) in Karbala. END SUMMARY.

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PIC Discussion
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3. (C) Governor Aqeel began the discussion by saying that all
legal and administrative issues for the handing over of the
security file to the province (aka PIC) on Monday October 29
have been arranged that that he is in constant communication
with the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff on the issue. One of
the few difficulties that has arisen is due to the fact that
Karbala is one of the few provinces that has both a government
and an operations room (PJCC). In a meeting with the head of
the operations room and IP Chief last week, it was agreed to
hold the ceremony in the soccer stadium in Karbala and a press
campaign was outlined (NOTE: PRT is going to follow up to get
more detailed information on the planned press campaign. END
NOTE.) BG Cardon informed the Governor that the transportation
issues for VIP attendance would be worked out over the next day
or two and would be a topic at the Wednesday October 17 meeting
between the ISF and CF involved in the security planning for the
event. The Governor plans to open the ceremony, followed by the
PM or his representative and then remarks by General Petreaus;
it is currently scheduled to begin at 1000 a.m. and last two to
three hours with a luncheon following the ceremony.

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Anbar/Karbala Security Dialogue
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4. (C) Governor Aqeel confirmed that he spoke to Governor
Ma'moun of Anbar two days before Eid and they agreed that the
next round of the Anbar/Karbala Security Dialogue would take
place in Ramadi on Saturday October 20. The two governors
agreed that the talks should include a large number of tribal
sheiks from both provinces provided secure transportation was
available; BG Cardon promised the Governor helicopter support
for a 20-30 person delegation from Karbala. The Governor
requested that the delegation be picked up at the Governorate
Compund (GC),but PRT later confirmed that arrangements for
staging and flight to Ramadi will have to be done from the IA
compound in Husseiniya. Governor Aqeel noted that he plans to
follow up the Anbar dialogue with similar discussions with
Sala'adin and Diyala, once the security situation improves. The
Governor also pointed out that he hosted an Iftar banquet for
195 tribal sheikhs who all signed a document of `mutual
cooperation and support' and agreed to form a Tribal Committee.
[NOTE: The Governor was insistent that the Karbala Committee
would NOT/NOT be a tribal council or `awakening' like those
established in Anbar and elsewhere. END NOTE.] This tribal
committee will play a role in the economic and political
development of the province.

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Southern Governor's Conference
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5. (C) Governor Aqeel was pleased about the upcoming Southern
Governor's Conference October 18, saying that the governors have
been wanting one for a long time. He expressed a hope that
there would be an opportunity to meet with the Ministers of
Interior and Defense to discuss securing training and equipment
for key security units, particularly the newly-created third,
fourth and fifth battalions. The Governor said that, while the
last meeting the Southern Governors had with Ambassador Crocker
was positive, there was no follow-up on issues discussed and he
hoped that wouldn't be the case again this time.

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Concerned Citizen Program (CCP) for Karbala
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HILLAH 00000142 002.2 OF 002



6. (S) Governor Aqeel was dismayed by information he had heard
that an attempt was being made to organize a Concerned Citizen
Program (CCP, similar to what is being done in North Babil). He
was told that the sheiks were collecting weapons and would be
paid $25/day ($10/day for their followers) for patrolling
certain roads in the province. He even went so far as to say
that one sheik told him that he was `under pressure' from CF to
participate in this initiative. The Governor vowed to fight any
idea that was not coordinated with the provincial and/or central
governments and said that he had voiced his concerns to the
Prime Minister. The Governor believes strongly that any CCP
initiative would be counterproductive in Karbala and would only
lead to the creation of new militias, reiterating that he was
doing everything in his power to control the security situation
in Karbala.

7.(S) [NOTE: MiTT Commander LTC Roberts explained that Karbala
IP Chief BG Ri'ad had approached them on the issue (through 1st
of the 501st in Iskan),exploring the possibility of forming
CCPs in Karbala. This was prior to events of 27-28 August when
it was unclear if both the Governor and the ISF could withstand
JAM influence, intimidation, and direct attacks. This program
was the tribe's opportunity to protect their areas from JAM
influence. Since 27-28 August, the security environment has
dramatically improved. The ability to sustain this environment
is contingent on GOI promises for three additional battalions
which have not yet been realized. If these forces are not
formed soon, the shortfall will create an environment where
concerned citizens may be necessary. Once BG Ri'ad told the
MiTT team a few days ago that the Governor was not at all
supportive of the idea, CF immediately backed off. END NOTE.]

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COMMENT
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8. (C) This was one of the more constructive and focused
meetings with the Karbala Governor. Like the Governor of
Diwaniyah, Governor Aqeel is not eager to see the sheiks develop
an independent power base nor have resources distributed beyond
his control. On the CCP, it was clear that the Governor did not
understand the program and mirrored many of the same concerns as
senior GOI officials. The Governor's comment that he supported
the PRT's interaction with a broad cross-section of society (in
particular the Tribal Committee) as long as it pertained to
`democracy-building' was welcome as he has been less
enthusiastic in the past about the PRT interacting with any
entities outside his scope. He also encouraged the PRT to work
more closely with district governments and local councils, a
suggestion on which the PRT will certainly act as conditions
permit.
SIMMONS