Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07HILLAH167
2007-12-08 11:33:00
SECRET
REO Hillah
Cable title:  

IMPROVED SECURITY IN QADISIYAH BODES WELL FOR POSSIBLE PRT

Tags:  PGOV PREL MARR IZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6991
OO RUEHIHL
DE RUEHIHL #0167 3421133
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 081133Z DEC 07
FM REO HILLAH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1004
INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD IMMEDIATE 0881
RUEHIHL/REO HILLAH 1068
S E C R E T HILLAH 000167 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/8/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR IZ
SUBJECT: IMPROVED SECURITY IN QADISIYAH BODES WELL FOR POSSIBLE PRT
DIWANIYAH RELOCATION FROM REO HILLAH TO CAMP ECHO IN DIWANIYAH

CLASSIFIED BY: Richard Cleveland, Deputy PRT Team Leader, REO Al
Hillah, Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)



S E C R E T HILLAH 000167

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/8/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR IZ
SUBJECT: IMPROVED SECURITY IN QADISIYAH BODES WELL FOR POSSIBLE PRT
DIWANIYAH RELOCATION FROM REO HILLAH TO CAMP ECHO IN DIWANIYAH

CLASSIFIED BY: Richard Cleveland, Deputy PRT Team Leader, REO Al
Hillah, Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)




1. (U) This is a joint DS-PRT Diwaniyah cable.


2. (C) Summary: Iraqi general offers upbeat assessment
on the improved security climate in Diwaniyah. MND CS
Commander concurs but is concerned that Diwaniyah's
Governor remains an obstacle to progress. MND CS Commander
and 8th IAD General would welcome the relocation of PRT
Diwaniyah from REO Hillah to Camp Echo. Diplomatic
Security site survey (Septel) reveals no significant
security obstacles that would preclude PRT Diwaniyah?s
relocation. End Summary.


3. (C) On December 4, Diwaniyah IPAO and REO Hillah RSO
traveled to Diwaniyah for discussions with Major-General
Farhood Uthman, Eighth Iraqi Army Division (8th IAD)
Commander, and with Major-General Tadeusz Buk, MDN CS
commander. A DS site survey was also conducted to assess
whether there are any security concerns that would preclude
PRT Diwaniyah's relocation from REO Hillah to Camp Echo.

--------------
General Security Situation
--------------


4. (C) Uthman offered an upbeat assessment of the
improving security climate around Diwaniyah. He believes
that the current security situation is "positive," with
Operation Lion Pounce succeeding in securing the city with
numerous arrests of militia-affiliated fighters and the
displacement of others.


5. (S) Uthman is concerned, however, that with recent
success in Diwaniyah, militia fighters have moved further
north, particularly Hillah. He would like to replicate in
Hillah the success in Diwaniyah of Operation Lion Pounce.


6. (C) General Buk agrees that security in Diwaniyah is
greatly improved as a result of Operation Lion Pounce. He
said that, although prior to Operation Lion Pounce there
were "no-go" areas of Diwaniyah, coalition forces could now
move freely throughout the city without unacceptable risk.


7. (S) General Buk mentioned, however, that he believes
Diwaniyah Governor al-Khudari is "helping the JAM." Buk
asked us whether we were aware of any of the Governor's
public statements that "coalition forces are worse than the
militias." Comment: We are unaware of any such public
comments by the Governor but do know that coalition forces
and Governor al-Khudari do not have a warm relationship.
End Comment.

--------------
Potential PRT Relocation
--------------


8. (C) Uthman strongly encouraged the PRT's relocation
from REO Hillah to Camp Echo. He pledged his support and
that of his forces to maintain security for the PRT.
Uthman said that the province particularly needs
agricultural expertise that closer PRT proximity to
Diwaniyah could provide. Uthman also mentioned that
provincial authorities, particularly judges, need
additional "experience and training."


9. (C) General Buk also enthusiastically encouraged the
PRT's relocation to Camp Echo and pledged his support.


10. (C) DS Camp Echo site survey details will follow
Septel, but, at this time, there do not appear to be any
serious security shortfalls that would preclude a decision
to relocate the PRT from the Regional Embassy Office in
Hillah to Camp Echo in Diwaniyah. RSO Hillah advised there
are no insurmountable security issues related to stationing
the PRT at Camp Echo because the camp security situation is
much improved since the last DS survey 16 months ago.
However, the current period of relative stability at Camp
Echo and Diwaniyah has only been enjoyed for the last two
weeks. RSO recommends that a DS-approved security package
be emplaced with the PRT to facilitate movement and augment
static security.

CLEVELAND