NINEWA: LOW-KEY REACTION IN TAL AFAR TO BASRA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001223

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/18/2018
TAGS: PGOV MARR PHUM PREL IZ
SUBJECT: NINEWA: LOW-KEY REACTION IN TAL AFAR TO BASRA
CONFLICT; FOCUS IS ON LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Classified By: NINEWA PRT LEADER JASON HYLAND: 1.4 (B) AND (D)

This is a Ninewa Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) message
from the Western Ninewa Branch Office.

Summary
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1. (C) Key officials in Tal Afar, the second-largest city in
Ninewa province with a large Shia Turkoman population, told
PRT Leader and Western Ninewa Branch Office Chief March 30
that they supported Iraqi efforts to contain the violence in
Basra generated by Shia militia. Tal Afar appeared focused
on preserving its own hard-won security gains and looking
ahead to economic development. Now that key stakeholders in
this city have a workable security structure in place,
delivering on execution of the $37 million Tal Afar
Reconstruction Fund, reconnecting the city with the
provincial government, and helping the community address its
economic needs are critical to keeping the gains made. In
particular, we welcome the renewed Mission effort, in
partnership with the GOI, to fulfill Iraq's obligations on
the Tal Afar Reconstruction Fund. End summary.

Mayor Agrees with Basra Crack-Down
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2. (SBU) Ninewa PRT Leader and Western Branch Office Chief
together met March 30 with Tal Afar Mayor Najim Abdullah
Al-Jibouri, who asserted that most citizens in western Ninewa
understood that the fighting in Basra had nothing to do with
the rest of Iraq. It was simply an internal struggle within
the Shia community there over who would control the smuggling
of oil. Because the combatants were essentially criminals,
he agreed with the crack-down by the Government of Iraq
(GOI). Najim said that there were some who had differing
views, attributing the conflict in part to tensions building
over the upcoming elections.

Little Impact in Tal Afar
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3. (C) Najim emphasized that there has been little or no
impact on Tal Afar, Ninewa's second-largest city, which is
divided between Shia and Sunni Turkoman communities. He said
ordinary citizens had long ago forgotten about such issues
elsewhere in Iraq because of more immediate concerns,
including harsh living conditions and unemployment. Najim
said that everyone -- citizens and authorities alike --
wanted to preserve the high level of security now enjoyed in
the city after so much effort. (Note: A drive through Tal
Afar March 30 and the following week showed a calm city with
many shops open, and with a strong security presence evident.
End Note)

Community Approach Working in Tal Afar
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4. (C) During a subsequent meeting Mayor Najim, Iraqi Army
10th Brigade Commander Brigadier Quais, and Tal Afar's Shia
and Sunni senior sheikhs also said they had noticed little or
no impact here from the violence in Basra. Brigadier Quais
highlighted the team approach that the local government
officials and civic leaders take to managing problems and
ensuring security. The senior Shia sheikh said that Tal
Afar's Sunni-Shia community was finally healing now that the
violence here had subsided, and that a return to brotherhood
and friendship within the community was possible. "Good
people live here," and they must say no to terrorism, he
said. Brigadier Quais credited these community leaders, the
Sunni and Shia Sheikhs, with establishing a positive context
for the rule of law in western Ninewa province. The need
now, he said, was for jobs and reconstruction in order to put
a final end to the insurgency.

Comment
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5. (C) Tal Afar's leaders clearly do not want to give up
hard-won security gains, and just as clearly they have set
their sights on moving on with economic development. USAID
implementing partner IRD (strictly protect) is doing
excellent work in Tal Afar to offer temporary employment and
activities for young people, through soccer programs,
vocational training, clean-up campaigns, and playground
construction. These programs have been very well-received by
the Mayor and the community as a whole. The PRT also supports
and advises a successful micro-finance center in Tal Afar,
and is pursuing other programs. However, here -- as elsewhere
in Ninewa -- long-term economic needs are looming. Now that

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key stakeholders in this city have a workable security
structure in place, delivering on long-overdue Tal Afar
Reconstruction Funds, reconnecting the city with the
provincial government, and helping the community address its
economic needs are critical to keeping the gains made.
CROCKER