PRT MAYSAN: OFFICIALS WORRIED OVER IA OFFENSIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001453

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2016
TAGS: IR PGOV MOPS
SUBJECT: PRT MAYSAN: OFFICIALS WORRIED OVER IA OFFENSIVE

Classified By: PRT Team Leader Darrell Jenks for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
).


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


2. (C) Summary: The opening days of a PRT-organized training
coursewere marred by ongoing arguments between the political
and technocratic attendees, with the political attendees
seeming to intimidate the other participants and prevent
their speaking independently to the PRT. The Maysani
delegation left the conference over a day early due to fears
that Iraqi Army (IA) operations in the province were imminent
(Note: The training course was held on Talil AB due to the
inability of the PRT to travel to Maysan due to security
concerns. End Note.) The episode is an example of how the
provincial government tries to restrict the PRT's access to
and interaction with the governorate. It also confirms the
high level of anxiety of Maysani officials over the
possibility of a GOI offensive their province. End Summary.


3. (C) May 6 marked the first day of a PRT-organized seven
month training seminar for Maysani officials in comprehensive
planning and mapping. The training is comprised of ten
three-day modules with a two week break between each module.
The first session was attended by Chief Advisor to the
Governor of Maysan and reputed Jaysh al-Mahdi (JAM) member
Zaid Kalaf Hoshy, Provincial Reconstruction Development
Chairman Mohan Mahy Shibeen, and various technical division
heads. The group planned on staying in Dhi Qar from May 6-8
and sleeping in a local hotel.


4. (C) There was a sharp division between the politicians
and the technocrats over the agenda and subject matter of the
course. Zaid and Mohan lobbied strongly for the sessions to
focus exclusively on planning the "new city" of Amarah (Note:
The new city plan is a pet project of Maysan Governor Maliki.
End Note). The rest of the participants wanted training
that would benefit their particular areas of expertise.
Unable to reach a resolution on base, Zaid promised they
would hold a meeting in their hotel on the night of May 6 to
find a compromise.


5. (C) On the morning of May 7, Zaid announced that the
group would have to return to Maysan later that day due to
the possibility that security operations would prevent their
return at a later date. Attendees again argued over the
content of the training and the discussion became heated.
Zaid seemed preoccupied and asked several times to use the
internet. At noon Zaid said that the group needed to leave
urgently, and the delegation left to return to Maysan within
the hour.


6. (C) Comment: The tension and distrust between the
technocrats and politicians were obvious and grew throughout
the day. Some of the former would have liked to continue the
training but were worried about contradicting the
politicians. Our interpreter believed that the officials
were reluctant to leave the technocrats unescorted for fear
they would give the PRT reports on the province that
contradicted the party line. This attempt to control the
officials is similar to other attempts by the provincial
government to control the PRT's access to information. To
this date the provincial government has refused to work with
our employee that lives in Amarah and attempted to control
site surveys for potential PRT projects. The abrupt
departure of the delegation shows the degree of anxiety
Maysani officials feel over the possibility of GOI operations
in their province. End Comment.
CROCKER