INTERAGENCY PERSONNEL PRIORITIZATION

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001630 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2018 TAGS: PGOV PINS PINR ASEC KDEM IZ SUBJECT: INTERAGENCY PERSONNEL PRIORITIZATION Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Patricia A. Butenis for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (S) SUMMARY. The National Security Council Iraq Deputies Committee requested the Mission prioritize its civilian interagency manning requirements to assist agencies in properly identifying manpower fills. The US Embassy Baghdad interagency civilian manning requirements are prioritized in terms of support for the Joint Campaign Plan (JCP). The JCP is the coordinated Mission and Coalition plan for success in Iraq and is built on four integrated lines of operation: political, security, economic, and diplomatic, with the political line as the main effort. These lines of operation are supported by efforts to build Iraqi governmental capacity, promote good governance, communicate strategically, develop the rule of law, and bring about reconciliation between competing actors. A key aspect of the JCP is the deliberate integration of these efforts to achieve both near and intermediate term campaign objectives. All lines of operation and supporting activities must be applied simultaneously with known interdependence to foster and support Iraqi political accommodation. Interagency personnel play an absolutely vital role in the execution of the JCP and in achieving success. END SUMMARY. -------------- INTERAGENCY PERSONNEL PRIORITIZATION -------------- ¶2. (S) MNF-I and Embassy Baghdad interagency civilian manning requirements are prioritized in terms of support for the Joint Campaign Plan. The US strategy as detailed in the JCP continues to be built on four integrated lines of operation: political, security, economic, and diplomatic, with the political line as the main effort. All lines of operation and supporting activities are applied in concert to foster and support Iraqi political accommodation and security; build governmental capacity; promote good governance; communicate strategically; develop the rule of law, and bring about reconciliation between competing actors. A key aspect of the JCP strategy is the deliberate integration of efforts to achieve campaign objectives. -------------- POLITICAL -------------- ¶3. (S) The Political Line of Operation (LOO) supports the enhancement of Iraq,s political institutions to guide the various components of the Government of Iraq (GOI) and Iraqi communities toward political accommodation based upon a foundation of security and a growing web of economic, informational, and diplomatic support, while simultaneously improving governmental performance, advancing the rule of law, and working to isolate irreconcilable and criminal elements. The goal of the Political LOO is confidence of the Iraqi people in both the political process and in their local, provincial, and national governments. Example of how interagency elements contribute to achieving JCP conditions: Provincial Reconstruction Teams: facilitating political accommodations/reconciliation, improving delivery of essential basic services, improving effectiveness of local and regional governments, developing local and regional economies, implementation of the Provincial Powers Law. -------------- SECURITY -------------- ¶4. (S) The Security Line of Operation supports political accommodation through maintaining and expanding the established baseline foundation of security, which centers on protecting the population in order to enable political engagement through confidence and mutual trust. The goal of the Security LOO is to foster security improvements and isolate or neutralize Malign Actors, even as the ISF take the lead in maintaining security and as the Coalition redeploys some military forces. Example of how interagency elements contribute to achieving JCP conditions: JIATF-I: develops plans and actions in coordination with USG agencies and departments, the Government of Iraq, and Coalition Partners within the Iraq Theater of Operations (ITO),taking into account developments both within the ITO and the area of interest, in order to neutralize strategic threats, including foreign terrorists and facilitators, malign Iranian influence, and activities of extremists BAGHDAD 00001630 002 OF 002 militias. JIATF-I will counter complex, networked strategic threats that impact the stability of Iraq, and neutralize significant asymmetric threats that impact all LOOs. -------------- Economic -------------- ¶5. (S) The Economic Line of Operation strives to generate support for political accommodation and activities that reinforce security progress, particularly focusing on providing sustainable employment opportunities in areas where security is improving and political accommodation is attainable. Economic activities concentrate on budget execution and include short term and long term employment initiatives, government performance improvements, private sector development, and capacity building in key ministries and in provincial and local governments. Example of how interagency elements contribute to achieving JCP conditions: Ministerial Capacity: U.S. assistance has transitioned from &bricks and mortar8 projects to technical assistance and capacity development. Key to this transition is increased GOI ability to spend its own considerable (and growing) domestic budget resources. Outdated centralized management practices from the previous regime, coupled with years of economic sanctions, resulted in a human capital deficit that makes it difficult for today,s ministries to take a pro-active approach toward resource expenditure. The U.S. ministerial capacity development program ) a combination of funding for training programs and critical civilian expertise from the interagency ) remains essential if we are to maximize the GOI,s own spending on development projects. Included in this activity is the new Public Financial Management Action Group (PFMAG) that is being set up to partner with the Government of Iraq in budget formulation and execution. Ministerial Engagement Coordinating Committee (MECC): coordinating body for national ministerial capacity and performance development, national ministerial budget execution, and professionalization of the Iraqi civil service work force. -------------- Diplomatic -------------- ¶6. (S) The Diplomatic Line of Operation supports political accommodation through engagement with countries in the region and with the broader international community to provide an environment to support and further internal reconciliation efforts. Major focal points must include reducing malign foreign influence and increasing international participation in the physical, societal, and political reconstruction of Iraq. BUTENIS