PRT MAYSAN: AMARAH REPORTEDLY CLEARED

S E C R E T BAGHDAD 001955 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2018 TAGS: PINS PGOV MOPS IZ SUBJECT: PRT MAYSAN: AMARAH REPORTEDLY CLEARED REF: BAGHDAD 1851 Classified By: Classified By: PRT Team Leader Dan Foote for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S/REL MCFI) Summary: PRT leader (TL) visited Camp Sparrowhawk outside of Amarah three times in the past five days and traveled to the soccer stadium on June 24 to meet with U.S. Army Civil Affairs teams and take a first-hand look at the streets on the outskirts of Amarah. By all accounts, Operation Promise of Peace has proceeded smoothly with no shots fired, a large quantity of weapons caches seized, and over 50 suspects detained. The streets in the area of the stadium appear calm and are supporting normal life, with plenty of pedestrian and vehicular traffic, apparently regular day-to-day activity, and large amounts of trash and debris. The PRT is working closely with U.S. military personnel to quickly identify achievable, positive-impact projects to increase the credibility of the GOI and Iraqi Security Forces (ISF). During a June 23 meeting provincial advisor Zaid Khalaf al-Hoshi promised more aggressive collaboration between the provincial government and the PRT. End Summary. ¶2. (S/REL MCFI) Amarah has been deliberately cleared by ISF over the past five days, with similar efforts in outlying villages and towns expected to start on June 26. While PRToff viewed Amarah through a small lens, initial signs are positive that the population is comfortable with changes brought on by "Promise of Peace" to date: there was no visible unrest, children were playing in neighborhoods, a fair volume of vehicles were on the road leading into downtown Amarah, and Maysanis returned waves of greeting from helicopters and humvees. Reports from the press and other USG personnel in the province echo these observations. ¶3. (S/REL MCFI) On June 23, Zaid Khalaf al-Hoshi requested an urgent meeting with TL at Sparrowhawk. He proudly pointed out that his earlier assessment that bad actors had left Maysan was borne out by the lack of violence. Zaid professed the provincial government's desire to work more closely with the PRT and to dedicate a team of engineers to work specifically to identify and expedite PRT projects. He stated that the governor would be available to meet any time; when pressed for a meeting the following day, he backpedaled by saying it might take "four or five" days. Comment: Zaid, known as a close adviser to the Maysan governor, again identified his official position title as "Representative to Maysan Province" for VP Abdel Mehdi's office. This change of title, combined with his accessibility to the PRT in these early stages of the Maysan operation, is likely a calculated effort to hedge his bets by distancing himself from the provincial leadership (Ref). End comment. ¶4. (S/REL MCFI) The support offered by Multi-national Division - Central and U.S. 1st Brigade/82nd Airborne has enabled the PRT to begin engagements within Maysan province through outstanding air and ground-movement support, temporary workstation capability on Sparrowhawk, and the availability and desire of all appropriate U.S. military "teammates" to assist wherever possible. It is clear that the PRT must take advantage of what is likely a limited window of opportunity by delivering quick-win scenarios to positively impact the lives of local citizens and to facilitate their acceptance of the GOI. Quick implementation of longer term capacity-building programs will be essential. To this end, the PRT is working closely with our military colleagues and developing assessments following clearing operations to identify and implement fast-acting programs. The team plans on continuing day trips to Sparrowhawk and Amarah several times weekly. CROCKER