WASIT ISF OFFICERS WARN BORDER IS COMPLETELY OPEN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002441 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2018 TAGS: PGOV IR IZ SUBJECT: WASIT ISF OFFICERS WARN BORDER IS COMPLETELY OPEN Classified By: Senior Advisor Gordon Gray for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) In a July 29 meeting with Senior Advisor Gordon Gray, 41st Fires Brigade Commanding Officer Colonel Richard Francey, and PRT members, Wasit's chief security officials complained about political and judicial resistance to Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) operations and warned that the border with Iran was "completely open." Iraqi Provincial Director of Police General Hanin and Iraqi Army 32nd Brigade General Abed predicted that Sadrist candidates would win by "a large percentage" in the elections, despite the poor reputation of Jaysh al-Mahdi, but said that Badr, ISCI, Da'wa and other religious parties were "worse." They warned that a wave of political assassinations would likely occur in the run-up to elections. End summary. Political and judicial resistance -------------- ¶2. (C) The officials said that security within Kut had improved substantially since March, crediting their success to cooperation from local residents, but complained of political and judicial resistance to their operations. "The politicians don't like us because we are not with the religious parties, and many of the judges are afraid," said Hanin. "The judges want tangible evidence to issue a warrant, but Iranian intelligence is too skilled to leave evidence behind," he added. They both expressed a low opinion of Wasit Governor Abdel Latif Turfa. Border 'completely open' -------------- ¶3. (C) The officials stressed the importance of securing Iraq's Eastern border against what they sarcastically called "our good friend and neighbor." According to Hanin, the border from Basrah to Diyalah is "completely open" and weapons and militants are able to cross freely. "The border police need to take responsibility, but until now the GOI doesn't take action against them because portions of the government are loyal to Iran," claimed Hanin. As a concrete example, he said that 20 buses under the protection of Ammar al-Hakim crossed into Iraq daily at Zurbatiyah without being searched. Hanin alleged that the Iranian government helped 5,000 militants escape to Iran and is now training them in camps near the border. The officials concluded that Iraqi intelligence services needed to play a larger role in combating Iranian networks in southern Iraq. Sadrists will win in elections -------------- ¶4. (C) Asked about the Sadr Trend, Hanin said "the movement is not active; until now they don't have skilled politicians." However, he added that Office of the Martyr Sadr (OMS) branches were expanding their humanitarian work, and both officials stressed the difference between Jaysh al-Mahdi, who they called "killers without a clue," and followers of Mohammed Sadiq al-Sadr. Despite the poor reputation of Jaysh al-Mahdi, the officials predicted that the Sadrists would win "by a large percentage" in the provincial elections. Other religious parties are worse -------------- ¶5. (C) "Badr, ISCI, Da'wa; these are all worse than the Sadrists," added Hanin, who claimed elections were being delayed so that religious parties could benefit from widespread attendance at mosques during the holy days of Muharram and Ramadan. Abed complimented former prime minister Ayad Allawi, and offered a joke about former prime minister Ibrahim Ja'afari's National Reform Movement: "What is left for Ja'afari since he left the prime ministership? Nothing but the Sadrists." Hanin warned about the danger of assassinations during election seeing, saying "unfortunately, Iraqis still solve their problems by killing," and said he had instituted a ban on motorcycles in Kut after 3 p.m. daily due to the frequent use of motorcycles by assassins as well as a daily curfew from midnight to 4 a.m. Comment -------------- ¶6. (C) Although the officials' predictions of a Sadrist victory are at odds with the views of many contacts, their warnings over the open border and the dual loyalties of the religious parties are common themes throughout the south. Contrary to relationship between the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police found in many governorates, Hanin did most of the BAGHDAD 00002441 002 OF 002 talking in the meeting and seemed the more confident and aggressive of the pair. End comment. CROCKER