MAYSAN: SUB-PROVINCIAL LEADERS ENGAGE WITH PRT

VZCZCXRO5032
RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #3412/01 3001041
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 261041Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0090
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003412 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2018 
TAGS: PGOV, PINR, IR, IZ 
SUBJECT: MAYSAN: SUB-PROVINCIAL LEADERS ENGAGE WITH PRT 
 
Classified By: PRT Leader Dan Foote. Reasons 1.4b,d 
 
 (U) This is a PRT Maysan reporting cable. 
 

r />operational in each Qada, though they lack adequate numbers
of schools and therefore have to run shifts with separate
classes in the mornings, afternoons, and sometimes in the
evenings.

4. (C/REL MCFI) Each Qada reported an operational courthouse
with two judges. Qada leaders unanimously viewed upcoming
provincial elections as a positive opportunity to replace
current provincial leadership and hoped that they might lead
to greater say in provincial budgets. They similarly suffer
from shortages in drinking water, irrigation water, schools,
roads, and medical services. Two of three noted that the U.S.
fixed Kuwait's electrical system overnight, and that many
Iraqis believe that the U.S. is to blame for lack of
electricity in Iraq.

5. (C/REL MCFI) All three Qadas said that security has
improved since the Iraqi Security Forces' June operations in
Maysan. The Al Maimouna leaders stated that insurgents have
left and the Qada is stable. In Al Gharbi, the Qaim maqam
said that there has not been an influx of Iraqi Army troops
nor U.S. troops into his Qada. The Iraqi Police patrol the
town, but Al Gharbi is different from other areas of Maysan
and the Bani Lan Tribe ensures security. Qalat al Saleh
expressed satisfaction with the Iraqi Army forces that have
arrived as a result of the June operations, but dismay over
the lack of experience and expertise of the local police
forces. They are concerned about the impact of a
concentration of U.S. forces located at FOB Hunter outside of
the city, and hoped that large numbers of U.S. troops would
not travel through the town center.

6. (C/REL MCFI) According to the Qada leaders there is
limited interaction between the Qada Qaim Maqams/Councils and
the Provincial Governor/Council, though these are more on an
ad hoc or informal basis. They stated that they discuss
their needs for services and infrastructure with provincial
level officials including the ministerial Director Generals
(i.e. DG of Agriculture, DG of Water Resources, etc.) working
in Maysan province. However, they complained that the
provincial leadership rarely visited their Qadas to see the
problems they face. All three Qadas stated that the province
is currently executing some projects in their areas, such as
are ongoing sewerage system, school, and road projects. In
Al Maimouna, a new water treatment facility had been recently

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completed, though it is not yet operational.

7. (C/REL MCFI) While they stated that there is some
provincial-funded reconstruction ongoing in their Qadas, the
general sentiment was that the provincial government and the
ministerial departments were not expending enough resources
in these outlying Qadas. They complained that the majority
of the provincial budget wwas directed toward Amarah, and
that contractors were sent from Amarah for Qada projects with
little to no coordination with local leaders. Sometimes this
led to problems between the "out of town" contractors and
local tribes, who wanted to "participate" in the contract.
Qalat al Saleh related the story of a sorely needed bridge to
span the Tigris River that has taken four years to build and
has generated a great deal of tension between the local
tribes and the provincial contractor.

8. (C/REL MCFI) All three Qadas invited PRT members to visit
their localities to continue discussions and assessments.
The Al Gharbi Qaim maqam said that his immediate focus was on
getting water to the farmers and roads built to connect parts
of the Qada. The Al Maimouna Qada Council Chairman expressed
interest in getting the newly constructed water treatment
plant on-line and a British-supplied electrical power
generator that has slipped into disrepair operational. The
Qalat al Saleh Advisor noted a need for agriculture
assistance and in particular was looking for help in building
a date syrup factory to take advantage of the Qada's dates.

9. (C/REL MCFI) Comment: These meetings provided a better
window into the sub-provincial government atmosphere, as well
as excellent fodder for potential capacity-building and
assistance programs. The PRT will continue similar
engagements as resources permit. End comment.
CROCKER