CHARGE AND CG MEET PM TO DISCUSS MOSUL SECURITY,

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 BAGHDAD 000343

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2018
TAGS: MOPS MARR PGOV PREL PTER EINV ENGR KU TU IZ
SUBJECT: CHARGE AND CG MEET PM TO DISCUSS MOSUL SECURITY,
CLCS, AND COUNTER-TERRORISM

REF: BAGHDAD 00267

Classified By: CDA Patricia A. Butenis for reasons 1.5 b and d.

Summary
--------------


1. (C) MNF-I Commanding General (CG) David Petraeus and CDA
Patricia Butenis met Thursday, January 31, 2008 with Prime
Minister Maliki. In a cordial and relaxed hour-long
meeting, they discussed security operations in Mosul,
Turkish cut-off of electricity deliveries, implications for
current GOI personnel of the Accountability and Justice
Law, counter-terrorism operations against Shia religious
fanatics in southern Iraq, CG's upcoming trip to Kuwait,
support for Concerned Local Citizen (CLC) groups, and
fighting corruption to attract foreign investment. End
Summary.

Electricity Cuts
--------------


2. (S) Appearing tired and harried, Maliki arrived 25
minutes late to the regularly scheduled meeting. He opened
with complaints about the Turkish government not delivering
electricity to northern Iraq, a serious matter given the
weather in the mountainous north of the country. He
reported that he had contacted the GOT with no results,
noting that Iraq pays for the electricity - it is not a
charity case. He blamed a Turkish Department of Energy
deputy minister for the problem. CG noted that he had
spoken to Turkish military counterparts. Turning to the
Charge, CG raised possibility that the Secretary might
contact her Turkish counterpart to resolve the impasse.
(Note: Embassy is working with Embassy Ankara to resolve
the problem via intervention with the relevant Turkish
ministries. End Note.) Maliki expressed thanks for any
U.S. efforts with Turkey to resume electricity sales to
Iraq.

Leadership and Laws
--------------


3. (S) CG applauded the PM,s demonstration of the "full
range of emotions" to his Ministers of Oil and Electricity,
observing that hispersonal intervention and prodding of his
subordinates demonstrated leadership. Maliki responded
that he had also canceled the contracts committee as it
did nothing, wasted resources, and delayed contracts being
signed for necessary projects. CG offered that it was now
an opportune time for the PM to use his influence to move
the Provincial Powers, Budget, and other laws forward.
Smiling, Maliki suggested we have to be careful with passing
laws, noting that if the Justice and Accountability
(De-Baath)law is not implemented properly, the Iraqi Army
(IA) and Police (IP),as well as the Iraqi National
Intelligence Service, could lose their best people due to
their former Baath Party connections. He complained that
the Council of Representatives (COR) does not pay attention
to the consequences of the laws it passes. CG noted the
importance of a "Spirit of Reconciliation" to inform the
implementation of the Accountability and Justice Law,
agreeing that four of ISF's best generals (the commanders
of the Baghdad and Basrah Operational Commands, the
commander of the National Police, and the Director of the
Counter-Terrorist Bureau) could face dismissal under the
De-Baath law.

Mosul
--------------


4. (S) CG briefed the PM on plans for their Saturday,
February 1, trip to Mosul, as previewed at last week's MCNS
meeting (reftel). Maliki expressed dissatisfaction with
Governor Kashmoula and a desire to exclude him from
meetings concerning the security situation in Mosul,
calling him dishonorable and blaming him for the decline in
Mosul's security situation. CG argued for the importance
of the involvement of the Governor, noting the Governor's
participation in meetings led by the PM would demonstrate
to the people the strength of the National Government. CG
said that Kashmoula,s support to the is critical, as he
controls much of the services sector needed after combat
operations end in various neighborhoods. (NOTE: Governor
Kashmoula participated in the meeting in Mosul and was
relatively constructive. End Note.) Switching topics,
Maliki praised operation commander Major General Riyahd,
noting that he would be promoting him to Lieutenant
General and reaffirming his command of all security forces
in Mosul. He also noted that the ISF would conduct

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anti-terrorist operations when the GOI and MNF-I officials
were meeting in Mosul. CG welcomed both items, advising
Maliki to use the media to get the message out to the
Moslawi on the GOI's efforts.

Southern Iraq
--------------


5. (S) Maliki raised the importance of having
specially-trained counter-terrorism (CT) forces in each IA
division. He would fund the CT forces with a supplement
from the Ministry of Finance if the COR continued to deny
them their separate funding allocation. CG noted that
MNF-I was training SWAT teams in many provinces, including
Diwaniyah, to which he recently traveled and where he had
had very positive meetings with provincial leaders. There
was real concern that the Army of Heaven cult group would
try to re-group. That said, CG stated that action against
militias and Jaysh al-Mahdi Special Groups was the priority
in the south. Maliki offered that there is another cult
forming in Basra and that the Basra Operations Center was
investigating. CG noted that the U.S. supports Iraqi
Special Forces there, and that the UK was providing UAV and
other support.

Kuwait
--------------


6. (S) CG told Maliki of his plans to travel to Kuwait
where he will raise clearing wrecks from the channel to Um
Qasr, re-opening a border crossing, and border security in
general. Maliki welcomed this news, noting that the GOK is
helpful, but some Kuwaitis, even some related to members of
the royal family (NFI) funnel money to terrorists. He
observed that it was members of the Parliament and companies
that were the problem, not the GOK. He asked that the CG
raise the issue of diesel deliveries, which he said are
still not occurring though promised, complaining that 160
fuel delivery trucks were being held back. CG said he would
check on it, but thought that the diesel was flowing.
(NOTE: The diesel is flowing, at about 55% of the desired
level. End Note.)

Job Fund/CLCs
--------------


7. (S) Responding to the PM's question, the CG summarized
points of a joint Ambassador-CG letter presented to the PM
that described construction and other job training
opportunities to be funded with $1 billion in GOI funds.
CG then segued the conversation into the critical importance
of GOI support for the CLCs, in particular training and
educational opportunities for them. He noted that the
United States has already committed 150 million dollars to
the CLCs and the GOI had agreed previously to match this
investment. PM acknowledged the importance of vocational
training and education for the CLC members since only 20
percent could be incorporated into the ISF. He also
observed that many are not attracted to low-skilled
construction-site jobs, but want training to be carpenters,
mechanics, etc. A literacy program would be most useful
too. (Note: Maliki observed that a literacy program was
the only positive legacy of Saddam's rule. End Note.) CG
concurred with training and educational ideas, recommending
that the PM push the relevant Ministers of Labor and Social
Affairs, Education, and Higher Education to act now and use
the funds they already have available in their budgets.

Corruption/Investment
--------------


8. (S) Bringing the meeting towards closure, Maliki stated
that the GOI wants large oil companies (IOCs - Integrated
Oil Companies) to invest in Iraq, observing that good,
well-established companies, unlike the small ones that have
come in over the last year, do not bribe or behave in a
corrupt manner. He complained that they did not come to
Iraq because of the delays in contracting that bred
corruption. CG noted that U.S. companies know such acts
are illegal under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

PM's Health
--------------


9. (C) In response to Charge's question, Maliki said that
he needs rest, but observed that he cannot rest when he
sees on the morning news over breakfast that the snows from
Syria and Jordan will soon fall on his people in northern
Iraq who have had their electricity cut off. He asked
rhetorically, "how will they stay warm?"

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BUTENIS