Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BAGHDAD3454
2008-10-29 14:00:00
SECRET
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

GOI DISCUSSES COMPENSATION FOR DISPLACED

Tags:  MOPS MARR MASS PREL PTER SY IZ 
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VZCZCXRO8134
OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #3454/01 3031400
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 291400Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0148
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 BAGHDAD 003454 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2018
TAGS: MOPS MARR MASS PREL PTER SY IZ
SUBJECT: GOI DISCUSSES COMPENSATION FOR DISPLACED
CHRISTIANS AND OTHER ISSUES AT NSC MEETING OF OCTOBER 26

REF: A. BAGHDAD 3325

B. BAGHDAD 3383

Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 BAGHDAD 003454

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2018
TAGS: MOPS MARR MASS PREL PTER SY IZ
SUBJECT: GOI DISCUSSES COMPENSATION FOR DISPLACED
CHRISTIANS AND OTHER ISSUES AT NSC MEETING OF OCTOBER 26

REF: A. BAGHDAD 3325

B. BAGHDAD 3383

Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (S) Summary. Prime Minister al-Maliki opened the October
26 meeting of the Iraqi National Security Council (NSC) with
an appeal for Iraqi and Coalition Forces to do everything to
avoid use of excessive force while continuing to conduct
operations against insurgents. The NSC went on to discuss
both old and new issues, including the provisional services
update for Diyala and Ninewa; road closures and concrete
barrier removal (in Baghdad); assassinations and intelligence
activities in response; and Central Bank of Iraq security.
Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Essawi noted actions to pay
compensation to displaced Christians in Mosul as a means to
encourage them to return to their homes. Turning to new
business, the NSC discussed threats from fraudulent
companies, and the security situation and detainee conditions
in Basrah. During the latter, the PM made another lengthy
plea for security forces to respect human rights. End
Summary.


2. (C) Before addressing the agenda the Prime Minister made
an appeal for better management of force in security
operations mounted by coalition and Iraqi Security Forces
(ISF) soldiers in Sadr City. He said that he had received a
number of complaints about alleged excessive use of force and
that while most stemmed from confrontations at checkpoints in
which residents felt that the soldiers displayed a lack of
respect, one case involved the purported death of a child
mistakenly shot by a sniper team. Maliki stated that whether
intentional or not, poorly executed military activities could
alienate the populace and drive them back into the hands of
insurgents.

Follow-up Issues

Provisional Services Update for Diyala and Ninewa


3. (SBU) DPM Essawi presented a report on his efforts to
provide services in Diyala and Ninewa provinces, noting that
he had held a series of coordinating meetings. He pointed to

continuing agricultural problems and said unemployment
remains high. He said that the atmosphere in Ninewa province
is better than it had been but that the continued presence of
the security forces is key. Among the problems he noted are
the slow pace at which agricultural budgets are being
liquidated, the need for additional wells, the high cost of
wheat seed, and the lack of security for wheat storage
facilities. On the latter point the Minister of Defense
Abdul Qadir said very few soldiers are required to protect
the facilities and he would ensure troops are made available.
The DPM said that the government possesses large wheat seed
stock in Baghdad that needs to be delivered to farmers
quickly. The PM raised concerns that the seed being
distributed to farmers under GOI programs might be too much
and too late, and that the Council of Ministers (COM) is
worried that farmers might attempt to resell the subsidized
seed at market rates rather than plant it.

Compensation for Christians in Mosul


4. (U) DPM Essawi reported to the NSC that the Ministry of
Immigration is implementing the Government's decision to
provide compensation to displaced Christian families who fled
Mosul. He also said that the Ministry would pay for the
homes of three Christian families that were destroyed.
According to the DPM, everything would be done to encourage
Christians from Mosul to return to their former residences.

Traffic and Security Barriers in Baghdad


5. (SBU) Following up on the PM,s request in a previous NSC
meeting for action to address traffic and image problems
caused by security barriers and checkpoints in the capital,
Baghdad Operations Commander (BOC) General Aboud Qanbar told
the PM that concrete barriers obstructing traffic throughout
the capital would be removed wherever improved security
conditions permit. Speaking as aerial views of specific
barriers in the city were projected on a screen, he provided
a detailed listing of congested locations in Baghdad where
barriers would soon be removed. He noted that some of the
changes require coordination with the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs because the security barriers were in place to
protect embassies. In response to the PM,s specific request
as to what is being done to address congestion into and out
of Sadr City, which is forcing a two hour commute for some
residents, Aboud said all twelve roads leading into Sadr
City are being studied to ease congestion. According to the

BAGHDAD 00003454 002.2 OF 003


General, the work is proceeding in coordination with other
ministries and MNF-I. He cautioned, however, that barrier
removal would not solve traffic congestion on roads in the
capital built to accommodate 600,000 vehicles that now handle
1.3 million. He pointed to a growth in commercial traffic
(particularly with the governorates),increased school
attendance, and the burgeoning employment in government jobs
all coupled with the absence of any new road construction as
the primary reasons for the rapid increase in vehicle traffic
throughout Baghdad.


6. (SBU) The PM thanked General Aboud for the work and noted
that easing traffic should only be done in a manner that does
not impact security. However, he emphasized, security needs
to be rational in the eyes of the citizens. Barriers must
reassure citizens rather than simply be a cause for
congestion. Essawi told the General that citizens need to
see improvement, and that he would have to open more traffic
lanes. Minister of the Interior al-Bulani said that General
Aboud's approach to this issue is realistic. National
Security Advisor Rubaie asked the BOC how long it would take
before some improvement could be seen, as currently it could
take up to two and one half hours to get into the city center
from non-core areas. Aboud responded that results would be
seen in one month. He said, however, that road repairs and
improvements would also be required, a theme echoed by
Bulani. The PM then reiterated the call to get Baghdad's
traffic arteries open and flowing.

Assassination and Intelligence Activities in Response


7. (S) Continuing previous discussion in the NSC on
countering assassination attempts, the PM asked where General
Aboud stands on utilizing undercover agents to counter the
threat. Aboud said that he would need to deploy undercover
officers to industrial and commercial areas in order to
detect activities related to making and storing VBIEDs. The
PM noted that better security is needed on high threat
routes, especially the highway locally known as the
"assassination road." Aboud responded that undercover
officers patrol this particularly dangerous route, as ISF
checkpoints alone do not suffice. Bulani then asked the PM
for his concurrence on the deployment of undercover agents
along the road, to which the PM responded that Aboud would
work the issue, as the patrols were needed. Aboud said the
issue would be addressed in the Crisis Action Committee (CAC)
meeting scheduled for the next day.

Central Bank of Iraq Security


8. (C) The Deputy Director of the Central Bank of Iraq
raised the issue of security for the National Bank.
According to the Deputy Director, the Facilities Protection
Service (FPS) guards assigned to protect the Bank are not
effective. He said they had failed to notice anything
suspicious when the Bank suffered a serious fire that
compromised its security. He stated that 350 armed guards
with prior military experience are needed to replace the
largely unqualified and unreliable FPS force that currently
protects the Central Bank and its outlying offices. Minister
Bulani echoed these comments, noting that the problem is not
restricted to the Bank's security force alone. He claimed
that as many as 40,000 GOI security officers nationwide are
unfit for duty, and the FPS force had suffered from no-show
guards who should have been fired. Maliki interjected that
that the Bank and its offices had at one time been protected
by a force that numbered as many as 2000, but now had
dwindled to 138. Rubaie then asked Bulani if the Ministry of
the Interior (MOI) has a unit ready to assume security
responsibilities at the Bank, to which Bulani responded that
he could assemble the force in 3-4 weeks. The Central Bank
Deputy discussed details with MOI and then mentioned that the
Bank also needs to move to a new location to improve its
security. He said land had been acquired and construction
was planned but that this would take time. The PM said the
National Bank might need to relocate to a temporary facility
until a replacement could be built.

New Issues

Threat from Fraudulent Front Companies


9. (SBU) Minister of State for National Security Affairs
al-Waeli gave a presentation on the topic of threats from
fraudulent front companies. He said that Iraqis are being
victimized by unscrupulous firms defrauding people,
particularly through pyramid scams. PM Maliki asked if
anything could be done other than to educate Iraqis about the
problem. Minister of Justice al-Safi responded that because
many of these companies operate internationally and legally,

BAGHDAD 00003454 003 OF 003


prosecution is often not possible, and Waeli echoed Safi's
remarks. The PM then said this is more of a matter for civil
suits, rather than criminal prosecution and that he thought
the solution lay in the civil courts. Safi said that if a
fraud is committed, it could be prosecuted, and Maliki
directed that a warning be issued to the public about these
scams.

Security Situation and Detainee Conditions in Basrah


10. (C) Safi said that while the overall security picture in
Basrah is good, concerns remain over infiltration from
neighboring countries, sleeper cells, criminal activity, and
the backlash from excessive use of force during military
operations. While acknowledging progress, including the
successful seizure of many weapons and other successful
security force operations, he said the Provincial Council had
complained about some actions of British troops and CTB
officers which led to civilian deaths. PM Maliki said that
if there are allegations of illegal killings in Basrah, they
should be investigated. He said that security operations in
the city had achieved good results, and that Basrah is
opening up for investment. While conceding that some
complaints are false, intended only to cause problems for the
security forces, the PM stated that security forces are
accountable and must respect human rights, preserve citizen's
dignity, avoid excessive use of force, prevent unnecessary
property destruction, and detain only those who could be
reasonably viewed as suspects. He said that the ISF are here
to serve the people, and the GOI must follow up on
complaints.


11. (C) Minister Waeli said that gangs and outlaws are
returning to Basrah, corrupting the police, and threatening
commercial development. Minister Abdul Qadir responded that
security efforts in Basrah had been highly successful,
interagency cooperation is good, and that operations there
could serve as a model for other cities. Minister Safi added
that part of the problem in Basrah is that individuals were
being detained because of personal vendettas. He said that
judges issue arrest warrants based on statements provided by
security officials, but when these statements prove to be
false, the judges are put in a difficult position. Abdul
Qadir agreed that the judges are acting ethically on the
evidence provided to them. Bulani added that criminal
activity is a problem, but not a direct threat to the GOI.


12. (SBU) The PM concluded the meeting by deciding to save
the discussion of the agenda item on implementation of
international standards in Iraqi airports until the Ministry
of Transportation, who was not present, could present a
report on the subject.

CROCKER