RSO MEETING WITH THE MINISTER OF INTERIOR TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003484 NOFORN DEPARTMENT FOR F, M, DS, DS/DSS, DS/DSS/IP, DS/IP/NEA, DS/T/ATA, DS/ICI/CI, S/CT, NEA, AND NEA/SCA/EX E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/03/2018 TAGS: ASEC IZ PINS PTER SUBJECT: RSO MEETING WITH THE MINISTER OF INTERIOR TO DISCUSS INTEGRATION REF: BAGHDAD 02750 Classified By: RSO Mark J. Hipp for reasons 1.4 (B),(D),and (G) ¶1. (C/NF) Summary: ON 10/31/2008, RSO met with the Minister of the Interior (MOI) to discuss further specifics regarding the integration of Iraqi forces into RSO's protective security operation. The RSO updated the Minister ON recent progress and underscored the need to accelerate the VIP training initiative. The Minister offered RSO 30 members of the Emergency Service Brigade to jump-start the initiative and suggested a subsequent meeting with members of his hierarchy to forge the way forward. The Minister also recommended the formation of a recruiting and selection committee in order to ensure the selection of appropriate candidates for the ATA-sponsored training program. The RSO reiterated his appreciation to the Minister for his support and negotiated the use of the polygraph for vetting purposes. The Minister assured the RSO that recruitment would be broad based and ethnically diverse, relying ON personal recommendations from suitable officers within the MOI. End Summary. ¶2. (C/NF) ON 10/31/2008, RSO met with Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani to discuss the recent visit by the Anti-Terrorism Assistance (ATA) team, ATA's preliminary assessment, budget requirements, and the size and scope of the program proposed for Iraq. The Minister welcomed the initiative and reiterated the importance of the program, particularly with regard to Iraqi sovereignty. Minister Bolani understood the sensitivities of the initiative and pledged full support, offering thirty (30) members of the MOI's Emergency Service Brigade (ESB) to jump-start the initiative. The RSO thanked the Minister, rejoining that the ESB has been vetted and tested by the US military and the GOI. ¶3. (C/NF) The Minister opined that this initiative could be controversial within the different GOI Ministries, advising that many would like to contribute personnel to the program. The RSO and the Minister agreed that it would be best to recruit from the spectrum of entities, thus ensuring broad base support and an ethnically diverse program, which is essential for long-term success. In order to ensure appropriate recruitment, the Minister suggested and RSO accepted a FOLLOW ON meeting, which would include the Minister, the Commanding General of the Iraqi National Police, the Commander of the ESB, RSO, and RSO's Police Advisor. The Minister advised that his staff assistant would schedule this meeting in the near future. ¶4. (C/NF) Querying the Minister ON the use of the polygraph, the RSO brokered an agreement with the Minister that the polygraph can be utilized to vet and screen potential candidates. The Minister further commented that each applicant would be recommended by appropriately-ranked officers and that he would form a recruiting and selection committee to ensure that the right personnel were selected for the program. The Minister concluded the meeting by reiterating his support for the initiative. ¶5. (C) RSO Comment: RSO anticipates providing both the GOI MOI and the KRG Peshmerga a qualification's list, so they can begin to assemble their recommended candidates. Once these lists are compiled and obtained, RSO will commence vetting the candidates, which will require additional DS assets to conduct names traces, interviews, and polygraphs, as appropriate. RSO anticipates that the vetting process alone will take several months, providing the Department sufficient time to identify funding sources for the program. ¶6. (U) RSO will keep the Department apprised of any pertinent developments in Post's integration initiative. CROCKER