GENERAL ABD AL-AZIZ AL-DALMI ON BASRAH GOVERNOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L BASRAH 000071

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 8/23/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINS IZ
SUBJECT: GENERAL ABD AL-AZIZ AL-DALMI ON BASRAH GOVERNOR

REF: BASRAH 000069

CLASSIFIED BY: Ramon Negron, Director, Regional Embassy Office
Basrah, Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)




1. (C) Summary: REO met with the commander the Iraqi Army (IA)
14th Division, Major General Abd al-Aziz al-Dalmi on August 18
to discuss the August 16 altercation between Basrah governor
Mohammad Wa'ili's personal security detachment (PSD) and members
of his division. Aziz confirmed that arrest warrants had been
issued for the PSD members and presented sworn statements from
witnesses, including an individual alleging to have been
abducted by the governor. End summary.


2. (C) MajGen Aziz reinforced his earlier statement (REFTEL)
that 2LT Majed Nazam Mahdi, officer at the vehicle check point
(VCP),was attacked by Governor Wa'ili's PSD. He elaborated
that warrants had been issued against the governor's entire PSD
- 14 in total. He added that a "snatch team" of 55 soldiers was
on standby to make the arrests.


3. (C) Aziz stated that there were a total of eight soldiers at
the checkpoint, an unusually high number because of the many
pilgrims transiting through the area. The soldiers, Aziz
claimed, witnessed the attack on 2LT Majed. In addition, Aziz
presented three sworn statements related to the incident. The
first was from Karim Abu Ali, the owner of a factory located by
the checkpoint. Karim alleged that Wa'ili's PSD had abducted
him, with the governor present, and had taken him to the
governorate building where he was detained for two hours before
being released. The two other statements were from a laborer at
the factory and a soldier, who had both witnessed Karim's
abduction and subsequent attack on the officer.


4. (C) Aziz said he was aware of Wa'ili's warrant against 2LT
Majed, but was unaware of any others against his men. He added
that he respects the governor and has nothing personal against
him. In the same breath, however, he described the governor as
a "fox" and labeled him and his followers as "thieves." He
accused Wa'ili and the Provincial Council of working against
efforts to stabilize Basrah, noting that they had all profited
from the insecurity prior to Charge of the Knights. For his
part, Aziz asserted that his 14th Division would remain
professional and would follow the law.


5. (C) Comment: During the meeting, Wa'ili's integrity was
called into question when Aziz received a phone call from LTC
Miles, British advisor to the 14th Division. Miles had called
to verify a claim by Wa'ili that Aziz was surrounding the
governorate building with his men at that very moment. REO
Director confirmed for Miles that the general was indeed at the
REO. Thus far, Wa'ili seems to have followed US/UK advice to
keep this incident out of the public eye. Thus far the governor
has not gone public and has instead elected to go through the
legal system. It is not clear, however, if an arrest warrant
from a federal court can be served to a military officer. End
comment.

NEGRON