READOUT FROM APRIL 29 -IRAQ AND NEIGHBOR RSI SVTC

S E C R E T STATE 059463 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2018 TAGS: PTER PGOV ASEC IZ XF SUBJECT: READOUT FROM APRIL 29 -IRAQ AND NEIGHBOR RSI SVTC REF: STATE 20685 Classified By: NEA DAS Gordon Gray; E.O. 12958 for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S) Summary: S/CT Coordinator Ambassador Dell Dailey hosted an Iraq and Neighbors Regional Strategic Initiative Secure Video Teleconference (SVTC) with U.S. Chiefs of Mission (COMs) from Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Turkey, as well as Embassy Baghdad's Political Military Minister-Counselor and interagency representatives on April 29. Embassies provided updates on RSI initiatives and Ambassador Dailey briefed on actions since the December RSI conference which include Counter Terror Finance Training (CTF) training in Erbil, Iraq, increased intel collection on foreign fighters (FF) travel patterns and S/CT Public Diplomacy (PD) efforts to counter extremism. End Summary. ¶2. (S) On April 29, Ambassador Dailey hosted an Iraq and Neighbors Regional Strategic Initiative (RSI) SVTC with representation of U.S. Embassies in Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Turkey and representatives from DHS and DOD. Ambassador Dailey briefed on General Petraeus's SVTC that focused on Syria as a key transit route for foreign fighters entering Iraq, and sanctuary for Abu Ghadiyah (AG),a primary facilitator for AQI. Ambassador Dailey briefed on his second FF trip to the remaining major source countries - Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia - in early February and S/CT briefings on Objective Massey to other source countries and multilateral organizations. Ambassador Dailey noted a pending request for follow-up with the host governments on actions they have taken since receiving the Objective Massey data and FF briefings. Ambassador Dailey credited State actions and activity on the battlefield for a dramatic decrease in the FF presence in the Iraq. Status of RSI Initiatives ¶3. (S) Ambassadors provided updates to ongoing RSI initiatives: GOJ Regional Biometric Conference Ambassador Hale discussed Jordanian preparations for a regional biometric conference (follow on to the successful RSI-originated conference in November 2006). The Jordanian General Intelligence Directorate (GID) has purchased software to develop a fingerprint-sharing database system. The GOJ anticipates holding the conference mid-July or mid-August but agreed to send out pre-invitations which will review outcomes from the November 2006 Conference and include a 
draft information sharing MOU. At the conference, the GOJ plans to showcase the database system and finalize the MOU. Ambassador Hale asked posts to actively encourage host governments participation. Counter-Terror Finance (CTF) Minister-Counselor Ries discussed the December 2007 limited financial assessment of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and reported on the April 21-24 bulk cash smuggling course attended by 57 banking and customs officials (recommended by the assessment team). Critical Energy Infrastructure Protection (CEIP) Ambassador Fraker briefed on continuing U.S. efforts to work with the Government of Saudi Arabia (SAG) to protect critical energy infrastructure. The Saudi MOI is looking to expand cooperation into other areas such as border control and maritime security. This is significant because the MOI is the SAG's largest ministry and has had historic ties with the French. Ambassador Fraker cited the potential for $10 billion in trade. Unfortunately, CEIP cooperation is not as good with the Government of Kuwait (GOK) which remains reluctant. The GOK is resistant to the establishment of a JWG and has failed to take action on a draft MOU that was given to them 10 months ago. In addition, the GOK has been reluctant to provide a single point of contact. Border Security Ambassador Dailey noted that the GOJ has also undertaken efforts to increase border security and asked posts if there was any effort to integrate the Saudi, Jordanian and Kuwaiti systems. Ambassador Fraker replied that there was a keen economic interest on the part of Raytheon to see the systems integrated. However, Ambassador Hale noted that the GOJ has not made any real progress and Raytheon was not awarded the contract. Despite this, Ambassador Hale thought that the systems could still be integrated. Ambassador Jones said she had raised the issue with the GOK but it has an adverse reaction when the SAG is held up as the example. Ambassador Dailey encouraged trilateral embassy to embassy cooperation. Passenger Name Record (PNR) DHS Mark Randol discussed the benefits of Advance Passenger Information (API) and PNR data collection and analysis. Randol announced that on March 26, the SAG and USG signed a classified Memorandum of Intent in which the SAG agreed to provide PNR and API for all flights arriving and departing from the Kingdom. DHS is interested in pursuing similar agreements with other countries, including perhaps Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, and Turkey. Randol reported that the GOK is interested and the Amir told Secretary Chertoff in March that Kuwait would soon send a team to the United States. Funding limitations are a concern. DHS is looking to find $19.3M for programs it is hoping to start in six countries. He asked posts to support of DHS's efforts. Follow-up on December RSI Conference Initiatives ¶4. (S) Ambassador Dailey gave an update on outstanding issues that were raised at the December RSI conference: A needs assessment for S/CT counterterrorism training of Iraqi Security Forces (ISF): Minister-Counselor Ries briefed that there is a very large ISF training program and that the embassy is looking into whether there is a niche for CT training. Ambassador Dailey offered to discuss the issue separately with Ries. Discussing FF with Damascus Charge Corbin briefed on his unsuccessful attempts to present the FF brief to the Syrian Arab Republic of Government SARG). The SARG refused to receive the information and was preoccupied with the Arab Summit and events in Lebanon. Corbin believes that a discussion on FF will not happen any time soon. The intelligence community was tasked with increasing collection on the use of Cairo airport by foreign fighters. Ambassador Dailey briefed that S/CT will develop a database of programs, documents, Fatwas and other statements by Muslim clerics and other leaders encouraging moderation and/or countering radicalization. NEA/I Office Director Schmierer added that Iraqi clerics were currently working on a Fatwa that will denounce violence against Muslims. ¶5. (U) Ambassador Dailey pointed out that all these and past RSI initiatives can be found on the S/CT's Intellipedia website on the SIPRNET in the Counterterrorism portal. (Note: Please use the following link to access the website: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/ wiki/RSI-Iraq and Neighbors (End note.) Following the RSI conferences, S/CT tasks the appropriate agencies with action and it is tracked in a matrix that is posted in Intellipedia. Ambassador Dailey encouraged posts to access and provide updates to the matrix. (Note: Please use the following link to access the matrix: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/inteldocs/view.p hp?f DocumentId=17876 (End note.) ¶6. (U) Ambassador Dailey briefed on the S/CT's Ambassadors' Fund for Counterterrorism. In FY 2008, $1M in funding is available to support projects that apply the tools of soft power to CT assistance in order to enhance the ability of law enforcement personnel to deter terrorists and terrorist groups, particularly in ways that counter violent extremist ideology and recruitment. S/CT received 48 responses to its request for proposals and is reviewing the submissions now. In addition, Ambassador Dailey announced that four more RSI officers will be coming on board this summer. ¶7. (U) In closing, Ambassador Dailey solicited volunteers for the next RSI Conference in late fall/early winter. (Note: S/CT proposes December 2 but is flexible. End note.) ¶8. (U) List of participants for the RSI SVTC: Ambassador Dell Dailey (S/CT Coordinator) Ambassador David Hale (Amman) Ambassador Ford Fraker (Riyadh) Ambassador Deborah Jones (Kuwait) Ambassador Ross Wilson (Ankara) Political Military Minister-Counselor Marcie Ries (Baghdad) Charge d'Affaires Michael Corbin (Damascus) Mark Randol (Director, DHS) Richard Schmierer (Director, NEA/I) Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley (Director, NEA/ELA) Elizabeth Ingalls (S/CT) Bruce Averill (S/CT) James A. Gavrilis (J-5/Iraq) Scott Brunstetter (OSD) RICE