Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BAGHDAD1698
2009-06-25 14:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
PRT SALAH AD DIN: BA'ATHIST-ORIENTED ARRESTS AND
how-toVZCZCXRO8909 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHGB #1698 1761442 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 251442Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3651 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001698
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINS IZ PINR ENRG
SUBJECT: PRT SALAH AD DIN: BA'ATHIST-ORIENTED ARRESTS AND
FIRINGS STOKE SUNNI FEARS OF JUNE 30 CF PULLOUT
Classified By: Acting Political Counselor John G. Fox for reason 1.4 (d
).
This is a PRT Salah ad Din (SAD) reporting cable.
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001698
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINS IZ PINR ENRG
SUBJECT: PRT SALAH AD DIN: BA'ATHIST-ORIENTED ARRESTS AND
FIRINGS STOKE SUNNI FEARS OF JUNE 30 CF PULLOUT
Classified By: Acting Political Counselor John G. Fox for reason 1.4 (d
).
This is a PRT Salah ad Din (SAD) reporting cable.
1. (C) SUMMARY: As the June 30 deadline for implementation
of the Security Agreement approaches, several local leaders
have told the PRT that SAD residents are increasingly
concerned that the Government of Iraq (GOI) intends to take
punitive actions against SAD residents and Sunni leaders. As
evidence, they point to the recent arrest of two reputed
former Republican Guard officers and the Ministry of Oil's
(MOO) decision to fire 97 former Ba'athists from the Bayji
Oil Refinery (BOR) in SAD. Collectively these events feed a
growing sense of unease that a reduced U.S. presence will
result in decreased influence and security for Sunni Arabs
throughout the province. END SUMMARY.
ARRESTS OF FORMER OFFICERS FEED SECTARIAN FEARS
-------------- --
2. (C) The arrest of two Ba'ath Party (BP) members in Tikrit
has sparked fears among SAD residents that the reduced U.S.
presence in Iraqi cities will lead to an increase in hostile
actions by the GOI against Sunni leaders and institutions.
On June 21, a Baghdad-based Military Intelligence
(Istikbarat) unit arrested two Tikrit residents and detained
several others. According to former SAD Governor and current
PC member Hamad Shekti, the arrested men were Muhammed Rajab
and Makai Noman, both of whom served as officers in the
Special Republican Guard. They were reportedly involved with
hiding material related to chemical weapons programs from UN
inspectors during the Saddam Era.
3. (C) Following the arrests, Tikrit Grand Mosque Imam Yahya
al-Atawi called a meeting of local sheikhs and tribal
leaders, which was broadcast on Salah ad-Din TV, and called
for SaD residents to show unity to prevent "unidentified
security forces from outside the province" from arbitrarily
arresting local residents. In a June 23 meeting with PRT
Econ Chief, COL Mohammad Faris, an adviser to Provincial
Council Chairman Abu Mazin, said that, while he viewed the
arrests as unnecessary and illegitimate, people such as Imam
Yahya were "wrong-minded to make themselves news anchors" for
events that make SAD residents fearful of the GOI. He added
that while many SAD residents had at first been hostile to
the presence of U.S. Forces, they now understand that their
presence is the "only thing protecting us from Iran."
MOO ORDERS FIRING OF 97 EMPLOYEES FROM THE BOR
-------------- -
4. (C) Separately, BOR Director General Ali Obeidi contacted
U.S. Forces on June 21 to report that the Ministry of Oil had
ordered him to fire 97 former BP members who work at the
refinery. According to Obeidi, the decision to dismiss these
employees originated with MOO Security Director Najad
al-Sadi. Obeidi said he disagreed with the decision to
dismiss these employees, since many of them had specialized
technical skills that could not be readily replaced. Among
the 97 employees are nine general managers, 20 branch
managers, and the Production Manager, Sa'ad Khalaf. Obeidi
estimated that, without these engineers and technicians, the
production of refined fuels (benzene, diesel, and kerosene)
would be decreased by up to 35 percent. Obeidi said he had
received similar orders previously and planned to delay or
resist these orders as long as possible.
DE-BA'ATHIFICATION REMAINS POLITICAL ISSUE
--------------
5. (C) In a June 23 meeting with IPAO, Raid Khutab, a
political figure in SAD who plans to run for a Council of
Qpolitical figure in SAD who plans to run for a Council of
Representatives (COR) seat in January, said that the arrests
and other recent events fed the popular perception of GOI
persecution of Sunnis. According to Raid, the issue of
de-Ba'athification in SAD is being used by pro- and anti-GOI
political leaders to bolster support for specific political
parties in the build-up to elections in January. Sunnis and
former BP leaders exploit fears of the Shi'a-led GOI, while
Shi'a leaders in Baghdad garner support by being perceived as
punishing former regime elements for their crimes.
FORD
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINS IZ PINR ENRG
SUBJECT: PRT SALAH AD DIN: BA'ATHIST-ORIENTED ARRESTS AND
FIRINGS STOKE SUNNI FEARS OF JUNE 30 CF PULLOUT
Classified By: Acting Political Counselor John G. Fox for reason 1.4 (d
).
This is a PRT Salah ad Din (SAD) reporting cable.
1. (C) SUMMARY: As the June 30 deadline for implementation
of the Security Agreement approaches, several local leaders
have told the PRT that SAD residents are increasingly
concerned that the Government of Iraq (GOI) intends to take
punitive actions against SAD residents and Sunni leaders. As
evidence, they point to the recent arrest of two reputed
former Republican Guard officers and the Ministry of Oil's
(MOO) decision to fire 97 former Ba'athists from the Bayji
Oil Refinery (BOR) in SAD. Collectively these events feed a
growing sense of unease that a reduced U.S. presence will
result in decreased influence and security for Sunni Arabs
throughout the province. END SUMMARY.
ARRESTS OF FORMER OFFICERS FEED SECTARIAN FEARS
-------------- --
2. (C) The arrest of two Ba'ath Party (BP) members in Tikrit
has sparked fears among SAD residents that the reduced U.S.
presence in Iraqi cities will lead to an increase in hostile
actions by the GOI against Sunni leaders and institutions.
On June 21, a Baghdad-based Military Intelligence
(Istikbarat) unit arrested two Tikrit residents and detained
several others. According to former SAD Governor and current
PC member Hamad Shekti, the arrested men were Muhammed Rajab
and Makai Noman, both of whom served as officers in the
Special Republican Guard. They were reportedly involved with
hiding material related to chemical weapons programs from UN
inspectors during the Saddam Era.
3. (C) Following the arrests, Tikrit Grand Mosque Imam Yahya
al-Atawi called a meeting of local sheikhs and tribal
leaders, which was broadcast on Salah ad-Din TV, and called
for SaD residents to show unity to prevent "unidentified
security forces from outside the province" from arbitrarily
arresting local residents. In a June 23 meeting with PRT
Econ Chief, COL Mohammad Faris, an adviser to Provincial
Council Chairman Abu Mazin, said that, while he viewed the
arrests as unnecessary and illegitimate, people such as Imam
Yahya were "wrong-minded to make themselves news anchors" for
events that make SAD residents fearful of the GOI. He added
that while many SAD residents had at first been hostile to
the presence of U.S. Forces, they now understand that their
presence is the "only thing protecting us from Iran."
MOO ORDERS FIRING OF 97 EMPLOYEES FROM THE BOR
-------------- -
4. (C) Separately, BOR Director General Ali Obeidi contacted
U.S. Forces on June 21 to report that the Ministry of Oil had
ordered him to fire 97 former BP members who work at the
refinery. According to Obeidi, the decision to dismiss these
employees originated with MOO Security Director Najad
al-Sadi. Obeidi said he disagreed with the decision to
dismiss these employees, since many of them had specialized
technical skills that could not be readily replaced. Among
the 97 employees are nine general managers, 20 branch
managers, and the Production Manager, Sa'ad Khalaf. Obeidi
estimated that, without these engineers and technicians, the
production of refined fuels (benzene, diesel, and kerosene)
would be decreased by up to 35 percent. Obeidi said he had
received similar orders previously and planned to delay or
resist these orders as long as possible.
DE-BA'ATHIFICATION REMAINS POLITICAL ISSUE
--------------
5. (C) In a June 23 meeting with IPAO, Raid Khutab, a
political figure in SAD who plans to run for a Council of
Qpolitical figure in SAD who plans to run for a Council of
Representatives (COR) seat in January, said that the arrests
and other recent events fed the popular perception of GOI
persecution of Sunnis. According to Raid, the issue of
de-Ba'athification in SAD is being used by pro- and anti-GOI
political leaders to bolster support for specific political
parties in the build-up to elections in January. Sunnis and
former BP leaders exploit fears of the Shi'a-led GOI, while
Shi'a leaders in Baghdad garner support by being perceived as
punishing former regime elements for their crimes.
FORD