PRIME MINISTER ACCUSES SYRIA OF MILITARY ACTIONS

S E C R E T BAGHDAD 002564 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/24/2029 TAGS: PREL ECON ENRG EPET IR IZ SY SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER ACCUSES SYRIA OF MILITARY ACTIONS TARGETING IRAQ Classified By: Ambassador Chris Hill for reasons 1.5 b,d ¶1. (S) In a September 22 meeting, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told the Ambassador that the GOI intelligence services had uncovered a plot to detonate four Vehicle Bourne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIEDs) during this week's festival of Eid al Fitr. According to Maliki, this is only the latest example of Syrian attacks on Iraq. Two men have been arrested in the plot: Nabil al Jenaybi (reportedly the commander of a Baath military wing) and Qasim al Jenaybi. They planned to attack the Shiite shrine of al-Adhamyah and, according to Maliki, they provided funds to two terrorist cells (whom Maliki referred to interchangeably as "Ba'athist" and "al Qaeda" cells). Maliki alleged that the financing for the operations came from the Iraqi Ba,athists in Syria. ¶2. (S) Maliki then renewed his call for an international investigation into alleged Syrian ties to the car bombings of August 19 that killed 92 Iraqis and significantly damaged both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance. Syria fears this investigation, he said, because they have violated international norms and will be held responsible. "Why should they fear an investigation if they are innocent?" he asked. Syria is using these kinds of military operations to attempt to influence the Iraqi elections. While Iran (septel) is focusing on political strategies rather than military ones for the moment, he said, he is convinced Syria takes no military actions without first coordinating with Iran. USG attempts to improve relations with Syria will fail, he added, because the Syrian line is coordinated with that of Iran. Maliki then described Syria as "behaving like a teenager, not an adult." Within Syria, distrust of Shi,a runs so deep that even the Syrian Ba,ath Party is split into Sunni and Shi,a wings. HILL