US MARSHALS SERVICE,S SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUP

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 002600 SENSITIVE SIPDIS JUSTICE FOR ODAG:JJONES, CRM:BSWARTZ, USMS:DROBERTSON, OPDAT:ANORMAN, ICITAP:TBARTLETT STATE FOR INL/I, NEA/I E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SOCI KCRM IZ KAWC SUBJECT: US MARSHALS SERVICE,S SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUP COMPLETES FIVE- YEAR MISSION IN IRAQ ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: Following the removal of the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq, the United States Marshals Service, Special Operations Group (SOG),ensured that Saddam and members of the regime remained in custody to stand trial for their crimes, worked to provide security for the nation,s judges and witnesses, and helped train a new generation of Iraqi protective services personnel. With its mission completed, on September 20, 2009, the remaining SOG personnel in Baghdad departed Post. END SUMMARY ¶2. (U) Since March 2004, 114 USMS SOG members have built capacity for judicial and courthouse security with funding from the State Department,s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL). SOG provided equipment and resources for the protection of the judiciary and managed the installation of modern screening and security equipment in the Iraqi courts. SOG also developed, managed and contracted training for thousands of personal security detail members for the Iraqi judiciary and the uniformed Facility Protection Service (FPS) for Iraqi courthouses. In the early years of the mission, SOG members conducted interviews and collected evidence for high profile cases including cases against Saddam Hussein and his regime. It also ensured the safety of witnesses who risked their lives and those of their families to appear and testify in these high-profile cases. These efforts have made the Iraqi judiciary safe and more secure, allowing the rule of law to develop over the six years since Saddam,s removal. SUPPORT TO THE IRAQI HIGH TRIBUNAL -------------- -------------- ¶3. (U) SOG also managed construction and renovation of the Iraqi High Tribunal (IHT) courthouse, which tries individuals from the Saddam Hussein regime for international crimes such as genocide and crimes against humanity committed between July 17, 1968 and May 1, 2003. The court began operations on October 19, 2005. The court,s first day began with the trial of Saddam Hussein and seven other members of his government for the killing of 148 civilians in the village of Al Dujayl. Since then the IHT has held numerous other trials against regime members. SOG assistance to the court included training for the security force of the IHT; serving as a Quick Response Force during trials conducted at the IHT; protecting and transporting witnesses; and facilitating the secure transfer of Saddam Hussein to the Government of Iraq (GOI) for execution following his conviction in the Al Dujayl case. ¶4. (SBU) as part of its assistance to the IHT, SOG also created the first Witness Protection Program in Iraq. They created five secure facilities to house and protect witnesses during their involvement at trial in the International Zone starting in the fall of 2005 during the Saddam Hussein trial. At that time, a pre-existing camp was upgraded and secured to implement the initiative. Several more camps were added during that trial to house defense counsel. Planning for pending trials and the need to house witnesses not involved with regime crimes led to the establishment of several safe site camps. Over time, the camps were consolidated into a more efficient model, allowing for security and cost savings, as well as a simplified turnover. SOG also transported witnesses throughout Iraq for production during IHT trials. SOG turned over security responsibilities Qduring IHT trials. SOG turned over security responsibilities at the IHT to the GOI in September 2008 and the witness camps in November 2008. COURTHOUSE AND JUDICIAL SECURITY EFFORTS -------------- -------------- ¶5. (SBU) SOG also oversaw the renovation and administration of the Al-Hayat Towers, a judicial security complex designed to safely house and protect members of the Iraqi judiciary and their families. The Al-Hayat is a secure housing complex that houses over 40 judges and their families. The complex was rehabilitated at the direction of the USMS to house members of the Higher Judicial Council (HJC). These judges preside over terrorism and other major criminal cases at the Central Criminal Court of Iraq (CCC-I). On September 30, 2008, SOG turned over possession of the Al-Hayat Towers to the GOI. ¶6. (U) SOG also managed construction and renovation of the CCC-I courthouse building. The CCC-I is located immediately outside the confines of the International Zone in the area known as the Red Zone in Baghdad. The SOG mission was to establish the court as an avenue to try cases including terrorism, public corruption, and attacks on Coalition Forces. Security is provided by FPS and Iraqi Police (IP). SOG established the court and trained the assigned FPS in courthouse operations. ¶7. (U) SOG reviewed and redesigned plans for four secure regional courthouse complexes, positioned in Basra, Hillah, and Baghdad (Rusafa and Karkh),to enhance rule of law. SOG personnel advised on construction until the projects were completed, staffed by properly trained personnel and running smoothly. The cost of these projects was over $40 million. ¶8. (U) In adddition, SOG performed physical security assessments on over 30 Iraqi court structures in Baghdad and over 50 courthouses throughout Iraq. These assessments provided for security upgrades to courthouses that allowed for controlling access, both vehicle and foot traffic, help secure courthouses against bombings, mitigate damage from bombings both to the buildings and personnel within. This additional protection helped the judiciary perform their duties and advanced the rule of law in Iraq. ¶9. (SBU) COMMENT: During the five years that USMS SOG has been part of US federal law enforcement assistance efforts to the GOI, the security of the Iraqi judicial system has improved markedly. The improved security posture promoted by SOG has led to a substantial decrease in the assassination of judges and judicial personnel as well as overall security incidents in Iraq. With a more secure judiciary, Iraq,s legal professionals have been able to focus on developing the rule of law to develop and mature. END COMMENT. HASLACH