SUSTAINED CORRECTIONS ADVISEMENT CRITICAL FOR

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 003141 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR INL/I, NEA/I JUSTICE FOR ODAG, CRM, OPDAT, ICITAP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KJUS PGOV PTER IZ SUBJECT: SUSTAINED CORRECTIONS ADVISEMENT CRITICAL FOR SUCCESSFUL COALITION SECURITY DETAINEE TRANSFER REF: MANSO-INL/I E-MAILS ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The U.S. military will transition several thousand mid-to-high threat coalition security detainees to the Government of Iraq (GOI) in 2010. Task Force 134, which is charged with detainee operations, stresses the need to maintain a sufficient number of corrections advisors in selected Iraqi Corrections Service (ICS) facilities throughout the transition process to guarantee both Iraqi institutional capacity and international human rights standards. Current INL funding provides support to the corrections mission through March 2011. As transition benchmarks slip, there will be diminishing advisory support and oversight on the ground during this crucial period. Commanding General Multi-National Force Iraq (MNF-I) General Odierno agrees that there is a continuing need for the corrections mission and that MNF-I should provide about an additional USD 8.8 million to fund it through January 2012. Embassy requests that the Department consider funding the remaining balance of roughly USD 4.4 million. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) This is an action request. Please see paragraph four. ¶3. (SBU) TF 134 is scheduled to begin transitioning coalition security detainees to the ICS in February 2010, a process that was expected to conclude by August 2010. However, the transition timeline is slipping due to GOI postponements (septel). Currently, four corrections advisors support the coalition facilities housing security detainees. TF 134 has requested an additional nine corrections advisors to support the transition through December 2011. Based upon initial benchmarks, INL funding for the corrections mission extends through May 2010, allowing for a reduced number of advisors through March 2011. There is no apparent funding source to meet TF 134,s request. ¶4. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: On November 19, the Ambassador and General Odierno agreed on the need for continued and increased ICS advisement and oversight at coalition facilities through December 2011. The graduated drawdown of corrections advisors through 2011 will require an estimated additional USD 13.2 million. General Odierno agreed to seek USD 8.8 million in FY2011. Post requests that the Department fund the remaining USD 4.4 in FY2010 to provide adequate support to the ICS during this critical period. FORD