IRAQI NSC DISCUSSES PLANS TO EXPAND THE NAVY,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000363

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/11/2019
TAGS: MARR PGOV PREL IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQI NSC DISCUSSES PLANS TO EXPAND THE NAVY,
POLICE AND ARMY, THE ALGIERS ACCORD, AND DETAINEES

Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: At the February 8 meeting of the Iraqi
National Security Council, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki
acknowledged the need to improve the Iraqi Navy's ability to
defend Iraq's ports and oil platforms, and that Iraq needed a
more uniform posture when negotiating riparian border
disputes with Kuwait and Iran. Maliki said the government
could gain politically if detainees currently in U.S. custody
are released in their home areas amid a celebration. The
Interior and Defense Ministers argued for robust funding in
order to take over security responsibilities as the U.S.
withdraws by 2011, but Maliki and Deputy Prime Minister Salih
warned that falling oil prices will strain budgets. End
Summary.

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Plan to Expand the Iraqi Navy
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2. (C) Rear Admiral Jawad Khadum, Commander of the Iraqi
Navy, provided the Iraqi Navy's plan for expanding its
ability to secure Iraq's ports, southern waterways and oil
platforms. He argued additional resources and ships are
necessary for Iraq's economic security, given that the
country is dependent on southern ports and oil exports for
income. Defense Minister Mufriji told Maliki the MOD was
serious about completing this naval program but the purchase
of some new ships has been delayed because of problems with
the Finance Ministry.


3. (C) Khadum displayed a graphic showing the Iraqi Navy
taking over waterway patrol responsibilities from the U.S. by
the end of 2011, but the U.S. being responsible for Iraq's
two oil platforms in the North Arabian Gulf through 2012. He
pointedly told Maliki that Iraq is unable to defend its
territorial waters from air, sea or underwater attacks.
Khadum asked that the Navy receive resources to fulfill its
development plan, rather than more money being directed to
the Iraqi Army.

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Riparian Border Dispute with Kuwait and Iran
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4. (C) Khadum then summarized the status of border disputes
with Kuwait and Iran. The Navy is waiting for a diplomatic
solution to the border dispute with Kuwait, Khadum said, and
Iran has an incorrect understanding of the 1975 Algiers
Accord. Prime Minister Maliki queried Minister of Foreign
Affairs Hoshyar Zebari on diplomatic progress in resolving
these border disputes. Zebari responded that Iraq lacks a
coherent, unified negotiating posture -- his MFA would
deliver a message to the Iranians, for example, only to be
later undercut by other Iraqi "political actors" who deliver
a different message.


5. (C) Maliki said having joint oil fields with Iran is
fine, but the Iraqi government "has problems" with the
Algiers Accord. Iran is infringing on our rights by not
respecting the proper waterway border, Maliki said, but this
can be resolved by clarifying "technical" issues with the
Iranians. Maliki appeared more concerned about what he
called Kuwait's infringement upon the port of Umm Qasr.
Maliki promised Zebari a more unified negotiating approach
and told Khadum the government must work on equipping the
Iraqi Navy. Ambassador Crocker asked the Iraqi government to
inform Kuwait and Iran of any planned work on Iraq's undersea
oil pipelines so to not cause alarm.

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Successful Intelligence-Sharing with Turkey
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6. (C) Minister of State for National Security Shirwan
al-Waili reported Iraq and Turkey, through the recently
Qal-Waili reported Iraq and Turkey, through the recently
established trilateral committee on combating the PKK, are
successfully sharing intelligence on potential terrorist
threats. Maliki responded that he felt the Turkish
government is satisfied with its cooperation with Iraq even
though Anakara has not said so in the media.

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Maliki Seeks Political Boost through Detainee Releases
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7. (C) National Security Advisor Muwafuq al-Rubaie and
Interior Minister Jawad Bulani briefly argued about whether
the U.S.-Iraq Security Agreement implementation subcommittee
on detainees had met to discuss how the government would vet
and receive detainees that are currently in U.S. custody.
Maliki asked for improved coordination, including sharing the

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minutes of any meetings among relevant officials. Maliki
ordered that once properly vetted, detainees be released in
their home areas in the presence of their families and amid a
festival. Maliki said having a festival would politically
benefit the government.

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Plan to Expand Security Forces Faces Budget Constraint
-------------- --


8. (C) Minister of Interior Bulani and Minister of Defense
Abd al-Qadir al-Mufriji both argued that their respective
ministries needed robust financing to fulfill their planned
force generation, even in the face of less revenue because of
falling oil prices. Bulani said the MOI wished to increase
its forces devoted to "federal security," such as border
security forces. Mufriji said the Army has sufficient forces
on the streets, but now needs resources to improve the MOD's
technical capabilities. Bulani and Mufriji argued that to
fill the security gap that will be left when the U.S.
withdraws its forces by the end of 2011, the MOI and MOD need
more resources this year. Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih
warned that the 2010 budget will be tough because of the
falling oil price, and told the MOI and MOD that "your
security plans might have big funding shortages." Maliki
said it is not possible this year to increase the number of
police forces, but Iraq can work on increasing their quality
through training.
CROCKER