IRAQI NSC DISCUSSES TURKISH VISIT, COMBATING

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 BAGHDAD 000815 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2029 TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR SA IZ SUBJECT: IRAQI NSC DISCUSSES TURKISH VISIT, COMBATING TERRORISM, AND CAMP ASHRAF Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Patricia Butenis for reasons 1.4 (b) a nd (d). ¶1. (S) Summary: At the April 22 National Security Council meeting, Prime Minister Maliki warned security agencies against complacency in the fight against violence, and said he would visit key provinces to meet with local leaders, including Basrah, Ninewa and Diyala. He expressed concern that al-Qaida will step up attacks in May. FM Zebari noted that the Turkish government, during President Gul's visit this week, may bring up requests to pursue suspects into Iraqi territory. The group discussed the need to increase Iraq's intelligence capability as the U.S. withdraws, including the need to focus on psychological operations against terrorists and militias. National Security Advisor Muwafaq Rubaie argued that the GOI needs to move Camp Ashraf residents to a location away from the Iran border, but the Minister of Defense objected due to a lack of money or an appropriate facility. Finally, the National Intelligence Service took Rubaie to task for an interview in which Rubaie purportedly accused the NIS of being affiliated with the USG. End Summary. PM Warns against Relaxing in Fight Against Violence -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) Prime Minister Maliki began the meeting with a topic not on the published agenda. He noted that he receives daily threat reports concerning militias and terrorists. Despite improvements in overall security, Maliki warned that achievements must be protected and said that some are relaxing. He stressed that the security apparatus cannot rest as long as a danger exists. Maliki said he would personally travel to provinces in which security is more of a challenge, including Basrah, Ninewa and Diyala, and will meet with the military and political leadership. Maliki said that when he visits the governorates, if there needs to be a change in leadership, he will take appropriate action. In addition, he said that there must be appropriate incentives for police officers. ¶3. (C) The Interior Minister noted that there has been an increase in the level of organized crime, and that there is a need to raise the morale of members of the security forces. That would be helped, he stressed, by a visit from the PM. The Minister of Defense added that the GOI needed to further develop its intelligence capabilities. ¶4. (C) The PM said that he would first go to Basrah, then Amarah. Regarding Baghdad, he expressed confidence that the situation is going well. The Minister of Defense added that while there have been some recent attacks, overall the situation has improved. He stressed that the quantity and quality of attacks has declined. Many attacks involve sticky bombs, explosive belts, or firing weapons from cars. The PM expressed concern that al-Qaida will restart operations in May, and may attempt to time its attacks to the movement of U.S. troops to their bases. ¶5. (C) In terms of dealing with detainees, the Minister of Defense and Minister of Justice stressed that while it was important to have a public relations campaign against the terrorists and militias, they could not put them on television before they are convicted. Intelligence Apparatus -------------- ¶6. (C) The representative from Iraq's National Intelligence Service said that there are weaknesses in Iraq's intelligence system, noting that some detainees who had been released have returned to terrorism. The PM said that there needs to be an update of the GOI's information system, and that the GOI Qupdate of the GOI's information system, and that the GOI should ask coalition forces to review the files of those proposed for release. He also commented that the prisons have become a school for terrorists. Visit of Turkish President -------------- ¶7. (C) Foreign Minister Zebari noted that the Turkish President would be visiting this week, and said that the Turks had sent several notes to the MFA requesting authorization to pursue terrorists inside Iraqi territory. Zebari said that the MFA's position was that the leadership of the two countries must coordinate on issues such as this, but warned the PM that this issue could come up during President Gul's visit. The Minister of Interior mentioned that the Turks had also sent a memo to the MOI concerning increasing cooperation on combating terrorism and smuggling of weapons. MOI also stressed that pursuit of terrorists across the border had to be coordinated between the two BAGHDAD 00000815 002 OF 003 sides. PM Maliki said he would raise with the Turks the Turkish incursion into Dahuk. (Comment: We believe this reference to an "incursion into Dahuk" is an imprecise reference to ongoing Turkish artillery and air attacks on the PKK in northern Iraq; we are unaware of any recent Turkish ground incursion into Dahuk. End Comment.) Psychological Operations -------------- ¶8. (C) A Ministry of Defense General commented that there is an insufficient emphasis on psychological operations to reduce the appeal of terrorism or militias. He said that there is also a lack of intelligence resources such as ballons, unmanned aircraft, and other reconnaissance methods. The General underlined that with the upcoming withdrawal of U.S. forces, it is important that Iraq develop this capability. National Security Advisor Rubaie agreed that there needs to be a plan to conduct psychological operations, to influence the behavior of enemy groups and gain the confidence of the population. He also commented that some media outlets have an interest in publicizing negative information. Consequently, it is important to demonstrate the power and unity of the government. ¶9. (C) The PM said that a psychological operations plan should include a range of ministries, including the Ministry of Education, and should consider how to use the media. If this is not handled correctly, the PM warned, it could lead to negative results. He also stressed the need for intelligence agencies to coordinate better with investigative agencies. Draft Saudi Agreement on Exchanging Prisoners -------------- ¶10. (C) The discussion turned to the pending agreement with Saudi Arabia regarding Iraqi prisoners in Saudi custody. There was a discussion of the disagreement over who from the GOI would chair the joint committee that was established to review and negotiate the agreement. PM Maliki directed that the Council of Ministers Secretariat be informed that the Minister of Justice would chair the committee for Iraq. Khor Al-Amaya Seaport -------------- ¶11. (C) FM Zebari noted that the GOI has received three memorandums from the Iranian government claiming that part of the Khor al-Amaya oil terminal (KAAOT) is in Iranian territorial waters. He said that this is a vital issue for Iraq that could develop into a problem. There was some discussion whether KAAOT was the facility at issue. The PM noted that KAAOT has been with Iraq for the past 60 years, and that the GOI "must reject" any questions regarding its authority over the facility. He stressed that the GOI "should not give the impression that we accept this" claim. Camp Ashraf -------------- ¶12. (C) The National Security Advisor's staff briefed the meeting on a report regarding Camp Ashraf and the presence of MEK residents. They recommended that - due to the Camp's proximity to the Iranian border and Iranian interference - the residents be transferred to another location far from the Iran border (for example to Anbar in the west of Iraq). The Minister of Defense objected vociferously to this suggestion, stressing that he had neither the money nor an appropriate facility to assume responsibility for the MEK currently at Camp Ashraf. He asked what the GOI would do if MEK members refused the transfer, and raised questions whether it was appropriate from a security standpoint to place the MEK members in Anbar. The Minister of Interior asked whether there were residents who would object to moving. ¶13. (C) FM Zebari noted that MEK is a very sensitive subject Q13. (C) FM Zebari noted that MEK is a very sensitive subject and that the group has an effective public relations organization with offices abroad. He stressed that it was also important that the GOI keep its commitments to the U.S. regarding the treatment of MEK. The PM responded that the GOI needs to clarify the situation for the media and not allow MEK to escalate the situation publicly. NSA Rubaie asked whether the GOI could separate the MEK leaders from the majority of Ashraf residents, who are innocent. He stressed that only about 15-20 residents are leaders. He emphasized that it is critical to keep the MEK away from Iran, as Iran uses this issue as a pretext to intervene in Iraq. The PM concluded by saying that Iraq is not the MEK's home, the GOI must remain committed to its human rights obligations, the GOI should continue to seek opportunities to transfer MEK members to countries that will take them, and the GOI must BAGHDAD 00000815 003 OF 003 prevent interference from Iran. Media Interview by NSA Rubaie -------------- ¶14. (S) The representative of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) then (angrily) raised a media interview that NSA Rubaie had recently given in which it was alleged that the NIS is affiliated with the USG and that the security apparatus could pose a danger to democracy. The NIS representative said that the NIS is affiliated with the PM and GOI, and that the meeting with journalists did not serve Iraq's interests. Who, he asked, does not have American advisors? ¶15. (S) The PM expressed sympathy with the NIS representative's comments, noting that the GOI needs to repair the intelligence apparatus. He suggested that the NIS meet privately with him to discuss the issue. The NIS representative replied that he would meet alone with Rubaie. ¶16. (S) Rubaie said that the interview mischaracterized his statements. He had given a history of the "apparatus" and its "return to the GOI." He suggested that people listen to the tape of the interview to get a full understanding of his comments. BUTENIS