HELMAND: GARMSIR SHURA SUPPORTS ISAF FORCES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 002009

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, EUR/RPM, INL/AP
STATE PASS TO AID FOR ASIA/SCAA
NSC FOR WOOD
OSD FOR WILKES
CENTCOM FOR USFOR-A COS, CG CJTF-101 POLAD

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PTER PHUM AF

SUBJECT: HELMAND: GARMSIR SHURA SUPPORTS ISAF FORCES

REF: Kabul 1737, Kabul 1677


1. (SBU) Summary: On July 13, Governor Mangal visited Garmsir
district for the first time since the Marine Expeditionary Brigade's
(MEB) arrival on July 2, opening a major USAID project and holding a
well-attended shura with local elders. Atmospherics were very
positive. Approximately 350-400 elders attended the shura, and
several of them spoke to the crowd encouraging reconciliation and
urging the people to resist the Taliban and help identify Improvised
Explosive Devices (IEDs). National Directorate of Security (NDS)
Chief General Naim drew on parallels from the life of Prophet
Muhammad to illustrate the acceptability of working with non-Muslims
toward common goals, and highlighted the sacrifices of ISAF forces
fighting on behalf of Afghan civilians. Governor Mangal gave
well-received remarks noting reconstruction achievements and the
contributions of ISAF forces to Garmsir's security. Mangal traveled
with several local media who filmed and recorded each segment of the
trip. End Summary.


2. (SBU) On July 13, Governor Mangal flew to Garmsir district
center accompanied by NDS Chief General Naim, State and USAID PRT
officers, and local media. The trip began with Mangal touching down
at FOB Delhi for a brief from the Marines and from local ANP and ANA
chiefs. The briefing included maps of areas under MEB control and
of insurgent contact. The group then mounted MRAPs and drove to the
site of USAID's "Drop 8" sluice gate rebuild project. Mangal,
accompanied by local notables and press, cut the ceremonial ribbon
and announced the completion of the project. While at the Drop 8
site, piles of wheat chaff could be seen dotting the surrounding
fields, indicating that these fields did not grow poppy last
season.


3. (SBU) From FOB Delhi the group moved to the District Center
building for the shura. Around 350-400 elders were already in place
seated in the inner courtyard when Mangal arrived. Helmand NDS
Chief General Naim gave the first set of remarks and spoke at length
about reconciliation and other topics. He drew on numerous
parallels from the life of the prophet Muhammad to illustrate that,
just as Muhammad had worked closely with non-believers, it is
likewise good to embrace non-believers (ISAF, in this case) who are
friendly and work with them towards common goals. He emphasized
that the Taliban practice of destroying clinics and bridges does not
demonstrate Islam or jihad, and encouraged the elders to report IED
locations to the NDS, noting that it is mainly Afghans who are
killed by them. He stressed that all ISAF operations in Helmand are
approved by Governor Mangal. Naim seemed to strike a chord with the
audience when he said, "Foreigners are not like Afghans; while we
have ten sons they only have one, but they will send their only sons
to Afghanistan to fight the Taliban for your security." His remarks
appeared well-received as numerous elders sitting close to the
podium (and thus more important) nodded at as he emphasized his
points.


4. (SBU) An elderly local mullah, so frail he had to cling to the
podium to remain upright, told Mangal that the people of Garmsir are
happy with the security brought by the Marines and asked the
governor to keep responding to security issues, such as the unsafe
road north to Nawa and Lashkar Gah. Three Garmsir tribal elders
then spoke in sequence. Haji Abdul Samad Khan urged people to use
the shura as an opportunity to share their views with the governor
about security and development. Haji Adam Khan argued that
reconciliation with Taliban commanders is the way to solve the
conflict, and said GIRoA must deliver with security and development.
Haji Adam Khan concluded his speech by saying "don't tell me about
tribe or language, tell me about honesty and truth." A third elder
gave a lengthy address urging people to shun foreign fighters and be
willing to help the government implement security by not sheltering
Taliban fighters.


5. (SBU) Mawlawi Meherdi, a Lashkar Gah-based mullah closely allied
with Mangal, told the assembled elders that the government would
provide for them but that they must not help the Taliban. He said
IEDs are illegal and against Islam. He asked rhetorically how the
Taliban can continue to tax people if only the elected government
has that right because it provides services in return. Mawlawi
concluded with a forceful statement condemning suicide bombings as
haram (forbidden in Islam).


6. (SBU) Governor Mangal then took to the podium and was roundly
applauded. Mangal praised the elders' attendance and offered his
condolences for members of their families lost to mines and IEDs in
Garmsir. He then gave an overview of the operations in Babaji
(British Area of Operations),Basharan, Nawa, Garmsir, and Khanashin

KABUL 00002009 002 OF 002


districts, noting the very low civilian casualty numbers and light
damage to compounds. Mangal said rebuilding schools, clinics and
roads are the key goals once security is sufficiently established in
Garmsir, and insisted the Marines would stay for the long term. He
noted the completion of Drop 8, as well as other improvements over
the last year to the district center and local roads. Mangal told
the crowd he would send 100 tons of wheat to Garmsir (Note: the PRT
is working with Mangal's office and the MEB on the logistics for
this),and thanked the PRT (State Department in particular) for
providing the prayer rugs he distributed to local mosques ahead of
the shura. Mangal described his signature "Food Zone" project to
discourage poppy production by providing wheat seed that was
successful last year, and stated that he will extend the project to
include 4,220 families in Garmsir for 2009.


7. (SBU) Mangal spoke briefly about the upcoming election,
encouraging the elders and mullahs to send their families and those
in their villages to vote for their choice for president. He asked
that they vote for a good, honest candidate who would be best for
Afghanistan's future.

EIKENBERRY