USF-I DETAINEE UPDATE: ONLY LOW-THREAT DETAINEES

S E C R E T BAGHDAD 000199 SIPDIS NSC FOR MPHEE, PVROOMAN, STATE FOR MCORBIN, PDELLY E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2020 TAGS: MOPS PHUM PINS PTER CASC IZ XP SUBJECT: USF-I DETAINEE UPDATE: ONLY LOW-THREAT DETAINEES TO BE RELEASED PRIOR TO IRAQI ELECTIONS Classified By: PM MinCouns Cameron Munter for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d). ¶1. (S) Summary. The transfers of U.S.-held detainees and the two remaining U.S.-run theater internment facilities (TIFs) to the GOI appear to be on track. However, rather than continuing to release 300 detainees per month, as in November and December of 2009, United States Forces - Iraq (USF-I) plans to release only low-threat ("green") detainees in the run-up to the Iraqi national elections in March. USF-I is hopeful that all detainees currently in U.S. TIFs will be eligible for transfer with these facilities. To this end, the U.S. will continue to provide assistance to the GOI so that they are able to produce arrest warrants and detention orders on all remaining U.S.-held detainees. End Summary. ¶2. (S) In accordance with the Security Agreement between the U.S. and the GOI, since January 1, 2009, USF-I, in coordination with the GOI, has made 260 counter-terrorism captures; released 7,968 detainees; and, transferred 1,611 detainees to the GOI. Because of the sensitivity associated with the upcoming Iraqi national elections, USF-I intends to release only "green" detainees who still remain in USF-I custody, rather than release 300 detainees per month, as previously done. ¶3. (S) As of January 26, there were approximately 5,860 detainees in USF-I custody. Of that number, 3,030 were housed in the Taji TIF and 2,830 remain in the Cropper TIF. USF-I and the GOI have agreed that the U.S. will transfer the Taji TIF to the GOI on March 15, with a population of about 3,000 medium-threat "amber" detainees, according to MG David Quantock, Deputy Commanding General - Detainee Operations (DCG-DO). (Note and Comment: The Taji TIF has a capacity to house 5,000 detainees. By transferring Taji with 3,000 detainees, the U.S. will give the GOI the flexibility to transfer detainees from other overcrowded Iraqi detention facilities to the fully-equipped Taji facility (septel). End Note and Comment.) ¶4. (S) In addition to the Taji TIF transfer plans, USF-I plans, at this time, to transfer the Cropper TIF to the GOI in July instead of August. The detainee population of approximately 2,800 individuals will consist of high-threat ("red") detainees and "amber" AQI-affiliated detainees. After July, USF-I will maintain 122 bed spaces, at Camp Victory, for new counter-terrorism captures and a very few Enduring Security Threats. ¶5. (S) In order to accomplish the goal of transferring the two TIFs with all of the remaining U.S.-held detainees, MG Quantock informed the GOI, on January 14, that of the 5,860 detainees still in U.S. custody, approximately 1,700 detainees were release eligible, meaning the GOI had not issued a detention order, arrest warrant or conviction order on those detainees. MG Quantock then provided Joint Subcommittee on Detainee Affairs (JCC-DA) Co-Chair MG Husayn Kamal, Ministry of the Interior, National Information and Investigation Agency (NIIA),a list containing the names of those release-eligible detainees. At that time, they both agreed that those included on the list posed a serious threat to Iraqi security. The U.S. delegation further agreed to provide a computer disk containing information on this group, with the understanding that the GOI would further vet these individuals and produce arrest warrants or detention orders. ¶6. (S) As of January 26, the GOI had issued 4,157 arrest warrants or detention orders and has promised to provide Qwarrants or detention orders and has promised to provide further paperwork on another 790 more U.S.-held detainees in the coming days, according to MG Quantock. He also stated that, as requested, he expects to receive arrest warrants or detention orders on the majority of detainees currently being held by USF-I. HILL