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