US embassy cable - 04BAGHDAD356

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000356 
 
 
E.O. 12958:  DECL:  8/3/2024 
TAGS:  PINS, PGOV, KISL, IZ 
SUBJECT:  GOVERNOR IN TROUBLE-RIDDEN ANBAR PROVINCE HELD 
HOSTAGE 
 
(U)  Classified by POL Counselor Robert Ford for reasons 
1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C)  Summary:  The Governor of Anbar Province, perhaps 
the most violence-plagued part of Iraq, feels isolated and 
trapped in his office while he tries to secure the release 
of his three kidnapped sons.  The Governor doubts he can 
trust either the police chief or the Iraqi National Guard 
Commander in Anbar.  The Governor has talked of resigning 
as part of a bargain to gain his sons' release, but he told 
the Interior Minister that he will stay.  Even if he does, 
the credibility of Iraqi security forces in Anbar has taken 
a hit.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (C) Anbar Provincial Governor Burgis' three eldest sons 
were kidnapped on the night of July 28.   Iraqi police 
guarding the Governor's residence were either ineffectual 
in defending the Governor's family or complicit in the 
commission of the crime.  Iraqi police and other security 
forces have since claimed they have no evidence to follow, 
according to the State Department liaison officer embedded 
with military forces in Ramadi. 
 
3.  (C) In the days since the kidnapping, Burgis seems to 
be in touch with the kidnappers, who appear to be linked 
terrorist groups, and will meet their demands for his sons' 
release.  An aide to the Governor said that the motive for 
the kidnapping appears to be forcing the Governor's 
resignation.  This aide also claims that the Governor and 
he both believe the Police Chief and the Iraqi National 
Guard Commander are complicit in the kidnapping.  Burgis 
has met with US military personnel and the Ramadi State 
Department liaison officer, but has shared little 
information concerning the whereabouts and identity of the 
kidnappers.  Burgis even went so far as to ask the Marine 
Commanding General for help on paying the ransom, according 
to the liaison officer. 
 
4.  (C)  In the midst of this, the Governor has basically 
stopped work.  Since there is no Deputy Governor in Anbar, 
the functions of the Governor's post are not being 
fulfilled. 
 
5.  (C)  On August 1, ADCM and PolCouns met with Deputy 
Prime Minister Salih to urge the interim Government to 
respond quickly.  Salih said the Interior Minister would 
visit Anbar on August 2.  He acknowledged that the 
Government might need to find a new Governor, but no 
candidate immediately came to mind.  He also cautioned that 
the Governorate Council would probably have to elect the 
new governor.  PolCouns asked if the IIG could invoke the 
new state security law to enable the IIG to make the 
appointment of a governor.  Salih responded that it would 
be very difficult to utilize the law in Anbar now. 
According to the DPM, the IIG had not prepared public 
opinion for such a step. 
 
6.  (C)  On the evening of August 2, Minister of Interior 
Felah Naqib arrived in Ramadi and met the Governor.  Naqib 
urged Anbar officials to send a delegation to Baghdad on 
Saturday, August 7 to discuss the situation further. 
Deputy PM Salih told A/DCM on August 2 that Governor Burgis 
told the Interior Minister Naqib that he will not resign. 
 
7.  (C)  On August 3, the Ramadi liaison officer reported 
that the Anbar Provincial Council Vice=President told him 
on August 2 that a Sheikh Nassir of the Fahdawi tribe has 
proposed new candidates for the governor and empty 
provincial council slots.  The names proposed allegedly all 
are from the Fahdawi tribe (to which the local Iraqi 
National Guard commander also belongs) and the al-Wani 
tribe (to which the Police Chief belongs). 
 
8.(C) Comment:  Anbar has a difficult security environment 
and now its local government is in a state of crisis, with 
the Governor unable to trust those around him and unable to 
function.  Although Burgis told Interior Minister Naqib 
that he will hang on, our sense is that he is looking for a 
way out of Ramadi in any case (On July 23, Burgis already 
told visiting Polcouns that he wanted to quit).  Even if 
the Anbar Governor stays, his ability to function is at 
question amidst the antagonism he confronts with some of 
the tribes.  The credibility of the Iraqi security forces 
in Anbar also is in question. End Comment. 
 
 
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