US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD2910

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002910 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/11/2025 
TAGS: PGOV, KDEM, IZ, Reconstruction 
SUBJECT: ANBAR PRDC FORGES AHEAD 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Robert S. Ford. 
Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY.  The Anbar Provincial Reconstruction 
and Development Committee (PRDC) holds well-attended, 
weekly meetings where provincial and city leaders 
engage in sensible debate over the reconstruction 
priorities of this area.  It is making steady progress 
in its efforts to select projects to be funded by 
Coalition CERP and IRRF dollars.  The panel benefits 
from the Governor's firm control of the meetings and 
the seriousness with which most leaders approach the 
endeavor.  The PRDC has made recommendations that have 
been approved by the Provincial Council and is eager 
to begin soliciting bids.  The contracting process for 
CERP projects will actually take several more weeks, 
but the Coalition is committed to helping the PRDC 
meet its deadlines.  If this process goes well, we 
will look for additional funding for additional PRDC- 
selected projects in Anbar.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (U) On July 3 the Al Anbar Provincial 
Reconstruction and Development Committee (PRDC) 
finished a busy week of planning for the 
rehabilitation of the province's critical 
infrastructure.  When the group first met on May 15, 
they were pleased to learn that the Coalition had set 
aside USD 15 million worth of CERP funds for projects 
to be selected by the PRDC, as well as an additional 
10 million or more of IRRF funds in the water, road 
and bridge and electrical transmission and 
distribution areas.  Hardly sufficient to cover the 
province's enormous needs, the seed funds are a 
starting point and the assembled officials are 
enthusiastic about the initiative.  The meetings are 
held weekly and chaired by Governor Mamoon Sami 
Rasheed.  The Deputy Governor, officers of the 
Provincial Council (PC), Directors General (DG), and 
city representatives from throughout the province 
attend regularly.  DGs and council members from the 
provincial and municipal level immediately began 
proposing projects for the PRDC's review. 
 
3.  (C) Mamoon is a firm but fair chairman and does 
his best to keep the members focused on germane 
topics.  He also insists that DGs and city 
representatives do their homework before they submit 
proposals.  He insists that projects be worthwhile and 
they be appropriate.  When the DG of Municipalities 
(who is responsible for trash collection) asked for 
CERP funds to clean the streets, Mamoon rejected the 
DG's submission.  Mamoon said it was inappropriate for 
the PRDC to use Coalition funds for work that the DG 
was supposed to do with his own budget and using his 
own employees.  When the DG for Roads and Bridges 
submitted a last minute request, Mamoon chastised him 
for not coordinating his plans with the DG of Sewers 
who had insisted that pipes be repaired before the 
streets are repaved or the roads would have to be torn 
up again. 
 
4.  (U) After six weeks of deliberations, the PRDC 
completed its initial list of project recommendations 
on June 26 and submitted that list to the PC.  The 
list included projects such as upgrades to electric 
distribution systems, water purification units, 
upgrades to telephone exchanges, road and bridge 
repairs, health clinics and sewers.  Although Ramadi, 
the provincial capital, would receive more than other 
cities, the proposed projects are geographically 
spread throughout the province.  (The PRDC rebutted 
criticism from Fallujan participants by explaining 
that Ramadi's population was twice as large and had 
not had the benefit of the reconstruction funds 
already allotted to Fallujha.)  On June 29 the PC met 
and approved all the recommendations from the PRDC. 
 
5.  (C) On July 3 the PRDC met again to iron out some 
details.  The PRDC had recommended, and the PC had 
approved, projects totaling approximately USD 13 
million.  In an effort to squeeze every penny out of 
the Coalition's CERP allocation, the panel debated a 
number of smaller projects and added them to the list. 
Several members pecked away at their calculators as 
they approved or rejected the last few projects.  When 
they finished, there was still a small balance so 
Mamoon suggested they save it for a project in Al 
Tash, a refugee camp for Iranian Kurds.  "No one ever 
does anything for them" he said.  It is not clear if 
the PRDC will go back to the PC for another vote but 
the PC Chair sat through the entire meeting and he did 
not indicate that he thought a new vote was necessary. 
 
6.  (C) Now the PRDC is eager to advertise the 
projects and elicit sealed, competitive bids.  The 
envelopes will be opened at a meeting the morning 
after the deadline and contractors are invited to 
attend.  The PRDC's enthusiasm is encouraging, but in 
reality the process will take several more weeks.  The 
proposals submitted thus far lack the specificity 
necessary for USG contracting.  However, personnel 
from the Seabees and Army Corps of Engineers will be 
working closely with Iraqi engineers over the next few 
weeks in order to fill in the gaps. 
 
7.  (C) Comment:  The Anbaris are clearly 
demonstrating a new capacity to manage the affairs of 
the province.  They simply require money and security. 
If the PRDC in Anbar makes real progress, we should be 
able to find additional funding for it.  The capacity 
of provincial leadership is inextricably linked to 
their ability to produce results.  As Iraqis learn to 
flesh out realistic proposals, the USG can coach local 
officials in the art of public contracting.  Time is 
short: the first round of contracts must be signed by 
September 25.  The Anbar Provincial Support Team is 
determined to expedite the process.  The stated goal 
is to demonstrate to the people of Al Anbar the 
connection between their government and the provision 
of basic public services. 
 
8.  (U) REO HILLA, REO BASRA, REO MOSUL, and REO 
KIRKUK, minimize considered. 
 
 
Satterfield