US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD3919

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003919 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2015 
TAGS: PINS, PGOV, KDEM, ECON, PREL, IZ, Reconstruction, Security 
SUBJECT: IRMO - SECOND MEF MEETING WITH AL ANBAR GOVERNOR 
 
Classified By: MG ROBERT HEINE, IRMO DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, FOR REASON 
S 1.4 (B) AND (C). 
 
1. (C) Summary. On September 18, Iraq Reconstruction 
Management 
Office (IRMO) Senior Consultants and the Second Marine 
Expeditionary Force (2MEF) Deputy Commander BG Williams met 
with 
Al Anbar Governor Mamoon.  They discussed several issues 
including 1) the kidnapping and recent release of the 
governor's 
son; 2) the governor's concerns about the Independent 
Electoral 
Commission of Iraq's failure to respond to the governor's 
requests for improved security at polling places and for the 
residents of Anbar to be able to register to vote "to the 
last 
day"; 3) the delivery of critical health supplies to clinics; 
4) 
coordination of three upcoming meetings (an "impromptu" 
meeting 
of the Provincial Reconstruction and Development Committee 
(PRDC), a meeting of the Transitional National Assembly (TNA) 
with the governor and members of the Provincial Council (PC), 
and a USAID-supported conference of PC members September 
26-28); 
and 5) U.S. logistical support for the governor. End summary. 
 
2. (C) In a cordial meeting in his Ramadi office, Governor M. 
Mamoon met with Brigadier General Williams, Deputy Commanding 
General of 2MEF; Marc Chrtien, Advisor for the Ministry of 
Industry and Minerals, IRMO; Frank Mahoney, MD, Advisor for 
the 
Ministry of Health, IRMO; Colonel Jimmie Jaye Wells, IRMO 
Operations; Colonel Miles Burdine, 2MEF Sixth Civil Affairs 
Group; William Lovely, IRMO Provincial Program Manager; and 
other USG interlocutors. 
 
GOVERNOR REGAINS KIDNAPPED SON 
------------------------------ 
 
3. (C) USG officials expressed relief at the return of the 
governor's son who had been held eight days and was released 
on 
September 14.  The governor said his son had not been harmed, 
but his vision was a bit off from being blindfolded the 
entire 
duration. He said his son's "spirit is broken." He has no 
proof 
of the identity of the perpetrators, yet he suspects the 
kidnapping was a politically-motivated criminal act initiated 
by 
"insiders" of the provincial government, not insurgents.  He 
said he needs USG help to find and legally sanction the 
kidnappers. 
 
ANBAR ELECTION SUPPORT CONCERNS OF THE GOVERNOR 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
4. (C) Discussions then turned to the Independent Electoral 
Commission of Iraq (IECI).  Governor Mamoon was critical of 
the 
IECI.  Mamoon said the IECI is not responding to his requests 
and will not experience a "successful process" without its 
doing 
so.  He said the procedures the IECI has proposed are not 
good; 
for example, Anbar leaders had recommended polling sites 
including mosques, to which the IECI does not agree.  The 
IECI's 
registration procedures are also wrong, Mamoon said.  He 
wants 
registration open to the "last day".  The IECI's abuse, he 
said, 
will "keep us separate." To make his point, he emphasized 
several times that "this is our right!" and "tell General 
Casey 
this".  Regarding site security, he wants the polling sites 
to 
be secured by Coalition and Iraqi security forces, not other 
potential agents.  The governor said he will "run again" in 
the 
December elections.  (Comment.  Governor Mamoon opposed IECI 
efforts to use tribesmen to secure voter registration sites 
and 
polling sites.  The IECI did agree to extend voter 
registration 
an extra week in Anbar after the Embassy brought Sunni Arabs 
to 
the IECI headquarters in Baghdad.  The Embassy also arranged 
for 
Mamoon to meet the IECI in Ramadi two weeks ago.  Each side 
has 
explained its point of view, but Mamoon and the IECI disagree 
on 
issues like security and voter registration.  We are 
arranging a 
September 26 trip by the IECI to Fallujah as we try to build 
trust between Anbar and the IECI.  End comment.) 
 
HEALTH SUPPLIES ON THE WAY 
-------------------------- 
 
5.  (C) Dr. Mahoney explained that critical health equipment 
has 
arrived in Abu Ghraib and will soon be delivered to clinics 
in 
the province owing to the support of the 2MEF.  He described 
the 
composition of the kits for different clinics and more robust 
shipments that will follow.  Mahoney was asked to examine the 
eye of the Chairman of the PC, Sheikh Gaider, who came to the 
meeting late.  Mahoney observed that the Sheikh has a genetic 
glaucoma.  Mahoney will see what the US can do for him. 
 
UPCOMING MEETINGS 
----------------- 
 
6.  (C) BG Williams and the group then discussed the 
coordination of three upcoming meetings.  To "offset 
potential 
internal political opponents and for security purposes", the 
governor called a "surprise" PRDC meeting Monday, September 
19. 
He then planned to hold a meeting with visiting TNA members 
and 
the same PC members.  He agreed to get the PC members 
together 
for a USAID-supported conference on constitutional matters 
and 
capacity building September 26-28. 
 
SUPPORT FOR THE GOVERNOR 
------------------------ 
 
7.  (C) Since Governor Mamoon is perceived as the leader with 
maximum gravitas in the province and he has no likely 
successor 
at the moment, and owing to the recent kidnapping of the 
governor's son, Mission Iraq is making significant effort to 
provide him USG support.  Mamoon was having trouble with 
Thuraya 
phones the USG had provided him; these were reset.  An 
armored 
car has been made available for his security, and others are 
on 
the way for his PSD. 
Khalilzad