VZCZCXRO6424
PP RUEHBC RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #4141 3540839
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 200839Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4958
INFO RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEHBC/REO BASRAH PRIORITY 2304
RUEHKUK/REO KIRKUK PRIORITY 2244
RUEHIHL/REO HILLAH PRIORITY 2247
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS BAGHDAD 004141
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MASS MARR MOPS PREL PGOV NATO IZ
SUBJECT: STAFFDEL GARVEY MEETS WITH DEFMIN ABDUL QADR
1. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Professional
Staff Member Patrick Garvey met with Iraqi Defense Minister
Abdul Qadr Muhammed Jasim December 7 to discuss the current
state of Iraqi defense forces and development efforts in
the MOD. While noting the significant progress that the
Iraqi military has made over the last two years, Abdul Qadr
admitted that Coalition Forces' assistance would be needed
for at least another year before Iraqi Security Forces (ISF)
were prepared to take complete responsibility for security
in Iraq.
2. In response to Mr. Garvey's questions on the status
of the ISF, DefMin Abdul Qadr said that the Ministry of
Interior had not established a proper command
and control for what is in effect an Army. These problems
are being resolved now, but three years has been wasted,
allowing political parties and factionalsim to impede the
MOI. Abdul Qadr said the biggest fight for the MOD, and
other ministries as well, was against corruption. It sapped
the strength of the ISF and undermined popular confidence
in the ISF. Abdul Qadr noted that MOD must sometimes act
against criminal actors even though it has no arrest
authority. He insisted the armed forces coordinate with
the Ministry of Interior for subsequent criminal
investigations and with the Ministry of Justice for
detention or eventual incarceration.
3. Mr. Garvey noted that Senator Lugar supported MOD's
efforts to acquire equipment from the United States to better
secure Iraq's border. He applauded the MOD's efforts in this
area. He encouraged MOD to take full advantage of U.S.
training opportunities, including training the trainers for Iraqi
training academies. Abdul Qadr responded that the Iraqi armed
forces have personnel being trained in the United States
and many other countries. He closed the brief meeting by
noting that, with Coalition and NATO Training Mission-Iraq
assistance, Iraq's own academies were making serious
progress in training officers and NCOs, though the air
force lags behind the army in this regard.
4. Mr. Garvey did not have an opportunity to review
this message before departing post.
CROCKER