Cablegate: Post Requests Fy 2011 Funding for Corrections

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OO RUEHBC RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #3289 3551450
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 211450Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5821
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/COMJSOC FT BRAGG NC PRIORITY

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 003289

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR INL/I, NEA/I
JUSTICE FOR ODAG, CRM, OPDAT, ICITAP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KJUS KCRM IZ PGOV
SUBJECT: POST REQUESTS FY 2011 FUNDING FOR CORRECTIONS
ADVISORY MISSION IN IRAQ

REF: A. BAGHDAD 2384
B. BAGHDAD 3141

1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The corrections advisor program in Iraq is
needed to ensure humane treatment of detainees turned over to
the GOI as well as to bolster GOI institutional capacity
through December 2011. MNF-I will provide partial funding
for the continuation of the corrections advisory program for
coalition-related facilities. In the context of ongoing
budget discussions across the interagency in Washington, Post
would like to underline our support for continued State
Department funding of the ICITAP mission. END SUMMARY

2. (SBU) Current INL-funding provides support to the
corrections mission as previously agreed with ICITAP. This
funding takes into account a planned dramatic staffing
decrease between now and the end of the mission currently
slated for March 2011. Current funding will not provide
assurance that the Iraqi Corrections Service (ICS) can
independently sustain prison operations without tragic or
dangerous failures at high risk prisons. Had ICITAP
corrections advisors been present at the Baghdad Central
Prison in September 2009, they would have provided guidance
to the ICS to prevent or at least mitigate the disturbance
that destroyed that facility and required the MOJ to move
over 2000 detainees to Chamchamal Prison. ICITAP advisors
are required to ensure minimum oversight and capacity
development of the ICS during the extremely important
transition period.

3. (SBU) Against this backdrop -- and given how important the
advisors are to prison security -- we support the State
Department continuing the program, including covering the
projected USD 9.8 million shortfall after DOD contributions.
Doing so would allow for a sufficient number of corrections
advisors to remain in high-risk ICS facilities throughout the
transition process to assist in guaranteeing both Iraqi
institutional capacity and compliance with international
human rights standards.

4. (SBU) Such funding could support advisors at the following
ICS prisons: Khadamiyah Maximum Security Prison, which houses
death row inmates; Ft. Suse Prison, which holds AQI and third
country nationals (TCNs); Rusafa Prison Complex, which is the
ICS headquarters and primary intake center; Chamchamal
Prison, currently under activation; and Basra Central Prison,
which is under construction. MNF-I will fund advisors
through December 2011 at Cropper and Taji Theater Internment
Facilities (TIF) and at the National Corrections Training
Center.
FORD

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