Excerpt from document
(C) As of 0700 EST, there are no confirmed reports of an
increase in security personnel along the Syrian border,
despite numerous media accounts of thousands of Iraqi police
heading west. According to Interior Minister Senior Advisor
Dr. Norman Ricklefs, at this time this is more about the
Prime Minister's public posturing through the media than a
serious intention -- or capability -- to boost security at
the Syrian border.

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DE RUEHGB #2396 2491106
ZNY SSSSS ZZH (CCY ADAC0C80 MSI3656-695)
P 061106Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4603
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S E C R E T BAGHDAD 002396

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NSC FOR M. PHEE, P. VROOMAN
OVP FOR H. MUSTAFA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2019
TAGS: PREL, MOPS, PINR, PTER, SY, IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQ POLICE AT SYRIAN BORDER: NO NEW MOVEMENT

REF: BAGHDAD 2395

Classified By: Political Military Minister Counselor Cameron Munter for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

1. (C) As of 0700 EST, there are no confirmed reports of an
increase in security personnel along the Syrian border,
despite numerous media accounts of thousands of Iraqi police
heading west. According to Interior Minister Senior Advisor
Dr. Norman Ricklefs, at this time this is more about the
Prime Minister's public posturing through the media than a
serious intention -- or capability -- to boost security at
the Syrian border. Ricklefs confirmed that the Prime
Minister's office issued a directive to the Interior Ministry
to increase security by shifting current forces in and around
the border. MNF-I sources corroborate this statement, but
add that the PM did not allocate additional Iraqi Security
Forces for this mission.

2. (C) Per reftel, the Interior Minister's staff told
Ricklefs on September 5 that the MoI was moving some federal
police and local police units to the border. However,
according to MNF-I, all of the units assigned to the second
Department of Border Enforcement (DBE), responsible for the
entire length of the Iraq-Syrian border, are already
committed and therefore could not be called upon to beef up
the security presence. (Note: One MNF-I report suggested
that the MoI called second DBE personnel back from leave.
End note.) The Anbar Operations Center, in western Iraq,
reported that there has been no movement of MoI forces to the
border. In addition, multiple MNF-I entities in west and
northwest Iraq have reported that there has been no movement
west of forces or security personnel.

3. (C) Comment: The reported increase in security at the
Syrian border appears to be currently limited to press
reports, with the Prime Minister eager for a show of strength
as he calls for the extradition of two Iraqi Baathists
residing in Syria. End Comment.

4. (S/NF) In the context of this report, please see
TDX-315/059566-09.
HILL