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(S/NF) SUMMARY AND COMMENT: U.S. forces transferred
thirteen detainees captured in Maysan in a joint U.S.-Iraqi
operation in accordance with demands by the PM and terms of
the Security Agreement. After an initial transfer of nine of
the detainees, the Prime Minister ordered high value target
special operations to cease until the remaining four had been
transferred.

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DE RUEHGB #0500/01 0551505
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 241505Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6818
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
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RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
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S E C R E T BAGHDAD 000500

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/21/2020
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KDEM, MOPS, PTER, IZ
SUBJECT: DETAINEE RELEASES AND TARGETING APPROVAL CHANGES
ROUND OUT MAYSAN OPERATION FALLOUT

REF: A. BAGHDAD 405
B. BAGHDAD 426
C. BAGHDAD 378
D. TD-314/013127-10

Classified By: DCM, Robert S. Ford for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

1. (S/NF) SUMMARY AND COMMENT: U.S. forces transferred
thirteen detainees captured in Maysan in a joint U.S.-Iraqi
operation in accordance with demands by the PM and terms of
the Security Agreement. After an initial transfer of nine of
the detainees, the Prime Minister ordered high value target
special operations to cease until the remaining four had been
transferred. The GOI released the initial group of nine
detainees upon transfer from U.S. custody, to the surprise of
the Maysan Provincial Chief of Police (PCOP) sMG Sa'ad, who
is currently acting commander of the Maysan Operation Center
(MOC). The Iraqi Operational Coordination Group (IOCG),
which coordinates high value targets, received orders on
February 21 to "get back to work." The group works directly
with U.S. SOF elements in coordinating joint U.S.-Iraqi
operations against specific targets. General Abud, former
commander of the Baghdad Operations Center (BOC) and current
Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, has taken the place of
Military Intelligence (M2) head sMG Ala'a in targeting
approval. USF-I also received word that despite past U.S.
efforts to retain sMG Ala'a, he had been ordered to vacate
his post within 48 hours by Office of the Commander in Chief
(OCINC) General Farouq (on behalf of the Prime Minister).
sMG Ala'a raised concerns about the PM's manipulation of the
M2 along sectarian lines, but requested the U.S. not seek his
retention so that he could retain his current housing
privileges in his reassignment. A recent transfer order of 17
Iraqi National Intelligence Service (INIS) officers has also
raised concerns about the PM's involvement in the
intelligence services. The transfer and release of the
detainees, while disappointing, must be balanced against the
need to protect a valuable joint SOF capability to target AQI
on the eve of elections. END SUMMARY AND COMMENT.

2. (S/NF) In accordance with the PM's express conditions for
considering a return to normal SOF high value target
clearance procedures, USF-I transferred to the GOI the last
four of the Katib Hezbollah (KH) Maysan detainees on February
19 after transferring nine the previous night. The detainees
were arrested in accordance with Operation Steel Curtain (ref
A). USF-I received word that the GOI released the initial
nine prisoners on February 20 to the surprise of USF-I and
the Provincial Chief of Police (PCOP) sMG Sa'ad. sMG Sa'ad
is also serving as the acting Maysan Operations Center (MOC)
commander during the absence of the commander, sMG Habib of
the 10th IA, who is out due to medical problems. (NOTE AND
COMMENT: In a late breaking development, sMG Sa'ad was
informed on February 23 that he was being removed from office
as a result of pressure from the Maysan PC Chairman, who has
links to KH, according to USF-I. The Maysan PC Chairman
(ISCI) has apparently secured approval from the PM for sMG
Sa'ad's removal. The PC Chairman has tried to get sMG Sa'ad
removed before, but the decision was overruled by the PM on
previous efforts. Sensing an opportunity in the aftermath of
Operation Steel Curtain, the PC Chairman gave the PM a choice
QOperation Steel Curtain, the PC Chairman gave the PM a choice
to retain either the Governor (a Da'wa party member) or sMG
Sa'ad, and the PM chose the Governor. Having both MOC
commanders out in the weeks before the elections likely will
pose security/political coordination challenges. END NOTE
AND COMMENT.)

3. (S/NF) After the detainee release, the IOCG received
orders to "go back to work" on February 21. General Abud,
former BOC commander and current Deputy Chief of Staff for
Operations (DCOS OPS), has replaced Military Intelligence
(M2) director sMG Ala'a as approver for targeting operations.
USF-I will familiarize General Abud in order to familiarize
General Abud with the IOCG process and its relations with
U.S. SOF elements. USF-I will also increase coordination
with the MOD's Joint Operations Center to support 24/7
operations. During discussions to get operations back on
track with the IOCG after the recent PM orders (ref B), the
GOI reiterated to USF-I that operations against sensitive
targets must be Iraqi led - meaning that the missions would
be U.S. command and controlled, logistically supported, etc.,
but that "Iraqi led" meant that the Iraqis would make first
contact. General Farouq of OCINC and General Abud also said
that the balance of forces needed to be better weighted

toward the Iraqi side and that the more important the target,
the more balanced the force should be. They acknowledged
that the U.S. had to have heavy involvement in a support and
enabler capacity.

4. (S/NF) sMG Ala,a,s reprieve to remain the M2 was short
lived (ref C). He informed USF-I contacts on February 20
that General Farouq passed orders from the PM that he was to
transfer to another position within 2 days. Though direct
USF-I involvement granted sMG Ala,a a reprieve last week, he
has asked that the U.S. not get involved again due to the
effect it may have on any future assignment. It is unclear
if MG Hatim Jabar Al-Maksusi of the Office of Special
Investigations (OSI), who was previously named as his
replacement last week, will in fact assume the position. sMG
Ala,a opined that the PM,s goal is to increase the Shi'a
dominance of the M2, which of its 132 officers, 78% are Shi'a
(including new officers). Recent reporting has also
highlighted the PM's attempts to transfer 17 senior Iraqi
National Intelligence Service (INIS) to other
non-intelligence Ministries (such as Oil or Youth and
Sports). All 17 of the officers were Sunni and had worked
for Iraqi Intelligence Services (IIS) under the former
regime. Other INIS officers with IIS experience who are
Shi'a were noticeably missing from the PM's list. Senior
INIS officials have expressed concern that INIS would lose
some of its strongest and most experienced officers (ref D).

5. (S/NF) COMMENT: After the events of Operation Steel
Curtain were publicized in the press, the PM asked for the
Maysan detainees in our continuing custody be transferred to
the GOI. The transfer of the detainees, at least nine of
which have been confirmed released since transfer, must be
balanced with the need to preserve, through SOF cooperation,
the ability to maintain pressure on AQI and Shi'a extremists
- especially to deny them the initiative in counter-election
operations. Once the PM demanded the transfer of the
detainees in accordance with the Security Agreement and
threatened to cancel all high value SOF cooperation
activities, USF-I weighed the loss of the detainees versus
the loss of SOF cooperation and handed over the KH prisoners.
This is disappointing, and it appears that more dialogue
will be required to get the IOCG and ISF to resume full joint
operations against CT targets. END COMMENT.

HILL