WikiLeaks Iraq cables: UK relents on Basrah Governor; outlines future troop deployment

Published on 03/06/2011 16:45

This is the text of a US diplomatic cable about UK military involvement in Iraq, obtained by WikiLeaks and made available to Scotland on Sunday.

9 SEPTEMBER 2007 18:47

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003383

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/08/2017

TAGS: EINV, MOPS, PGOV, PINR, PTER, UK, IZ

SUBJECT: UK RELENTS ON BASRAH GOVERNOR; OUTLINES FUTURE

TROOP DEPLOYMENT

BAGHDAD 00003383 001.2 OF 002

Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

Summary

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1. (S) UK Ambassador Prentice told Ambassador Crocker October

8 that the UK would stop boycotting Basrah Governor Wa,eli

following the decision of the local administrative court that

Wa,eli could not be removed from office by the Provincial

Council. Prentice had informed PM Maliki, who was reportedly

not pleased. Prentice previewed the comments PM Gordon Brown

would make to Parliament later that day regarding British

forces in southeastern Iraq -- 4,500 troops till the end of

March 2008, a subsequent reduction to 2,500, subject to

conditions on the ground. He also outlined the terms and

conditions for the immigration of Iraqi locally engaged staff

that PM Brown would mention. The two Ambassadors also

touched on Iran as well as British plans to support economic

development in Basrah. End Summary.

We will have contact with Wa,eli

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2. (S) UK Ambassador Christopher Prentice called on

Ambassador Crocker to preview the presentation to Parliament

regarding British forces in Iraq that British PM Gordon Brown

was scheduled to deliver today, October 8. During the course

of the conversation, he revealed that HMG was ending its

boycott of contact with Basrah Governor Wa,eli. He noted

that as the judicial process had confirmed Wa,eli in office,

it made no sense to treat him as illegitimate. He had

informed PM Maliki of the decision; Maliki was not pleased

but indicated he could live with the British decision and

even with Wa,eli,s continuation as Governor as long as

security remained out of Wa,eli,s hands.

3. (S) Welcoming the UK decision, Ambassador Crocker observed

that security would remain under the operations center so

Wa,eli would not control it. He observed that moving

forward with Wa,eli was the practical thing to do, noting

that Vice President Adil Abdel Mehdi had said it was time to

move on. In response to Ambassador Crocker,s question about

next steps by the Provincial Council, Prentice replied that

the British Consul General in Basrah had indicated the

parties were seeking to arrange deals on who would acquire

subordinate positions under Wa,eli -- they appear resigned

to his continuous in office.

Brown,s Speech and the numbers

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4. (S) At the time of the meeting, the text of Gordon

Brown,s statement was not yet final -- Prentice promised to

share it with Ambassador Crocker and General Petraeus as soon

as possible. The UK military presence in southern Iraq would

be 4,500 troops through the end of March 2008. There will be

an additional 500 in the region -- PM Brown will not be

specific, but these 500 will be in Kuwait. Subsequently, the

UK presence will reduce over time to about 2,500 in southern

Iraq, subject to conditions. The rationale for this

reduction is that the focus for UK troops in MND-SE is

training and mentoring of Iraqi forces.

5. (S) Responding to Ambassador Crocker,s questions,

Prentice said that the 4,500 UK troops for southern Iraq

excluded staff or special operations troops in Baghdad or

other parts of Iraq. He noted that the draft text alluded to

the possibility of a further reduction of 500 in the

pre-March 2008 period, but that he and the UK military

foresee 4,500 British troops in MND-SE through March 2008.

They will be based at the Basrah Air Station -- discussion on

that issue was now closed.

6. (S) Prentice reported that he had informed PM Maliki, who

referred to the drawdown as a timetable. Prentice corrected

him, reminding him that the size of the UK presence was

subject to conditions on the ground. Maliki acknowledged

that the reduction in UK troops was a natural process and did

not express anxiety about it.

Immigration Terms and Conditions

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BAGHDAD 00003383 002.2 OF 002

7. (C) Prentice also previewed PM Brown,s statement

regarding terms and conditions for Iraqis who had worked for

the British to gain admission to the UK or be compensated.

He made clear that this package was only for those who would

be made redundant by the UK drawdown or had been threatened.

The details were still to be worked out. Brown would make

clear that this not a precedent for a long-service

immigration benefit but a limited benefit for Iraqi locally

engaged staff (LES). Prentice closed on this topic by noting

that Maliki was concerned that if Brown mentioned this

special immigration program publicly, it would undermine

confidence in the Iraqi government. Prentice said he told

Maliki it had to be in the public statement to Parliament as

British media had attacked HMG for its failure to provide for

its Iraqi LES.

Basrah Development Forum

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8. (S) Prentice wrapped up comments on Brown,s statement

with a discussion of economic development initiatives, which

he said enjoyed the strong support of PM Brown. As well as

announcing significant funding for an investment fund, Brown

pushed hard for the creation of an investment council to

coordinate the different strands of economic development in

Basrah. He added that a highly prominent British businessman

would be a key member of the council -- PM Brown is

determined that this investment council will succeed. Later,

Prentice asked for a briefing on the success of the Erbil

fund. Noting that a review was due later this month,

Ambassador Crocker promised to share lessons learned with

Prentice and to mention the investment council plans to

Deputy Prime Minister Barhan later that evening.

British Hostages

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9. (S) Prentice indicated the UK had received credible

proof-of-life of the five UK hostages. Ambassador Crocker

expressed pleasure with the news, calling it a very hopeful

sign and noting that proof-of-life usually indicates the

hostage takers, willingness to ultimately negotiate the

release of their hostages.

Comment

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10. (S) The UK decision to stop boycotting Wa,eli is

welcome. Though corrupt, Wa,eli is not an ideologue and can

serve to advance the movement towards Iraqis running their

own affairs in Basrah. PM Brown,s commitment to investment

and economic development in Basrah is also welcome and

likewise bodes well for moving Iraq forward.

CROCKER