Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 5050 / 251,287

### Articles

Brazil Sri Lanka United Kingdom Sweden Editorial United States Latin America Egypt Yemen Jordan

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 86 88 89 90 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1986/05
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08
2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/07 2001/10
2002/02 2002/03 2002/11
2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Amsterdam American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamburg
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lagos
Mission USNATO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey
Embassy New Delhi Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Consulate Vladivostok
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ASEC AJ AM AF AR AMGT AE AU AGMT AG AS AORC AFIN APER ABUD ATRN AL AEMR ACOA AO AX AMED ADCO AODE AFFAIRS AC ASIG ABLD AA AFU ASUP AROC ATFN AVERY APCS AER ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AEC APECO
BTIO BEXP BL BR BM BH BA BE BK BRUSSELS BX BU BO BIDEN BY BG BF BB BC BBSR BMGT BTIU BILAT
CIA CACM CDB CU CH CI CS CVIS CA CO CBW CASC CD CV CMGT CLINTON CE CJAN CG CF CN CAN COUNTER CDG CIS CM CONDOLEEZZA COE CR CY CTM COUNTRY CLEARANCE CPAS CWC CT CKGR CB CACS COM CJUS CARSON CL COUNTERTERRORISM
DEAX DR DA DHS DOE DEA DK DJ DISENGAGEMENT DS DTRA DOD
EI EFIN ECON EAID ETRD EINV ENRG EAIR ELAB EN EAGR ETTC EPET EU EIND EWWT EUN EG ELTN EREL ER EMIN ECIN ECPS EFIS EINT EZ ET EC ECONEFIN ENVR ES ECA ELN EXTERNAL EINVETC ENIV EINN ENGR EUR ESA ENERG EK ENGY ETRO ELECTIONS ECUN EINVEFIN ECIP EINDETRD EUC
FR FINR FAO FTAA FREEDOM FI FARC FBI FJ FMLN
GG GM GH GA GV GE GT GR GTIP GOI GCC GAZA GZ GTMO
HA HU HR HILLARY HUMAN HO HYMPSK HURI HK HSTC
IR IS IZ IT ICTY IV IN IQ ICAO INTERPOL IPR INRB IAEA IRAJ INRA INRO IO IC ID IIP ITPHUM IWC ISRAELI IRAQI ICRC IMO IF ILC IEFIN INTELSAT IL IA IBRD IMF INR IRC ITALY ITALIAN
JAMES JO JA JOSEPH JP JOHNNIE JUS
KPAL KNNP KGCC KSUM KPIN KDRG KTFN KU KPAO KCRM KDEM KWBG KG KBIO KHIV KSCA KAWK KISL KN KS KHLS KCOR KZ KE KSPR KJUS KFRD KTIP KIPR KPKO KNUC KMDR KGHG KPLS KOLY KUNR KIRF KIRC KACT KGIC KRAD KCOM KMCA KV KHDP KVPR KDEV KWMN KMPI KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KCFC KTIA KPRP KAWC KCIP KCFE KOCI KTDB KMRS KLIG KBCT KICC KGIT KSTC KPAK KNEI KSEP KPOA KFLU KNUP KNNPMNUC KOMC KO KTER KHUM KRFD KBTR KDDG KWWMN KFLO KSAF KBTS KPRV KNPP KNAR KWMM KERG KFIN KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KTBT KCRS KRVC KSTH KREL KNSD KPAI KHSA KR KPWR KWAC KMIG KSEC KIFR KDEMAF
LG LH LE LY LU LI LO LOG LT
MOPS MARR MASS MX MCAP MIL MNUC MTCRE MO ML MR MZ MPOS MOPPS MTCR MAPP MU MY MA MG MASC MCC MEPP MK MTRE MP MDC MAR MEPI MRCRE MI MT MQADHAFI MD MAPS MUCN MASSMNUC MERCOSUR
NIPP NATO NU NI NPT NG NL NO NE NS NAR NZ NPG NK NSG NA NT NASA NGO NP NSF NATIONAL
OSAC OAS OPRC OVIP OEXC OIIP ODIP OREP OFDP OPDC OTRA OSCE OPIC OECD OPCW OSCI OIE OIC OTR OVP OFFICIALS
PREL PGOV PINR PTER PINS PHUM PROP PK PARM PINL PL POL PREF PE PBIO PSOE PBTS PHSA PKFK PO PGOF PA PARMS PORG PM PMIL PTERE PF PALESTINIAN PY PGGV PNR POV PAK PAO PFOR PHALANAGE PARTY PRGOV PNAT PROV PEL PINF PGOVE POLINT PRL PRAM PMAR PGOVLO PHUMBA POLITICS PEPR PSI PINT PU POLITICAL PARTIES PECON POGOV
QA
RS RU RW RP RO RIGHTS RICE ROBERT RF RFE REGION
SOCI SP SY SA SENV SCUL SR SNAR STEINBERG SF SW SU SL SG SMIG SO SN SHUM SZ SYR ST SANC SC SAN SIPRS SK SH SI
TS TU TX TBIO TW TSPA TH TIP TI TRGY TC TR TT TERRORISM TO TFIN TD TSPL TZ TPHY TK TNGD TINT TRSY
UK UNSC UP UG UV US UN UNGA USEU USUN UY UZ UNO UNMIK UNESCO UE UAE UNEP USTR UNHCR UNDP UNHRC USAID UNCHS UNAUS UNCHC
VE VZ VN VT VM VTPREL
WTRO WA WI WZ WMO WTRQ WHO WWARD WB WBG WEU WTO
XM XR XS XL XK XH XA XF XT XY XG XC XZ XW XD XE
YM YI YE
ZB ZI ZF ZP ZK ZANU ZOELLICK ZR ZU ZA ZO ZJ

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 08BAGHDAD357, IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS ON PERSONAL

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08BAGHDAD357.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
08BAGHDAD357 | 2008-02-07 07:07 | 2010-11-30 21:09 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Baghdad
Appears in these articles: www.spiegel.de

`

    VZCZCXYZ0009
    PP RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHGB #0357/01 0380739
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    P 070739Z FEB 08
    FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
    TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5611

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000357

    SIPDIS

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2018
    TAGS: AMGT ASEC PREL PINS IZ
    SUBJECT: IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS ON PERSONAL
    PROTECTIVE SERVICES: STATUS REPORT UPDATE #3

    REF: A. A. 07 BAGHDAD 03668
    ¶B. B. 07 BAGHDAD 03764
    ¶C. C. 07 BAGHDAD 03767
    ¶D. D. 07 BAGHDAD 04001
    ¶E. E. 08 BAGHDAD 00248

    Classified By: Patricia Butenis, Charge, for reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d)

    -------
    Summary
    -------

    ¶1. (C) This cable is the third update of Embassy Baghdad,s
    implementation of the relevant eighteen recommendations of
    the Secretary,s Panel on Protective Services. The following
    recommendations have been implemented by Post (reftel D):

    ¶A. (C) Kennedy Recommendation 12 - Joint Review Board
    ¶B. (C) Kennedy Recommendation 17- Direct RSO Engagement with
    GOI Police and Security Officials;
    ¶C. (C) Kennedy Recommendation 18 - RSO Response Team
    Facilitation to Embassy Claims Program.

    ¶2. (C) Embassy Baghdad has made significant progress on
    recommendations 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, and 16 as outlined
    in this cable. Recommendations 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 and 15 require
    Department action.

    ¶3. (C) This cable also provides an update on the Department
    of State-Department of Defense Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
    on private security companies, proposed Iraqi legislation
    concerning Coalition Provisional Authority Order 17, and
    Embassy and Blackwater condolence payments in connection with
    the September 16 incident. End Summary.

    --------------------------------------------- ---------
    Recommendation 2 - DOD and DOS Discussions with GOI on New
    Regulatory Framework for USG Private Security Contractors
    --------------------------------------------- ---------

    ¶4. (C) STATUS: ONGOING. The legal status of DOD contractors,
    including private security contractors, will be part of the
    negotiations between the USG and the GOI on a Status of
    Forces (SOFA) agreement expected to begin this month. The
    Department of State will seek to obtain similar agreement on
    immunities and related issues for DOS contractors separately.

    ---------------------------------------------
    Kennedy Recommendation 4 ) Recommendation for Continued
    Contract Services of Blackwater
    ---------------------------------------------

    ¶5. (C) STATUS: ONGOING. FBI investigation of the September
    16 incident has not concluded. However, the Blackwater
    contract expires in May 2008 and a decision on renewal may
    have to be made before the FBI investigation concludes.

    --------------------------------------------- ---------
    Kennedy Recommendation 5 - RSO to be provided with DS Agents
    Staffing to Accompany PPS Movements
    --------------------------------------------- ---------

    ¶6. (C) STATUS: NEAR COMPLETION. Assistant Regional Security
    Officers (ARSOs) and TDY DS Special Agents (SAs) are assigned
    to command each Chief of Mission (COM) Personal Security
    Detail (PSD) operating in the Baghdad area under the WPPS
    contract. Fifty-two Special Agent positions and positions
    related to the oversight of all DOS Private Security
    Contractors (PSCs) in Iraq have been requested (reftel E) to
    include RSO coverage of non-RSO Chief of Mission (COM) PSD
    movements and coverage outside Baghdad. In late March, the
    first group of approximately 12 new Special Agents will
    arrive after completing training. This first group will be
    assigned to Regional Embassy Offices (REOs) and the Regional
    and Provincial Reconstruction Teams where DS has PSD
    responsibilities. In the short term, Post continues to
    maintain a staffing increase for this requirement through the
    use of DS TDY personnel.

    --------------------------------------------- ---------
    Kennedy Recommendation 8 - Revisions to the Embassy Rules For
    the Use of Force
    --------------------------------------------- ---------

    ¶7. (C) STATUS: COMPLETED. The Baghdad Mission Firearms
    Policy has been revised and issued. The Rules for the Use of
    Force have been modified to make the language consistent with
    the common principles outlined in the DOS-DOD MOA.

    ¶8. (C) To reduce the number of lethal force incidents, Post
    has procured 24 Dazzlers. A Dazzler is a non-lethal
    light-emitting weapon designed for use against perceived
    vehicle threats as part of the graduated force response. On

    February 20, instructors will initiate training to all PSD
    teams on its proper application.

    --------------------------------------------- ---------
    Kennedy Recommendation 9 - Video Recording Equipment in
    Vehicles and Recording of Radio Communications
    --------------------------------------------- ---------

    ¶9. (C) STATUS: ONGOING/NEAR IMPLEMENTATION: DS Security
    Engineering Officers (SEOs) are installing the approved
    Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) system into PSD vehicles in
    Baghdad. Each COM motorcade traveling into the Red Zone now
    has at least one vehicle with a camera system installed. A
    second installation team is arriving this week to continue
    the installation. The entire project is scheduled to
    continue through the spring with the short term goal of
    having at least two vehicles in every motorcade operating
    with cameras. Nearly 400 COM vehicles throughout Iraq will
    have cameras installed upon the completion of the project.
    Initial experience with the cameras has been very positive.

    ¶10. (C) IRM procured, built and tested a system that can
    simultaneously record 32 radio channels. The system is in
    the delivery stage.

    --------------------------------------------- ---------
    Kennedy Recommendation 10 - Vehicle Identification Numbering
    System
    --------------------------------------------- ---------

    ¶11. (C) STATUS: NO CHANGE. RSO has engaged MNF-I on this
    issue and reviewed the operational security (OPSEC) concerns
    with respect to readable vehicle number signage. It is the
    collective assessment of the Embassy and MNF-I that a vehicle
    numbering system is only viable if all USG PSDs adopt the
    same numbering scheme and non-USG PSDs also agree to
    voluntarily adopt the same system. MNF-I is not inclined to
    support a numbering system solely for US Embassy Baghdad PSCs
    as it may offer enemy forces the ability to identify them as
    such and bring greater risk to COM movements. Post
    recommends that this recommendation be reconsidered in light
    of the extensive communications and de-confliction measures
    that have been put into effect by RSO, MNF-I, and MNC-I which
    are proving to be effective.

    --------------------------------------------- ---------
    Kennedy Recommendation 11 - Investigations and RSO Response
    Unit
    --------------------------------------------- ---------

    ¶12. (C) STATUS: ONGOING/NEAR COMPLETION. RSO has established
    a Force Investigation Unit (FIU) consisting of a dedicated
    FIU supervisor and ARSO. The FIU currently draws upon other
    RSO personnel as needed. The PSD Serious Incident
    Investigation Handbook is in the DS approval process. RSO
    has requested Special Agent and contract investigator
    resources to fully staff this unit to 14 persons. The FIU
    will be responsible for the investigation of all serious
    incidents involving DOS-affiliated PSCs to include Tier I and
    Tier II private security contractors. Position descriptions
    have been written and funding is being pursued. The first
    meeting of the Embassy and MNFI Joint Incident Review Board
    will be conducted on February 12.

    --------------------------------------------- ---------
    Kennedy Recommendation 13 - RSO AND MNF-I Procedures for
    Coordination, Liaison, and Operational De-confliction
    --------------------------------------------- ---------

    ¶13. (C) STATUS: AWAITING RSO LNO TO THE Multinational Corps
    ) Iraq (MNC-I)Joint Operations Center (JOC). RSO, MNF-I and
    MNC-I have developed commonly agreed operational procedures,
    liaison coordination and exchange of information, and a
    process for swift resolution of issues of mutual interest.
    RSO participates in the MNF-I Strategic Operations daily
    briefing and presents data on planned COM protective missions
    for the next 24 hours. An MNC-I liaison officer (LNO) was
    added to the RSO TOC and has been fully integrated into the
    RSO TOC's operations. The LNO provides enhanced visibility to
    MNC-I on PSD movements outside the IZ and serves as the focal
    point for coordination and situational awareness between RSO
    and battle space owners in Baghdad. An RSO LNO has been
    identified and will be assigned to the MNC-I Joint Operations
    Center to enhance coordination between the Embassy and MNC-I.

    ------------------------------------------
    Kennedy Recommendation 14 ) PRC 152 Radios
    ------------------------------------------

    ¶14. (C) The procurement of additional communication
    capabilities is underway, with the arrival of the Harris PRC
    152 handheld radio system expected by the end of February.
    These radios give PSDs the ability to contact military units

    directly in the field to de-conflict issues or request
    medical evacuation and quick reaction forces.

    --------------------------------------------- ---------
    Kennedy Recommendation 16 - GOI-US Joint Commission Working
    Group on PSC Licensing and Transparency
    --------------------------------------------- ---------

    ¶15. (C) STATUS: ONGOING. The Embassy, represented by the
    RSO, and the Multinational Forces ) Iraq (MNF-I),
    represented by the Chief of the Contractor Policy and
    Oversight Division (CPOD), continue to hold regular joint
    working group meetings with the Chief, Private Security
    Regulatory Division, Ministry of Interior, and his staff to
    address topics of mutual concern. Four meetings have been
    held to date.

    --------------------------------------------- --------
    Completion of Negotiations on the DOS-DOD MOA on PSCs
    --------------------------------------------- --------

    ¶16. (C) The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on private security
    companies, negotiated by the Embassy and MNF-I, was signed by
    the Deputies for State and Defense on December 5, 2007.

    ------------------------------------
    Embassy Condolence Payments Continue
    ------------------------------------

    ¶17. (C) On November 26, 2007, the Deputy Chief of Mission,
    Acting RSO, and Acting Embassy Legal Adviser made condolence
    payments to one Iraqi who had been injured and to the widow
    and brother of an Iraqi who had been killed in the September
    16 incident. All claimants accepted the payments. In
    addition, the Iraqi who suffered an injury informed the DCM
    that he had been punished for his absence at work when he was
    recovering from his injury. The DCM apologized and offered
    to write a letter to his employer explaining the cause of his
    absence, which was provided to the claimant at a later date.

    ¶18. (C) On December 27, 2007, the Deputy Chief of Mission,
    RSO, and Acting Embassy Legal Adviser made condolence
    payments to three Iraqis who had been injured and the widow
    of an Iraqi who had been killed in the incident. All
    claimants accepted the payments. The Embassy is continuing
    to work to obtain contact information for all of the
    potential claimants from the September 16 incident and plans
    to make additional payments in the future as it locates those
    claimants. To date, the Embassy has paid 132,500 dollars to
    claimants: 40,000 dollars to the families of 4 killed, 65,000
    dollars to 13 injured, and 27,500 dollars to 11 claimants for
    vehicle damage.

    ------------------------------
    Blackwater Condolence Payments
    ------------------------------

    ¶19. (C) On January 18, 2007, the DCM and RSO met with
    Blackwater representatives and were briefed on Blackwater,s
    intentions to make condolence payments to the victims of the
    September 16 Nisur Square incident and to obtain an operating
    license from the Ministry of Interior. In a change from
    Blackwater's previous position, the representatives said that
    Blackwater has hired a number of Iraqi attorneys, including
    one who has had significant experience dealing with MNFI on
    Iraqi claims cases, to work with local courts on payment
    issues and plans to follow procedures for payments as
    determined by local laws and regulations. Blackwater has set
    aside "a generous pot" of money for these payments and the
    Iraqi attorneys will be contacting survivors and relatives of
    the deceased. Representatives said that they intended to make
    payments to all claimants, including those with lawsuits
    pending in the United States, largely because they did not
    expect those lawsuits to be successful. They also said that
    they would take into account the specific requests and
    circumstances of the claimants where possible.

    ¶20. (C) Blackwater is also moving ahead with efforts to
    obtain an operating license from the Ministry of Interior
    (MOI), and said that through their lawyers' communications
    with the MOI they were told that Prime Minister Maliki would
    approve the licensing of Blackwater if condolence payments
    are made. They have received this same assurance from
    members of the Ministry of Interior responsible for
    licensing.

    ¶21. (C) The DCM told Blackwater that the Embassy believed it
    was morally correct for Blackwater to make condolence
    payments. She also indicated that while the Embassy welcomes
    this action by Blackwater, it will not have any effect on the
    DOS/Embassy decision on whether to retain Blackwater, and
    that in regards to the MOI licensing issue, under no
    circumstances could the Embassy approve of or in any way be

    part of a bribery effort. The Blackwater representatives
    indicated that they understood and that the process would be
    straightforward and transparent.

    ¶22. (C) In follow-up communications with Blackwater, RSO
    provided a list of all known victims and their available
    contact information. As of January 31, Blackwater's Iraqi
    attorneys had been able to contact family members of 6 of the
    deceased victims, and 12 of the victims that had suffered
    injuries and/or property damage. They continue to reach out
    to the additional victims (about 20 more) and have enlisted
    the help of the Iraqi Police to locate the victims for which
    there is no contact information (Note: Blackwater has agreed
    to provide the Embassy with contact information for any
    victims they are able to locate but for which the Embassy did
    not have contact information or were not able to locate. The
    Embassy will make its own payments to any additional victims
    that it is able to locate in this manner. End Note.)
    Blackwater said that on February 1, 2008, their Iraqi
    attorneys would begin to meet with each of the victims to
    express their sympathy and to interview them to subsequently
    craft an individual condolence payment amount for each
    victim. On average, Blackwater said it expects they will pay
    at least twice as much as what the Embassy paid and
    substantially more for victims or families that were more
    significantly impacted by the incident. As an example, he
    cited a family that lost their bread winner, a man who was
    already supporting the families of four of his brothers whom
    had been killed as a result of sectarian violence.

    -----------------
    CPA 17 Draft Law
    ----------------
    ¶23. (C) There has been no change in the status of the draft
    law to repeal CPA Order 17. The Council of Ministers
    approved a draft law and voted to send it to the Council of
    Representatives, but to date the draft has not yet been
    transmitted to the CoR. Once submitted, the law could pass
    in as little as one to two weeks given existing procedures.
    There has not, however, been much discussion on this draft
    law in recent weeks. We have engaged the GOI in an effort to
    prevent the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs from
    submitting the proposed legislation to the CoR. In meetings
    with and in letters to GOI officials, we have highlighted the
    steps that the Embassy has taken to implement the Kennedy
    Report recommendations, the Memorandum of Agreement between
    the Department of State and Department of Defense on USG PSDs
    that was recently signed, and the ongoing FBI investigation
    into the September 16 incident.
    BUTENIS

`