This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MOSUL 000007 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  2/3/2016 
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM IZ MARR PINT
SUBJECT: NINEWA VICE GOVERNOR REQUESTS MORE AUTHORITY FOR PROVINCIAL 
GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS 
 
REF: MOSUL 005 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: H. Carl Gettinger, Team Leader, Provincial 
Reconstruction Team Ninewa, State. 
REASON: 1.4 (a), (b), (d) 
 
 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶1.  (C) PRT TL and REO Poloff met with Vice Governor Khessro 
Goran and KDP headquarters in Mosul in February 1.  Goran 
believes the new federal government should "give more authority" 
to provincial governments to help address the needs of the 
people.  Goran spoke at some length about an increase in 
criminal activity in Mosul and surrounding villages, such as 
kidnappings and extortions.  These, he said, are believed to be 
mainly against Christians and Kurds.  He claims the perpetrators 
of these crimes are "former Baathists," who are not content with 
their victories after the December national election.  Goran 
claims such persons desire to "move [non-Sunni Arabs] out of the 
province."  Goran also said Coalition Forces should allow the 
Iraqi Army (IA) "more flexibility" to respond to intelligence 
information and install more checkpoints within Mosul.  Goran 
also called for resolution to Article 58 of the constitution to 
finally decide border disputes for cities along Iraqi Kurdistan 
and other provinces.  End Summary. 
 
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CRIME ON THE RISE IN MOSUL 
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¶2.  (C) Goran welcomed TL to his office where the conversation 
quickly turned to security issues in the province, especially 
regarding an increase in kidnappings and extortions.  TL asked 
if Goran believed criminals were taking advantage of terrorism 
and insurgent activity to conduct their operations.  Goran sees 
a recent spike in crime as being perpetrated mostly by Sunni 
Arabs against Christians and Kurds.  He believes the Sunnis, not 
content with their strong performance during the national 
election, are now trying to "push" minorities and Kurds "out of 
Ninewa" to control the province.  And that the real culprits 
behind the crimes are "former Baathists" who cannot get over 
"not being in power." 
 
¶3.  (C) Goran handed TL several letters as evidence of threats 
against Kurds (reftel).  He spoke of recent extortion attempts 
and kidnappings against citizens and businessmen in Mosul. 
Goran claims a number of KDP employees in Mosul had been 
murdered, "just for being Kurds."  He said that since the 
December national election, 600 Kurd families have fled to 
neighboring Erbil and Dohuk provinces, Christians are leaving 
the country, and Shias have fled such areas as Tal Afar for 
southern Iraq.  Goran said there are many good Sunnis who could 
help but they are "afraid to speak out" against terrorism and 
crime for fear of attack. 
 
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SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS 
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¶4.  (C) Goran said there should be more Iraqi Army (IA) 
checkpoints in Mosul.  He claims five to six checkpoints in 
"hot" locations in the city, such as the industrial and mosque 
areas, would be a good start.  He believes more troop presence 
on the streets will make the citizens more comfortable. 
However, Goran claims Coalition Forces (CF) has turned down 
requests by the provincial government, IA and Iraqi Police (IP), 
since CF leaders "do not like the idea" of having IA checkpoints 
in the city.  Goran said the IA is "limited by [CF]" in other 
areas as well.  He claims CF does not permit the IA "sufficient 
space to do their job."  Goran said CF should allow "more 
flexibility" for IA to respond immediately to intelligence 
information.  He said sometimes CF "take too long to prepare," 
and by the time the soldiers arrive to a location the 
"information has passed." 
 
¶5.  (C) TL asked why Goran believes the IA and not IP should man 
such checkpoints, to which Goran replied, "Not all police are 
good."  He believes IA should operate checkpoints since they are 
"better organized and trained," and have experience with similar 
checkpoints in Erbil and Dohuk.  Goran said for many reasons 
people still do not trust the IP, and as a result are not 
sharing information with them.  He claims some officers are 
"working with terrorists," and that there have been reports from 
citizens of IP cars rolling around town shouting, "Long live 
Saddam [Hussein]" over their loud speakers.  He said, however, 
the Provincial Chief of Police (Wathiq Al Qadir), for all of his 
good work, has not been able to control such officers.  Goran 
believes these trouble-causing IP were hired by the former PCOP, 
Ahmed Mohammed Al Juburi. 
 
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SOLUTIONS TO THE CITY'S WOES 
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¶6.  (C) TL said although there have been many improvements in 
Mosul over the past year, he asked Goran what solutions the 
provincial government has to address lingering problems with 
security, the economy, and a lack of basic services.  Goran 
replied that any key to improving conditions in Ninewa centered 
on how strong the new central government would be, since only 
they could grant the governates more authority to address 
issues.  Goran believes success also depends on how well the 
central government improves the economy, by providing jobs, 
housing, and services such as electricity and water.  Clearly 
frustrated, Goran said so far all that has happened is that the 
provincial government has "talked and not done" for the people 
of Ninewa.  He claims the provincial government has gone several 
times to former and current Iraqi administrations for 
assistance, from Allawi to Jafari, but has "received no 
response." 
 
¶7.  (C) Goran said further complicating governance issues 
nationwide is how Article 58 of the constitution would be 
implemented.  He claims solving this issue would resolve many 
provincial border disputes in the country, especially in Ninewa. 
 Goran claims areas, such as Makhmour, Shekhan, and Faydah, 
which "originally belonged to Kurdistan" but were "moved by 
Saddam Hussein" should be decided with whom they belong.  He 
said these areas have been "neglected" since provincial 
governments have limited resources and do not know "who belongs 
where." 
 
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COMMENT 
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¶8.  (C) We can glean several things from Goran's comments and 
his obviously elevated level of frustration.  Tensions between 
the Sunni Arabs and the Kurds are rising.  Kurdish efforts to 
broaden and fortify their positions in northern and eastern 
Ninewa are encountering difficulties as the Sunnis (especially, 
but not exclusively) push back.  To have Kurds leaving the area 
from fear of attack runs directly counter to Kurdish designs on 
the zone.  Frustration is mounting among Kurdish leaders because 
they are unable to utilize the military power they have 
(subsumed though it may be under the Iraqi national banner) to 
defend their interest and must depend on what they see as a weak 
police force that is inherently unsympathetic to the Kurds.  For 
the moment, the Kurds are pushing back with a sort of charm 
offensive.  Goran mentioned (KRG) President Barzani's meeting 
the Arab sheikhs from Mosul at the beginning of the year in 
Erbil where Barzani called for brotherhood and understanding. 
Goran said more than once that the Kurds cannot go after Arabs 
in retribution for the crimes committed against them.  But 
underlying this there appeared to be the message that there is a 
limit to Kurds' willingness to turn the other cheek.  As Captain 
Renaud pointed out to Major Strasser, "We are trying to 
cooperate with you, major, but we cannot control the feelings of 
our people." 
GETTINGER