VZCZCXRO8895
OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHMOS
DE RUEHGB #1398 1190556
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 290556Z APR 06
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4161
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001398 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2011 
TAGS: PGOV PINS PREL MOPS IZ
SUBJECT: RUBAIE POSSIBLY NEXT MINISTER OF INTERIOR 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR ZALMAY KHALILZAD FOR REASONS 1.4 (A), (B), (D 
) 
 
¶1. (C//REL GBR AUS)  SUMMARY:  National Security Advisor 
Muwaffuk Rubaie has informed Ambassador Khalilzad that 
PM-Designate al-Maliki has offered him the post of Minister 
of Interior.  The Ambassador promised to follow up with MNF-I 
CG Casey, so that the three could meet to discuss further 
Rubaie's potential nomination as Minister of Interior.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (C//REL GBR AUS)  NSA Rubaie informed the Ambassador in a 
private meeting on April 27 that Prime Minister-Designate 
al-Maliki had offered him the post of Minister of Interior. 
Rubaie commented that he himself had been torn between the 
possibility of becoming the next Minister of Finance or 
Minister of Interior.  However, Rubaie then expressed his 
strong desire to take the reins of MOI, and he asked for USG 
support for this position. 
 
¶3. (C//REL GBR AUS) The Ambassador stated that the Minister 
of Interior slot is the most important ministerial position 
for Iraq's new government.  Rubaie opined that the future 
conduct of the Ministry of Interior can either help or hinder 
al-Maliki.  The Ambassador described the Minister of Interior 
position as a difficult, complex, and thankless job.  He 
emphasized that the next Minister of Interior has several 
major tasks: 
 
- Address the issue of militias. 
 
- Clean up corruption and abuse in the MOI. 
 
- Stop deliberate infiltration of MOI by Badr Corps and Jaysh 
al-Mahdi loyalists. 
 
- Eliminate death squads, secret detention centers. 
 
- Restore the people's confidence in the MOI (especially in 
the Sunni community). 
 
- Develop MOI as a self-reliant institution (e.g., pay 
salaries and deliver proper logistical support). 
 
¶4. (C//REL GBR AUS) Ambassador asserted that militias should 
be the number one priority to address.  Lawful police members 
must provide the necessary security to all segments of Iraqi 
society.  A DDR-decommissioning, demobilization and 
reintegration-plan was needed to deal with the militia 
problem. 
 
¶5. (C//REL GBR AUS) Along with countering the militia threat, 
Ambassador stressed the importance of restoring the image of 
MOI.  The Sunni community must perceive that MOI can be 
trusted not feared.  Properly-trained police must be 
introduced into regions that currently have no police.  MOI 
must become transparent, issuing explanations of why it 
conducts certain operations.  Those caught committing acts of 
corruption or unlawful violence must be held publicly 
accountable. 
 
¶6. (C//REL GBR AUS)  The Ambassador concluded by restating 
that he would confer with MNF-I CG GEN Casey regarding this 
issue.  Ambassador, Casey and Rubaie then would meet together 
to follow up on this pending decision. 
KHALILZAD