DOS Memo re: Talking Points on the Iraqi government taking over Abu Ghraib prison and Iraqi Governance in general post the June 30, 2004 turn-over to the Iraqis. The memo states "The Iraqi criminal justice system, including a number of courts, magistrates, and prisons, is already under the control and oversight of the Iraqi Ministry of Interior and will be under the control of the Iraqi Interim Government on June 30." and "On June 30, the Coalitional Provisional Authority will dissolve. The Iraqi government that replaces it will be invested with authority to govern Iraq until elections are held in January 2005. This government, as described by UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, will be made up of competent people of the highest integrity and reflecting the broad diversity of the Iraqi people."
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RELEASED IN FULL
NEA Press Guidance Thursday, May 06, 2004
IRAQ: ABU GHRAIB; IRAQI GOVERNANCE POST JUNE 30
Key Point
The President has asked the Department of Defense to take a hard look at the prison detainee issue.
The U.S. is also taking steps to ensure that actions like this are never repeated. General Kimmitt ,outlined some of these steps earlier this week to include an internal review to ensure command structures accurately report events up and down the chain of command, and ensuring that prison guards are properly trained.
Six military personnel have already been charged with criminal offenses. The coalition takes all reports of detainee abuse seriously and all allegations of mistreatment are investigated. Refer you to DoD for further information on such investigations.
Ambassador Bremer announced in his recent speech to the Iraqi people
that all detainee cases are reviewed in 72 hours, a special board is
expediting appeals, and complete lists of detainees are published daily.
These actions present challenges for U.S. policy in the region, and we are actively engaging the people and governments of the region to assure them that such action is not representative of the U.S. government. I
Q: Are steps such as surrendering all control of prisoners or sharing supervision with Iraqis being considered? What happens after June 30?
After June 30, Coalition forces will remain in Iraq and will partner with , the Iraqi Government to provide security and build effective, capable Iraqi security forces and a criminal justice system based on the rule of law.
. The Iraqi criminal justice system, including a number of courts, magistrates, and prisons, is already under the control and oversight of the Iraqi Ministry of Interior and will be under the control of the Iraqi Interim Government on June 30.
For further information on detainee policy, I refer you to the Pentagon.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE I
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Post June 30 Iraqi Governance On June 30, the Coalitional Provisional Authority will dissolve. The Iraqi government that replaces it will be invested with authority to govern Iraq until elections are held in January 2005. This government, as described by UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, will be made up of competent people of the highest integrity and reflecting the broad diversity of the Iraqi people.
Restoring authority for their own governance to the Iraqis on June 30 will not diminish our commitment to helping provide a stable and secure environment. The United States and Iraqis share a common understanding that the Multinational Force — including vital participation by Iraqi services — will continue to be required after June 30.
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Drafted:LNEA/PPD: R Shore, 7-5919
Cleared:LNEA: J Larocco - ok NEA/NGA — R Olson -ok
D: P Heffernan - ok
P: J Carpenter -ok S/P: C Dunne — L/NESA: T Borek - ok IO/UNP: BMilton - ok DRL: J Jamison — ok S/WCI: E Richard — ok L/PM: J Dolan - ok
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