Hot Probs 08F0245 Final

MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES 1. EMIS: I spoke with SPC(b)6yesterday when he got back from Arbil. He verified what I suspected to be true. (b)(6) ] has tried to say this but doesn't communicate it well. So here's my take on it: First, I think we all recognize that the quality of the data which has been input is suspect. They will be fixed over time as they are accessed. All the following comments are therefore subject to the limitations imposed by suspect data. Second, we need to distinguish between four things: (1) EMIS itself (2) Access to EMIS (3) The website (4) Access to the website For EMIS itself: It is in good shape. The structure is what we want it to be with possibly two exceptions. Any reasonably intelligent computer user (not technician) can go to the database and sualification, location, etc., etc., etc qualification, ies tion, ete ake about. any combination ols boyage, gender, teachly asture enough to create a query for. One of the two exceptions is this: Contractor/Project Tracking and Management. The fields available for contract work are limited. It is technically easy to add more, but you will have to has the list of fields; ask him to provide it again, then get a programmer to do it. (b)(6) write in some new fields that will address the issues you like. a list of the The second exception is the language: It's in Arabic. I gave (b)6) Jand (b)6) fields I think should be translated into English to allow CPA and the military to make use of it. I do not think anything has been done to work toward this. For access to EMIS: There is only one way right now, and that is to go to a terminal physically onnected to the server, which is now here in Baghdad—at the Communications building, link, though this was unclear. The only way right now to provide data from EMIS to (fo example) the Basrah DG is to run a reports), save it to your computer, and e-mail that report as an attachment. This will change when the website is running AND is connected to the server. For the website: It is technically up and running, but it is not dynamic nor is it connected to the priority; once it is working and has a working link to EMIS, then anyone with access to the web will be able to use EMIS to generate reports. They will NOT, however, be able to input data until such time as MOE's Web Manager assigns them the appropriate permissions. This wil require someone with a fair amount of technical skill since the permissions will not be for the website itself but for the EMIS. In addition, someone who is managerially/conceptually sophisticated will have to outline what level of permission each user gets. Some users should 02862 Document #1 08-5-0245 have Read Only. Some should have Read Only for some parts of EMIS (e.g., all data related to schools outside his/her particular Governorate) and Write Capability for others. For access to the website: The dishes at MOE, in Basrah, and in Arbil will help but will not solve the problem for all the other Governorates. They will need web access somehow, too. 2. Pistols for the Minister's Personal Security. For (b)(6) ] I have requested (through Ministry of Interior) six Glock pistols from the Iraqi Police. I visited the Police Training Academy last weekend with part of the PSD and spoke with (b)(6) who controls the weapons for the police. He can spare six Glocks, but needs Ministry of Interior permission to release them. (b)(6) Jand/or(b)(6) should follow up on my letter (attached) and attempt to get approval; give the written approval to(b6) he knows about the issue and will get it to the right PSD. They (the PSD) will try to get (b)(6) to go with them to pick up the weapons because she is in uniform, but it should not be necessary. If the authorization letter is written correctly, it will allow the weapons to be released directly to the PSD. The letter I sent is attached to the e-mail. 3. Buses from Korea: The buses should be enroute from Korea by ship. Expected arrival date to Kuwait is 25 April, but it could shift a few days either way. COL (b(6) can probably arrange for the military to bring the buses to Baghdad but must know the exact dimensions and weight of the buses. I have requested this information from the Koreans but they continually fail to respond. My recommendation if they do not respond is to do a web search and find the dimensions and weight of a standard school bus in the US; use the bigger numbers, and report them to COL (b)(6) 4. Baghdad International School: Remember that BIS is sharing our School for the Gifted here in Baghdad. Their permission runs out, if I remember correctly, at the end of this academic year. Remember that they actually belong to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (b)(6) from BIS has been talking to me about getting the original school rebuilt (it's at 38S MB 3140 9344). I directed her to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and went with her for her initial conversation with them. She should do all her work through them from now on, but if she runs into a roadblock it is likely she will still call my cell phone asking for help. Her number, in case you decide for some reason to call her first, is (b)(6) 5. Spanish Schools. This may perhaps be best for (b)(6) I let this one slip during the bustle of the past few days. Mr. (b)(6) left again for Madrid a few days ago but stopped to see me first. He never received the exemplar of the Rusafa 2 DG's signature. He asked me to have another one done and mail it to him in Spain. I took his address, put it in my wallet, and promptly forgot about it. What needs to be done is this: Go to the Office of the General Counsel. Talk to Colonel (b)(6) new document (it was two page) for the DG to provide his signature. Have someone run it out to the DG (make sure he signs it in the correct place this time), make a certified copy, mail the original to Mr. (b)(6) at this address: (b)(6) 6(6) _phone number is (b)(6) When he is in town, Mr (b)(6) 6. Oil for Food (non Kurdish areas): There are contracts which have outstanding deliverables, but there is nothing to be done to force delivery yet, and the database does not indicate what the deliverable dates are. We find out when deliverables are coming when the vendor contacts us through Ministry of Trade. There is nothing that I am 'waiting' for right now. If the call comes, the process is simple: Find out all the obvious things (Contract #, Lading #, date to cross the border and date to arrive at the delivery site (will almost always be the Baghdad warehouse), what the items are and how many, etc.) Arrange for a specific date, time, location for someone from the Iraqi MOE to meet the vendor's delivery people. That person will need to sign a specific document that Ministry of Trade can provide. Get that document, have someone (b)(6) sign it as the СРА rep (this may still be necessary after the transfer because UN funds pay for this and CPA is still sovereign through June) and give it to Ministry of Trade. Word of warning: About a week after you turn in the document, and every week thereafter for the rest of eternity, the vendor will call you asking for help getting paid. Be polite but firm: The issue is Ministry of Trade's. Actually, the issue is UNDP; they are the ones who release the funds upon receipt of the appropriate documentation but they are horrendously slow about it. Other than making sure MoT does not sit on the documents, there is nothing you can do to speed up the process. 7. Mine Removal/Readiness Education: works out of the Mine Action Authority Group in the Convention Center. She has (sort of) periodic meetings about Mine Awareness Education and initiatives going on. She also has knowledge of what groups around the country are doing. Apparently, some of these groups have begun presenting information in schools. I knew of this program last fall, but there was little to it then, and we fell out of touch. I was recently invited back to a meeting and it's follow-up. The follow-up was supposed to happen the second day of the Symposium but did not occur. (b)(6) _ MRE products are attached to the e-mail. One of the classes has just begun. I don't know if you want to deal with this as "situational awareness" only or if you want to get MOE more closely involved. 8. Donated Books: There is a box of two titles of books donated by the (b)(6) 9. My Evaluation Report: Leslye, I talked with COL (b)(6) I will (as soon as I can from the other side) etail thermediaor ayevaluad in. Yoil bil the "y"or Radiate Raer. a ation send the form, I'll send some general guidelines. Colonel (b)(6) in Ambassador Jones' office vould be a good resource on how to word the evaluation so that it carries the impact you want i to. Another excellent resource would be BG Davidson. Thanks for everything. Best of luck. Be safe. E-mail or call if you need. (b)(6) 36 )(6) B6