Extract from Washington telno 655 of 14 may 2003

DE-BAATHIFICATION a draft guidance cable to the including ORHA, about de-Ba'athification. The coalition Authority, objectives would include the disestablishment of the Ba'ath party, elimination of its structures, removal of its leadership from positions of authority and responsibility. 10. The Authority would be instructed to gather as much information as possible on the Ba'ath leadership cadres. Public to the capture of semards a ata party members and indavidu le come te the cape crimes of the former regime. The surrender or detention of senior Ba'ath party members should be publicized. 11. Full members (sub-divided into the three levels of group, section, and branch membership), would be banned from holding employment in the public sector, including teaching positions. They would also be interviewed and evaluated for criminal and risk to the security of the coalition. Those presenting threat might be interned to other means of control 12. Senior individuals in the top three layers of management in national government ministry (down to the equivalent Assistant Secretary in the US system) would also be interviewed Those proven to and evaluated. be full members of the (even the lesser ranks of "member" and active member") would be should be removed. Those suspected of criminal conduct investigated and detained if deemed a threat to security and/or a flight risk. Senior ministry personnel who were not (not) be Ba'ath members should also be removed, though the senior coalition representative (presumably Bremer) would have discretion to make exceptions on a case-by-case basis subject to and checks being completed on the possibility of criminal conduct. lead to similar investigative proceedings being taken against them and their possible removal. Other junior employees not implicated and who cooperated with the coalition could retain their positions. BRENTON YYYY 8 MAIN • IRAQ LIMITED SINGLE COPIES Page 3 DECLASSIFIED