Iraqi Request for Military Assistance [State Department]
Tracking # |
F-2014-14559 |
Submitted | Aug. 8, 2014 |
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Communications
From: Rich Jones
To Whom It May Concern:
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:
Any and all documents, including written letters, emails, faxes, and phone transcripts, sent by representatives of the Republic of Iraq requesting military and humanitarian aid assistance from the United States against the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, also known as ISIL. In addition, I request any related documents and/or communications related to the Iraqi request.
The existence of this letter was revealed by President Obama in an August 7, 2014 televised speech.
In the event that the contents of the requested documents are classified under Executive Order 13526, I also make the following additional requests:
Pursuant to section 1.2 of Executive Order 13526, I am requesting the level of classification of this information and its existence/nonexistence.
Pursuant to section 1.3 of Executive Order 13526, I am requesting the specific authority which classified this information.
Pursuant to section 1.4 of Executive Order 13526, I am requesting the specific classification categories of this information, as well as an identification or description of the damage to national security which the disclosure of this information would produce.
Pursuant to section 1.5 of Executive Order 13526, I am requesting the specific duration of time for which this classification will stand.
Pursuant to section 1.6 of Executive Order 13526, I am requesting all classification markings about this information, including (1) one of the three classification levels defined in section 1.2 of Executive Order 13526, (2) the identity, by name and position, or by personal identifier, of the original classification authority, (3) the agency and office of origin, if not otherwise evident, (4) declassification instructions, and (5) a concise reason for classification that, at a minimum, cites the applicable classification categories in section 1.4 of Executive Order 13526.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Rich Jones
From: Department of State
A letter stating the request for reduced or waived fees has been accepted.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 8, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #F-2014-14559.
Thank you for your help.
From: FOIA Request
Your query has been forwarded to the FOIA Requester Status mailbox for reply.
From: FOIA Status
Mr. Jones,
Your estimated completion date is set for December 2015.
Best,
Jennine A. Daniels
U.S. Department of State
From: Bullard, Avery D
Dear Mr. Jones,
I'm the case manager tasked with handling your FOIA request for records regarding the Republic of Iraq requesting military and humanitarian aid assistance from the U.S. against the Islamic State (ISIS). Your request, as currently worded, is too broad to be processed. It would encompass hundreds of pages, and would take years to process.
In an effort to better manage our workload, we would like additional information from you as to whether you would like to narrow your request. There are a couple of ways this can be done. In your case, if you provided a list of the representatives of the Republic of Iraq and a specific time period that would be extremely helpful. The letter revealed by the President in an August 7, 2014 speech can be provided with no problem.
If I have not received a reply within 15 days of this email, your request will be administratively closed. If, for some reason, you open this email after the 15 days has elapsed, you may contact our office to have your case reinstated in its original place in the queue.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Avery Bullard
FOIA Analyst
FCI Federal
A/GIS/IPS/CR/EAN | SA-2
Statutory Compliance and Research Division
US Department of State
Washington, DC 20522-6001
202-663-2092
BullardAD@state.gov<mailto:BullardAD@state.gov>
[STATE SEAL]
SBU
This email is UNCLASSIFIED.
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From: Rich Jones
Dear Mrs. Bullard,
Thank you for your reply.
My primary concern is the letter revealed by the President in the August 7, 2014 speech. If it is similarly available, I am also interested in any corresponding communications confirming or forwarding that specific letter, as well as any related processing notes.
I would also like to formally object to your proposed 15 day response window, which is illegal under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. ยง 552 As Amended By Public Law No. 110-175, 121 Stat. 2524). According to the text of the law, a 20 day window is to be allowed for appeal processing, but all processable requests prior to appeal must be processed to the fullest extent possible, regardless of the speed of follow-up communications.
I look forward to receiving my requested documents,
Rich Jones
MuckRock News
From: Bullard, Avery D
Thank you for the additional information Rick.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 8, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #F-2014-14559.
Thank you for your help.
From: Bullard, Avery D
Dear Mr. Jones,
No further clarification is needed to process your request. The document is being scanned into our system. That process can take up to three to six months, sometimes sooner. As of right now the estimated completion date is set at December of this year, but you can expect to receive the information much sooner. I'll keep you updated.
Avery
From: Department of State
A copy of documents responsive to the request.
From: Department of State
A cover letter granting the request and outlining any exempted materials, if any.
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