IIP EXPRESSES OPTIMISM ON PARTICIPATION IN THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002379

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2015
TAGS: PGOV KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: IIP EXPRESSES OPTIMISM ON PARTICIPATION IN THE
CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESS

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires David Satterfield for Reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).


1. (C) Summary. The Charge met with Tariq al Hashimi,
Secretary General of the Iraqi Islamic Party to continue our

SIPDIS
engagement with leading Sunni groups to encourage their
participation in the constitutional process. The Charge
expressed regret for the recent detention of party leader,
Mohsin abd Hamid. Hashimi requested a written apology. He
explained his party's approach to the on-going efforts to
include Sunnis in the drafting of the constitution and
appeared optimistic. He also described the decentralized
structure of the IIP, which is the most prominent Sunni
political party in Iraq. End Summary.


2. (C) The Charge opened by expressing regret for the
detention of Muhsin abd al Hamid, leader of the Iraqi Islamic
Party (IIP) on May 30. He noted the USG had acted
immediately to release abd al Hamid, a former Governing
Council member and well-known member of the anti-Saddam
resistance. Tariq al Hashimi, General Secretary of IIP,
accompanied by Nasir al Ani, said the USG cannot guarantee
that such incidents will not be repeated. He continued to
demand a written letter of apology, stating that the rate and
breadth of detentions are "overwhelming" the Sunni. Hashimi
claimed Sunnis interpret detentions, whether by Coalition or
Iraqi Forces as a message that "the U.S. is looking to get
the Sunni."


3. (C) Hashimi reaffirmed the Iraqi Islamic Party's
commitment to friendship with the U.S. He said that some in
the party believe the Americans see the party as connected to
the insurgency. Hashimi asked the USG to present any such
evidence, so that the IIP would have a chance to refute it.
He denied the existence of any element in the party abetting
the armed Iraqi resistance. Hashimi admitted that the
current situation is extremely tense for Sunnis. He
emphasized the "insurgents are killing us before they kill
you."


4. (C) Hashimi appeared optimistic about the June 2 joint
meeting of various Sunni political groups and the
Transitional National Assembly's Constitutional Drafting
committee. While he postulated that the process of
recruiting professional and representative Sunnis could be
best expedited by allowing IIP to represent the entire
community, Hashimi said the IIP had prepared a list for
submission. On a more realistic note, the General Secretary
recognized that the IIP may not see all its candidates
selected for the expanded Drafting Committee. More important
to his constituents, Hashimi claimed, was how the committee's
input would be incorporated into the process. He warned that
the TNA must not simply treat the newly created body as
consultants, but the appointed members' contributions should
be weighed equally with the legally elected TNA
representatives. The Charge agreed that the process needed
to be inclusive of credible, moderate Sunni representatives
and that they should be chosen as soon as possible
.


5. (C) Yet Hashimi noted the IIP was "willing to sacrifice
itself" to hold to the deadline of August 15 for drafting the
constitution. He gave a brief overview of his party's
organization, noting policy was set in Baghdad, but regional
offices were allowed a fair amount of freedom, which he
described as "decentralization."


6. (C) Comment. Considering the flap over Mohsin abd Hamid's
detainment, Hashimi was very engaging and optimistic about
the effort to include the Sunnis into the next stage of the
political process. It was interesting to hear him describe
the structure of the most prominent Sunni political party as
decentralized, which was evidenced by the January 30
elections. Diyala provincial IIP leadership petitioned the
IIP for exemption to the national IIP's declared boycott of
the January 30 elections, and received permission. Anbar's
IIP also participated, as did Ninewa's and all three seated
IIP members in their respective Provincial Councils.


7. (U) REO HILLA, REO BASRA, RE MSUL and REO KIRKUK,
minimize considered.
Satterfield