C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002831

SIPDIS

REL/GBR AUS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/05/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: TNA FORMS A "SOVEREIGNTY COMMITTEE" TO ADDRESS
MNF-I DISPOSITION


Classified By: Political Counselor Robert S. Ford.
Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)


1. (SBU) The Transitional National Assembly followed a
day of rancorous discussion over the MNF-I presence in
Iraq with a decision on July 4 to form a "Sovereignty
Committee" to address the issue of foreign forces in
Iraq. The new committee will aim to engage both the
Iraqi government and MNF-I on the disposition of
foreign forces in Iraq. Sadrists opposed to the
presence of coalition forces have led this effort, but
the majority of those who voted for the committee were
simply angry that the Jafari government conducted the
one-year review of UNSCR 1546 without consulting the
legislature. The committee will be composed of the
heads of Foreign Affairs and Defense Committees as
well as the heads of the parliament's main blocs.


2. (C/REL GBR, AUS) COMMENT: Leading PUK member Fuad
Ma'asum and others have downplayed the significance of
the committee to us. The issue, they have emphasized,
is more about the relationship between Iraq's budding
legislature and executive than it is about the
relationship between Iraqis and MNF-I forces. Ma'asum
told Poloff, "When you don't want to take action about
something in politics you form a committee." The
issue nevertheless warrants close analysis. We will
hold meetings with new committee members and report
more thoroughly as more information becomes available
and the committee convenes.


3. (U) REO Hillah, REO Basrah, REO Mosul, and REO
Kirkuk, minimize considered.
Satterfield