THE PRESIDENT'S 28 JUNE SPEECH PROVOKES BOTH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BAGHDAD 002911

SIPDIS

NOFORN
CENTCOM FOR POLAD - AMB HOLZMAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/11/2025
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER IZ
SUBJECT: THE PRESIDENT'S 28 JUNE SPEECH PROVOKES BOTH
APPLAUSE AND COMPLAINTS FROM IRAQI POLITICIANS

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


1. (C) SUMMARY. The President's 28 June speech
provoked both positive and negative reactions from the
Iraqi political class in Baghdad. We heard
appreciation for the President's continuing commitment
to fighting terrorism, keeping troops in Iraq, and
supporting Iraq's political process. On the other
hand, the President's stated commitment to keeping
troops in Iraq gave some politicos an opportunity to
tell us they believe the Coalition Forces' continued
presence is a problem. One contact complained the
President's message that the US will fight terrorists
in Iraq rather than at home left some Iraqis with the
sense that Americans did not value Iraqi lives. The
President's support for reconstruction efforts met
with universal skepticism. Indeed, many of our
contacts say reconstruction promises jeopardize
American credibility because Iraqis continue to "hear
talk but see no action". The President's speech
served as a valuable reminder of the USG's need to
accurately communicate and convey our goals and
actions. END SUMMARY.


2. (C/NF) PolOff discussed President Bush's speech 29
and 30 June with various Transitional National
Assembly (TNA) members. The members, to whom PolOff
distributed a copy of the speech in Arabic, had
substantive comments on the range of issues presented
in the speech. The individuals interviewed were TNA
constitutional committee member and Sistani
representative in Karbala Ahmed al Safi, SCIRI member
and constitution committee member Jalaldin al-Saghir,
independent Shia Islamist 'Abd al Hadi al-Hakim, and
'Adil Nasir Haji, a Yezidi Kurd from the KDP. They
focused on the messages the President delivered on
fighting terrorism, no troop withdrawal,
reconstruction, and the political process. Of note,
our contacts also complained the Arabic translation we
distributed of the speech provided by Washington was
abysmal; the wording did not make sense, was out of
order and there were letters missing.

--------------
Mixed Reviews on Fighting Terrorism
--------------


3. (C/NF) SCIRI member Jalalaldin al-Saghir applauded
the speech's clear message that it would fight
terrorists and "would not stop until it finishes
them." Unfortunately, Saghir said the US's commitment
to and reasons for fighting terrorism did not get
reported to Iraqis in the media in a positive way.
PUK's 'Adil Nasr was pleased THE PRESIDENT highlighted
the odious actions terrorists undertake, such as
killing women and children--a reminder for Muslims to
view terrorists in their true extremist light.
Likewise, the message that the US would "take the war
to the terrorists' house" would cause people to
realize destruction will occur in the country in which
those terrorists are operating and/or supported.


4. (C/NF) By contrast, Sistani representative Ahmed
al Safi was offended by the statement that the US
would fight terrorism outside the US so we would not
have to fight it at home, which he said makes Iraqis
feel the US only values American life. Safi also said
the President admitted that working in Iraq is
difficult and dangerous, which he believes
acknowledges the power of the terrorists and will only
serve to embolden them. Safi pointed out that the
reason the terrorists failed to provoke a civil war is
because the Shia marja'iya and Sunni religious leaders
continue to call for calm and self-restraint.


5. (C/NF) 'Abd al Hadi al-Hakim said the President's
message about fighting terrorists rings false since
the US is "negotiating with terrorists" and will make
Iraqis turn against the political process. (Note:
Hakim is referring to recent press articles alleging
US negotiations with insurgents. End Note.)

--------------
Troop Withdrawal Remains a Bone of Contention
--------------


6. (C/NF) Nasir was relieved the President made no
mention of a timetable or force withdrawal, which
implied the USG's continuing commitment to Iraq. By
contrast, Sunni leaders denounced this aspect of the
speech. Iraqi Islamic Party Secretary general Tarek
al-Hashimi and Constitutional Monarchist advisor
Faisal Kharagoli told us they were disappointed that
once again, the US failed to nod in the slightest to a
timetable and claimed the speech gave the impression
US troops would be in Iraq for a long time to come.
Undersecretary for Bilateral Affairs and SCIRI member
Hamid al-Bayati separately told PolOff Bush did the
right thing by not saying he was going to send more US
troops to Iraq, because such an action would
contravene the stated USG commitment to stand up ISF.

--------------
Reconstruction? What Reconstruction?
--------------


7. (C/NF) Al-Safi said the President's pledge to
rebuild the country is "a joke for the Iraqis" since
they have since no improvements in over two years.
Safi commented that, rather than make empty pledges,
the US emphasis should be to correct the President and
tell him the truth of what is happening on the ground
so that when he speaks he does not do such damage to
his reputation. Nasir and al-Hakim had similar
reactions. Nasir noted that there is no ground truth
to the reconstruction talk and the slow improvements
are trying the Iraqi people's patience as well as the
USG's honesty. Iraqis are fed up with US promises to
rebuild Iraq because still they have seen no action to
date, said Hakim separately. Hakim suggested the
President should be honest with his promises or should
refrain from making them; the "Iraqi people are fed up
with talking." (Comment: As the Embassy has
reported, there is progress on problems like
electricity and water. However, many - if not most -
Iraqis expected the U.S. to fix all of Iraq's enormous
infrastructure problems and to fix them fast. End
Comment.)

--------------
Some Welcome Support for Political Process
--------------


8. (C/NF) Some of our contacts appreciated the
President's declaration of support for the political
process. However, Nasir wished the President had
placed more emphasis on the importance of the
constitution and had expressed his support for
minority rights and opposition to a religious
government--values many Iraqis share. Sistani's aide
Al-Safi, for his part, wanted to clarify to the
President that the reason some "Sunnis opposed the
January elections" was because they opposed elections
taking place under occupation. Shia cleric As-Saghir
did not trust U.S. intentions with the political
process. He said the Shia are enraged with US efforts
to include Sunnis; such efforts are getting translated
as bringing Ba'thists into positions of influence.

-------------- --------------
Others Complain Speech Defends Presence of "Occupation
Forces"
-------------- --------------


9. (C/NF) The TNA members who had only heard excerpts
from the speech from the Arab media complained that
Bush used his remarks to prolong and defend the
presence of US troops in Iraq; they used the
opportunity to complain about continued injustices to
Iraqi's dignity foreign troops present.


10. (C/NF) Secular Shia TNA member Ali al-Yousha said
that while he appreciated the mission the US
originally came here for; he believes the Coalition
Forces inflict insults to Iraqis' dignity too great to
bear. Yousha recounted that US troops were welcomed
when they first came when they liberated the country.
Indeed, he himself guided them through parts of the
South and negotiated their safe passage with local
leaders. At the time, the military mingled with the
people and were accepted. However, Yousha complained
that the military soon afterward began changing its
posture and became more aggressive and insulting.

-------------- --------------
Speech Discussion is Catalyst to Litany of Complaints
about US Military and PSD Behavior
-------------- --------------


11. (C/NF) Yousha said the issue of the US presence
should not be "black and white". By this he meant
that many Iraqis would like Coalition troops to stay
as long as they change their posture and tactics.
However, if their staying continues to mean daily
insults to their dignity then they must leave. (Note:
Yousha described US "insults" as the manner in which
the military and private security details harass
average Iraqis with their manner of driving,
checkpoints, and aggressive weapons posture. Two
other Assembly members joined the conversation, noting
that in the past two days; they both had their cars
smashed by USG vehicles (it is unclear whether
privately-contracted PSD or Coalition military) for
failing to move aside quickly enough. The TNA members
complained that the narrow street had rendered it
impossible for them to move out of the convoy's way.
End Note.)


12. (C/NF) Al Iraqiya list Christian TNA member
Wijdan Salim said she also had heard excerpts of the
President' speech, and proceeded to tell PolOff that
Iraqis, even educated ones such as herself, find it
too difficult to bear seeing foreign troops drive
through their streets. Salim acknowledged Iraq's need
for Coalition presence while Iraq builds its nascent
security forces, however she hoped the troops could
move to bases outside the cities.

--------------
Comment
--------------


13. (C/NF) Discussing the President's speech with
Iraqi politicians provided a unique insight into the
situation in Iraq from their ground perspective, such
as the realities of the painfully slow pace of
reconstruction. Not surprisingly, the Arab media's
focus on the President's lack of withdrawal timeline
gave Iraqis an opportunity to reiterate their
complaints about Coalition troop presence. We often
hear such complaints, frequently from Assembly
members. However, we find very few Assembly members,
even among the loudest complainers, who would go so
far as to recommend prompt withdrawal of all Coalition
Forces. We found that those who actually read the
speech were much more favorable about the President's
remarks than those who depended solely on Arab media
reporting. This is a reminder that we need put out a
clear message about Iraq policy regularly for Iraqis.


14. (U) REO HILLA, REO BASRA, REO MOSUL, and REO
KIRKUK, minimize considered.


Satterfield