VICE PRESIDENT GHAZI URGES STRONG AMERICAN ROLE IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003080

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2025
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: VICE PRESIDENT GHAZI URGES STRONG AMERICAN ROLE IN
IRAQ AS HE PREPARES TO JET OFF

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


1. (C) Summary. Vice President Ghazi al Yawar
advocated that the newly arrived Ambassador establish
a strong presence at this critical time in Iraq's
history. Yawar pledged to address economic
development initiatives, promote public outreach on
the constitutional referendum and noted the need to
address allegations of human rights abuses by the ISF.
He spoke briefly on his approach toward the Syrian
leadership. End Summary.


2. (C) Ambassador paid his first courtesy call on
Deputy President Ghazi al-Yawar on July 24. Yawar
raised the necessity to provide adequate security for
the Sunni members of the constitution committee in the
wake of the assassination of two of their colleagues.
Assuring the Ambassador that the Sunnis would continue
to participate in the constitution process, he
dismissed the possibility of a "Hariri type"
investigation of the murders of Mujbil Shaykh al-Issa
and expert committee member Dhamin Hussein Aleiwi al
Obeidi. Instead he said -- based on discussions in
the Cabinet -- that the judicial branch would take the
lead on the investigation, perhaps including onto the
investigatory commission some relatives of the slain
men. He criticized public statements by Sunni
politicos that "high ranking members of the government
with connections to militias" were behind the
assassinations. He stressed that the Badr Corps had
nothing to do with the murders. "Not even the Kurds"
were involved, he stated flatly.

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Preparing for Referendum;
Need for Secularists to Coalesce
--------------


3. (C) Yawar urged the Ambassador to make a strong
presence felt at this critical juncture, observing
that only the political pressure applied by Paul
Bremer assured the Transitional Administrative Law's
successful and timely completion. He noted the need
for a greater public outreach campaign on constitution
issues. In particular, it would be important to
dissuade the Sunni Arabs that federalism equated
Iraq's "dismemberment". Describing his fellow
moderates (Adnan Pachachi, Ayad Allawi, and Nasir
Chardachi) as "heads without roots", he observed that
their (and his) failure to form a coalition of
secularists was a loss for all. He noted he was
maintaining a low profile in the constitutional
drafting process. He said this was in response to
criticism from his fellow Sunni Arabs who said he had
chosen "his own cabinet". Yawar strongly endorsed the
proposed summit of political party leaders to iron out
the last obstacles to a final draft of the
constitution.

--------------
Tough Words for the Syrians
--------------


4. (C) Yawar claimed he "had a word with Bashar" al-
Assad regarding the support ex-Ba'athists enjoy in
Syria. He said insurgents and their financiers openly
boast about their ability to operate from Syria and
that he warned Bashar "these are the same Saddamists
who were trying to assassinate your father". He
reportedly told the leader that he had the opportunity
to be the "Anwar Sadat" of Syria should he end his
support for terrorism. The Ambassador cautioned about
advocating a regime change, since the next most power
political force in Syria is the Muslim Brotherhood.
Yawar endorsed the Ambassador's suggestion of a
proposed inter-Arab anti-terrorism summit, noting he
had warned the Saudis and Kuwaitis that terrorism
would not stop at Iraq's borders. Yawar praised the
bravery of the recently assassinated Egyptian Charge
d'Affaires and the "very helpful" Bahraini charge
d'Affaires, who was also injured in a terrorist
attack.

-------------- --------------
Addressing Allegations of Human Rights Violations
-------------- --------------


5. (C) The Vice President derided official denials of
involvement of Iraqi Security Forces in the series of
kidnappings, apparent torture and murder of Sunnis in
outlying areas of Baghdad province. He said Ministry
of Interior claims that six to seven car motorcades
that allegedly conducted the raid were organized and
carried out by "phoney cops". Yawar observed, "When
police do it, it is far worse" than violence
perpetuated by the insurgents. He likened it to the
government taking one side in a conflict. The
Emergency Law aside, he proposed requiring all arrests
be legitimized within 24 hours by order of a judge
(Note: This is already a right embodied in the TAL
End Note.).

--------------
Security Role for the Tribes?
--------------


6. (C) Yawar debunked a recent (alleged) proposal by
Prime Minister Jafari to allow local militias assume
responsibility for security in their areas. He
claimed Jafari was also pushing to reinstate tribal
involvement in security affairs. The Vice President
ridiculed such an initiative, observing, "If you give
shaykhs money and power, you will get Lebanon". On
the other hand, earlier in the meeting he praised his
own tribe's ability to maintain peace in his native
region northeast of Mosul. He attributed the
allegedly lack of attacks on Coalition Forces in "his
lands" to his success in convincing his fellow Shammar
that economic development could only proceed after the
area was secure. He termed the economic battle as
critical, and advocated employment for the "angry,
young men" who now sit around listening to hateful
speeches of their local imams.


7. (C) Comment. Yawar is as Yawar was: positioned
to play a positive role in resolving issues that most
concern the Sunnis but quite unreliable. He could
press the Iraqi administration from the inside to
review human rights abuse allegations and shape the
type of investigation in ways that would ease the
fears of the broader Sunni Arab community and
facilitate the political process. Educated and
worldly, he could shape the debate in the nervous
Sunni Arab community about the positives of a
federalist vision for Iraq and how it would help, not
hurt, the minority Sunni Arabs. However, he is not
someone upon whom we can count. Indeed, just as
constitutional debates really heats up in Baghdad,
Ghazi is about to fly off to Bahrain for at least five
days where he likely will relax and try to raise money
for his own political aspirations. Post will continue
to push this well-placed Sunni leader to exert his
influence on behalf of Sunni Arab outreach, but it is
important to remember the limitations of the man.
End Comment.


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



Khalilzad