FALLUJAH: WORD ON THE STREET REGARDING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003754

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM IZ XL
SUBJECT: FALLUJAH: WORD ON THE STREET REGARDING
CONSTITUTION AND COALITION PRESENCE

Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT FORD,
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Two Fallujah residents, an
engineer and a lawyer told us that Anbar
residents remain mobilized for the upcoming
referendum, heeding calls by religious and
tribal leaders to register and participate.
Both men expressed opposition in principle to
the Coalition presence in Iraq, along with
acknowledgement that an immediate departure
would not be in the best interests of the Iraqi
people. The engineer added that as long as
Americans remained in Iraq, "Zarqawi terrorists
will be here." END SUMMARY.

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CONSTITUTION: WE ARE REALISTIC,
BUT DO NOT FORCE IT ON US
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2. (C) Engineer Abd Farouk -- an unsuccessful
candidate for Fallujah mayor -- told Fallujah
Poloff and Marine Foreign Area Officer August
31 that Fallujans will vote in large numbers in
the upcoming referendum. Residents had
followed calls by religious and other leaders
to register. He acknowledged that Sunni
refusal to participate in the January 30
election had been a mistake and would not be
repeated. Farouk claimed Sunni Arabs were
pragmatic about changes they wanted in the
constitution, stating "we cannot get all of our
demands . . . we are working for the good of
the whole country, not just part of it."
Farouk added, however, that if the constitution
were "forced" on Sunni Arabs, there would be
increased tension and problems. In his words,
"We do not want civil war. Only a small group
wants that, but you must see that there is a
balance of good and evil. If things are not
done correctly in the constitution, more people
will be attracted to the evil."


3. (C) Farouk would not specifically address
whether Sunnis considered their current
political hand to be strong or weak. He did,
however, point out that eyes were looking
beyond October, to the December election,
stating: "we know that we can recoup our
rights in December." The constitution, he
added, represented the future; Sunnis must
enter into the political realm; "we will join
the police, the army." Farouk underscored the
rule of law that a more balanced constitution
would guarantee. He concluded, "we must be
part of this rule; we must defend our
interests. We are pragmatic now."

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U.S. FORCES: LEAVE, BUT NOT YET;
DON'T TELL US HOW TO RUN IRAQ
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4. (C) Muslih offered largely critical comments
about the ongoing U.S. military presence in
Iraq. "You detain us, you kill us, you destroy
our cities . . . is this democracy? I am not
saying I would go back, but if you want a
comparison, there it is." Muslih stressed that
dialogue between the U.S. and Iraqis offered a
lot more than the use of the military. He
would not ask Americans to leave now -- but
added "we need more discussion." Farouk,
similarly, conceded that Sunnis did not want
Americans to leave suddenly.


5. (C) Farouk expressed disappointment over
what he perceived to be failed U.S. promises,
particularly in governance areas. He stated
flatly that "we did not need your ideas about
governing; yes, we want your technology and
science, but not ideas how to run this
country."


6. (C) Poloff countered by reminding both
Fallujans that other Iraqis might have a
different view about who was better or worse
off before, under Saddam -- and that governance
should reflect the interests of all people, not
just some.

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ZARQAWI: WEAKENED WITHOUT STANDING;
REJECT FOREIGNERS, INCLUDING "YOU"
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7. (C) Engineer Farouk stated that Zarqawi and
his followers had been weakened. However, he
said the continued U.S. presence provided a
"pretext" for terrorist activities. Farouk
said Fallujah residents had not seen foreign
fighters in the city "with our own eyes, but
their thoughts are present and we hear them."
He added, pointedly, that as long as Americans
remained in Iraq, "Zarqawi terrorists will be
here. We are the victims between the two of
you. We do not accept foreign fighters, and
that includes you all."


8. (C) Poloff and Marine FAO replied that a
major part of Iraq's insurgent problem is home-
grown, not directed by foreign terrorists.
Moving fellow Iraqi Sunnis away from terrorist
activities would do a great deal to improve
Iraq's security.

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ITG: DISCONNECTED FROM THE PEOPLE;
FALLUJAH AS IRAQ'S GORDIAN KNOT
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9. (C) Muslih criticized Baghdad officials for
being unwilling/unable to leave the Green Zone
to meet people, adding "we want rulers who can
walk the streets and meet us." Muslih added
that Fallujah represented a key challenge --
"the hardest Gordian knot to solve" -- a view,
he said, that was shared by many in Iraq.


10. (C) COMMENT: Engineer Farouk and Lawyer
Muslih reinforced in these conversations that
Sunni Arabs in Fallujah, for now, have
prioritized the political track. While they do
not welcome the ongoing coalition presence,
both acknowledged that a sudden departure would
lead to greater instability.
Satterfield