TNA TAKES A SWIPE AT MNF-I

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003794

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2025
TAGS: IZ PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: TNA TAKES A SWIPE AT MNF-I


Classified By: (U) Classified by Pol Couns Robert Ford,
reason 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY. The Transitional National Assembly
(TNA) Sovereignty Committee on September 13
criticized MNF-I with issuance of its "sovereignty
report." Committee members claim that an increasing
number of MNF-I and security contractor attacks on
civilians is a clear indication that Iraq is an
"occupied," rather than a sovereign, state.
Committee members may call for a new UN Security Council
resolution that would confirm Iraq's sovereignty and call
for MNF-I to be held accountable for its alleged misdeeds.
END SUMMARY.


2. (U) On September 13, TNA member Noori Kamel
(also known by his pre-war nom de guerre: Jawad
al-Maliki) presented the TNA Sovereignty
Committee's report that claimed that Iraq is not
sovereign due to the presence of American
personnel in Iraqi ministries and intelligence-
gathering services as well as MNF-I "control" of
Iraqi city streets. Al-Maliki said that the
report seeks to compel the TNA to come up with
recommendations to submit to the Presidency
Council.


3. (C) On September 14, Maliki told PolOff that
the Sovereignty Committee was quickly established
two months ago as a result of a raid on a TNA
members' home. Maliki said tensions ran so high
in committee meetings that issuance of the report
had been delayed by a month. Another committee
member, Abid Faisel Ahmaid al-Sahlani, privately
told PolOff that the Sadrists and SCIRI had
forced the establishment of the committee in the
face of "numerous reports" of "brutal attacks" on
civilians by MNF-I and security contractors.
Sahlani said that he had been appointed to this
committee without any consultation while he was
out of the country on holiday. Sahlani asserted
that he does not agree with the committee's
findings. He said his suggestion for the
committee to seek dialogue with MNF-I before
issuing the report was rejected. According to
Sahlani, Maliki had countered that the TNA was a
legislative body and the executive branch should
talk with MNF-I.


4. (C) Poloff told Maliki and Sahlani that the
message the report would send is a bad one to the
American public. She asked who would help secure
Iraq were the American forces to depart. Neither
man could answer the question, but Maliki claimed
that he had used all his influence to reduce its
anti-American tone. Sahlani agreed that Iraq
would need foreign forces' help for some time to
come.


5. (C) Maliki suggested that after the TNA reads
the full report, it will urge the Iraqi
Government to secure a new UN Security Council
resolution that will make MNF-I responsible for
its actions and confirm the sovereignty of Iraq.
He expects the full report to be printed by
September 18. Both Maliki and Sahlani consider
the work of this committee to be completed.


6. (C) Comment: Many of our political contacts,
even outside the TNA, raise questions about the
political optics of continued Coalition forces'
presence in Iraq. We doubt the TNA will call for
MNF-I to withdraw, and its leadership will likely
try to sweep the issue under a carpet of other
legislative business.
Satterfield