Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05BAGHDAD3996
2005-09-27 07:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

SUNNI DIALOGUE COUNCIL'S MASHADANI SEEKS

Tags:  PGOV PHUM KDEM IZ 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003996 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/25/2015
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: SUNNI DIALOGUE COUNCIL'S MASHADANI SEEKS
AMBASSADOR'S HELP WITH CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION

REF: A. (A) BAGHDAD 3498

B. (B) BAGHDAD 3753

Classified By: Ambassador Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003996

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/25/2015
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: SUNNI DIALOGUE COUNCIL'S MASHADANI SEEKS
AMBASSADOR'S HELP WITH CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION

REF: A. (A) BAGHDAD 3498

B. (B) BAGHDAD 3753

Classified By: Ambassador Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).


1. (C) Summary: At a September 24 meeting, the Ambassador
discussed Sunni Arab reaction to the draft constitution
with Mahmoud Mashadani, Constitution Committee and Iraqi
Council for National Dialogue (ICND) member. The
Ambassador agreed to advocate for Sunni Arab-proposed
changes to the constitution in upcoming discussions with
Shia and Kurdish leaders if the Sunnis agree to publicly
support the text with those changes. End Summary.


2. (C) Mashadani admitted there had been no recent
negotiations between Sunni Arab and Shia Coalition leaders
on the constitution. He did say, however, that the ICND,
Iraqi Islamic Party (IIP),and Adnan Dulaimi's General
Conference could endorse the constitution publicly if the
Shia agreed to the six points already agreed between these
Sunni Arab groups and Kurdish leaders in Irbil. (NOTE: Ref
b describes the Irbil meeting. The changes concern (a)
text of the preamble; (b) use of two languages, Arabic and
Kurdish; (c) Article 7 text on banned entities; (d)
language on the National Assembly studying options on
forming regions; (e) language on amendment procedures; and
(f) language on Iraq's unity. END NOTE.)


4. (C) The Ambassador stated that if Sunni Arab leaders -
- including Adnan Dulaimi, Tariq al-Hashimi, and Saleh
Mutlak -- sign a letter to this effect, he would press for
Shia agreement. Mashadani also pressed for inclusion of
additional language on Iraqi unity in Section 1 (Basic
Principles): "Iraq is a single country that is fully
sovereign; its citizens are all Iraqis, and this
Constitution is the guarantor of its unity."


5. (C) Mashadani intimated that the ICND can convince
hesitant Sunni Arabs, even some former Ba'athists, to vote
in favor of the constitution if there is Shia agreement to
the six points. The obstacles, he claimed, are Zarqawi and
Iranian intelligence. Mashadani requested U.S. support to
ensure a peaceful election period. The main Sunni fear, he
asserted, is not federalism but rather a weak Iraqi
government that falls under clerics' control. Mashadani
asked to meet with former high-ranking Ba'ath Party member
Fadil Ibraheem al-Mashadani, whom he said is currently in
Coalition custody. The Ambassador said he would raise this
request with MNF-I.


6. (C) The Ambassador assured Mashadani that full
participation for all Iraqis is a major U.S. goal. Many of
the problems the Sunni Arabs now face, he reminded
Mashadani, result from their January boycott of the
elections. The Ambassador added that the U.S. is
coordinating security logistics with Iraqi Army and Iraqi
Police forces during the election period. He further
explained that Embassy officials are continuing discussions
with the Independent Election Commission of Iraq (IECI) to
provide an adequate number of polling stations.


7. (C) The Ambassador emphasized that Iraq's success
depends primarily on political efforts. For example, the
Ambassador suggested using an anti-federalism platform in a
united Arab bloc for the December elections rather than
urging people to vote against the constitution in October.


8. (C) On the subject of his September 20 arrest, Mashadani
said that he had never been shown a judge's order or
warrant. He said that the raid on his neighborhood could
have been "disastrous" had it not been for the presence of
a U.S. military officer monitoring the Iraqi police. "We
can trust the U.S. forces," he stated. Mashadani claimed
to witness torture by electrocution while in the MOI
detention center in the Baghdad neighborhood of Gureiat.
He said that the experience helped him understand why the
ITG has declined to appoint a new Minister of Human Rights.
Mashadani was released September 21 and his son was
released on September 22.
Khalilzad