SHIA LEADER AGREES SMALL CHANGES TO DRAFT

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003997

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/25/2015
TAGS: PGOV PHUM IZ
SUBJECT: SHIA LEADER AGREES SMALL CHANGES TO DRAFT
CONSTITUTION POSSIBLE IF SUNNI ARABS AGREE TO SUPPORT IT

Classified By: AMBASSADOR KHALILZAD, REASON 1.5 (B) AND
(D).


1. (C) Shia Islamist Coalition leader Abdel Aziz al-Hakim
told the Ambassador 9/24 evening that, in principle, he
would accept small changes to the draft constitution's
language if it would gain Sunni Arab support at the
referendum. The Ambassador referred to earlier discussions
with Sunni Arabs and said it would be helpful to remain
open-minded about changes to the draft text on three
issues:

-- maintaining Iraq's unity;
-- Iraq's Arab identity and use of the Arabic language in
Kurdistan;
-- the language on how to amend the constitution.

The Ambassador underlined that the goal of any such
exercise was to secure the widest support possible for the
draft constitution at the October 15 referendum.


2. (C) Al-Hakim said the Shia, including Muqtada Sadr,
would solidly support the constitution. He cautioned that
the changes should not go so far that they would force
Kurdish leader Barzani to reject the draft text. That
said, the Shia Coalition would not object to language that
strengthened the commitment to Iraq's unity or Iraq's Arab
identity. He would be willing to study proposals.


3. (C) Hakim was concerned about the security problems in
Anbar and Diyala provinces. He said many voters, including
Sunni Arabs, would be too intimidated to vote. He wondered
whether it would not be best to scrap Transition
Administration Law (TAL) Article 61 (c) that stipulates
that a 2/3 vote in three provinces means the draft
constitution fails at the referendum. The Ambassador urged
caution. It would be better to reach out and build support
for the draft than change the TAL, he urged.


4. (C) Hakim then urged the Americans to be tough on
Sunni terrorists and to help those Sunni Arabs willing to
fight them. He told the Ambassador he would accept arming
Sunni tribes that will combat the terrorists. (Hakim
anticipated they would stop fighting once the terrorists
quit the tribes' territories.)


5. (C) Hakim pointed to Basra and said that the British
had erred in their operations in Basra. Sending undercover
soldiers in black clothing like sayyids (descendents of the
Prophet Mohammed) aroused religious sensitivities.
Shooting Iraqi police, and then fleeing, was bound to raise
local ire even more. The Ambassador cautioned that the
British had faced a potential hostage situation and had to
respond. He urged that Hakim support a joint investigation
that would identify the policy implications of the critical
events. Hakim accepted that this would be useful.


6. (C) Comment: Hakim's suggestion that article 61(c) be
set aside suggests he is not sure the draft constitution
will pass.
Khalilzad