AL-BAYYNA JOURNALISTS ARGUE IN SUPPORT OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 004178

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/07/2015
TAGS: PGOV PINR IZ KMDR
SUBJECT: AL-BAYYNA JOURNALISTS ARGUE IN SUPPORT OF
CONSTITUTION AND MILITIAS

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: Journalists from Al-Bayyna, a major Shia
newspaper published by the Hezbollah Movement in Iraq, told
PolOff that they supported the draft constitution. The
best option for Shia, the journalists argued, would be to
join together in several Shia regions and work to build a
stable Iraq. The journalists said they also supported
Shia militias that "keep the peace" as long as Coalition
Forces prove incapable of protecting Iraqis. PolOff
countered that the best way to secure Iraq would be to
disband all militias and give full support to Iraqi Police
(IP) and Security Forces (ISF). END SUMMARY.

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Supporters of the Constitution...
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2. (C) On October 6, Jafar al Awachy, Deputy Editor-in-
Chief of Al-Bayyna, and reporter Nadeem Hussein al Ameer
told PolOff that their newspaper (Al-Bayyna) was in favor
of the draft constitution. The Shia journalists said that
while the draft was not a perfect document, it would
guarantee the rights of all Iraqis. The journalists
accepted that the draft constitution would be a living
document and could be amended later if necessary, just like
the U.S. Constitution.

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...But Also of Militias
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3. (C) Jafar and Nadeem argued that weakness of the
Ministries of Interior and Defense have made the Shia
militias necessary. They further argued that these militia
groups were inherently peaceful as the Shia are fully
engaged in the political process. In contrast, they said
Sunni Arab militias targeted innocent civilians and MNF-I
forces, and therefore should be disbanded and their members
arrested. The journalists favored the integration of Shia
militias into Iraqi Police (IP) and Security Forces (ISF)
in the interest of Iraqi security. PolOff countered that
the best way to secure Iraq would be to disband all
militias and give full support to IP and ISF.

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Favoring Several Regions
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4. (C) Jafar and Nadeem said that if all the Shia-majority
provinces were to form a single region, various groups
would inevitably try to dominate the new entity. The
journalists said this would cause much internecine strife
within the Shia community. At the same time, they argued
that Iraqi Shia are loyal Arabs who follow different
ideologies than Iranian Shia, who are servants of Iran.
Iraqi Shia, they insisted, are patriotic citizens of Iraq.


6. (C) COMMENT: Al-Bayyna newspaper has an Iraqi
nationalist tone to many of its editorials. It is a
popular and influential newspaper not only in Baghdad, but
in southern Iraq as well. The statements of the
newspaper's staff provide insight into the basis of the
editorial views many Shia read. END COMMENT.
Khalilzad