FADHILA PARTY OFFICIAL LOOKS TO THE FUTURE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 004329 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2015 TAGS: PGOV PINR IZ SUBJECT: FADHILA PARTY OFFICIAL LOOKS TO THE FUTURE Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT FORD FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Mohammed Ismael, generally regarded as a top-ranking member of the Fadhila Party, told PolOff in an October 18 meeting that the Fadhila Party is ready to run its own list in the December 2005 elections, but is also considering forming coalitions with various parties. Fadhila is open to the idea of forming a cross-sectarian coalition, and even participated in Ayad Allawi's Conference of Centrists and Moderation. He also reiterated Fadhila's commitment to working with Coalition Forces, despite the recent violence stemming from the arrest of British soldiers in Basrah. End Summary. -------------- Quo Vadis, Fadhila? -------------- ¶2. (C) Mohammed Ismael returned to Baghdad on October 17 after traveling through southern Iraq. He told PolOff he had been collecting names of candidates who will appear on the Fadhila Party's electoral list in the December 2005 elections. He reported that Fadhila is prepared to run an independent list, but is considering forming coalitions with parties such as SCIRI, Dawa, the Sadrist Movement, and Ahmed Chalabi. Poloff replied that cross-sectarian, moderate coalitions would be in the best interests of Iraq. ¶3. (C) Ismael said the Fadhila Party is also willing to cooperate with other ethnic groups. He said that the Fadhila Party electoral lists in Ninawa, Salah ad Din, At Tamim, and Diyala include Sunni Arabs, Kurds, Shebak, Faili Kurds, and other ethnic groups. The Fadhila Party is also trying to bring in Sunni Arabs from the Muslim Ulema Council (MUC). According to Ismael, many Sunni Arabs are intimidated into joining MUC, and the Fadhila Party would like to bring them into the political process. Poloff welcomed Ismael's expression of readiness to work with Sunni Arabs. -------------- Ayad Allawi: Man Of The People -------------- ¶4. (C) Ismael cites the Fadhila Party's appearance at Ayad Allawi's Conference of Centrists and Moderation as evidence of the Fadhila Party's commitment to coalition building. Ismael said that the Fadhila Party would prefer to be part of a national, rather than sectarian, governing coalition. The Fadhila Party wants to see a governing coalition that brings in Shia, Sunni Arabs, Kurds, and secular Iraqis. While no final decision has been made, the Fadhila Party is actively exploring the Allawi option. -------------- Downplaying Basrah Clash With UK Forces -------------- ¶5. (C) Mohammed Ismael insisted that the recent violence related to the arrest of two British soldiers in Basrah is no indicator of the Fadhila Party's attitudes toward Coalition Forces. The Governor of Basrah, while a Fadhila Party member, leads a coalition with other political parties. The decision to cease cooperation with UK forces was made by the Basrah Provincial Council as a whole; it was not a unilateral decision by the Governor. The people of Basrah reacted to what they viewed as an affront to their sovereignty. Fadhila Party head Nadeem Jabiri worked very hard to promote a peaceful solution to the crisis, and even traveled to Basrah to work with the governor. The Fadhila Party, Ismael said, is cooperating with Coalition Forces, and would continue to do so as part of a post- election government. Satterfield