Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05BAGHDAD4906
2005-12-08 17:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

ALLAWI CAMPAIGN UPDATE

Tags:  PGOV PNAT KDEM PHUM PINR IZ 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 004906 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2015
TAGS: PGOV PNAT KDEM PHUM PINR IZ
SUBJECT: ALLAWI CAMPAIGN UPDATE

Classified By: Classified by Political Counselor Robert S. Ford for
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 004906

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2015
TAGS: PGOV PNAT KDEM PHUM PINR IZ
SUBJECT: ALLAWI CAMPAIGN UPDATE

Classified By: Classified by Political Counselor Robert S. Ford for
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary. Former PM Ayad Allawi's Campaign
Manager, Renda Rahim Rancke, met with PolOffs on
December 7 to provide them with proof of serious
campaign violations and copies of the 55 complaints
filed with the Independent Electoral Commission of
Iraq (IECI). She encouraged Embassy efforts to ensure
the IECI responds to such charges. (As reported
SEPTEL, we have pushed the Commission to do so.) End
Summary.

--------------
Campaign Headquarters Atmospherics
--------------


2. (C) Allawi's campaign headquarters is situated on
a large compound adjacent to the International Zone and
consists of three buildings with one multi-story building
mounted with Allawi's stallion symbol on the front. A
large poster of Allawi greets visitors at the outside
gate. Two large outdoor dining areas covered with
colorful awnings are set up on the lawn. Security was
apparent, passing through a modern metal detector, x-
ray machine, and physical pat-down. In the lobby,
there were several people milling about with five
assistants sitting in Deputy Operations Campaign
Manager Dr. Azzam al-Wash's outer office. Dr. al-Wash
himself seemed to embody the campaign's flurry of
activity when he interrupted PolOff's meeting only to
say a few words, grab his briefcase and a bottle of
water.

--------------
Complaints to IECI go unanswered
--------------


3. (C) Allawi's Campaign Manager Renda Rahim met
with PolOffs to provide copies of 55 unanswered
complaints of serious campaign violations previously
submitted to the IECI. According to Rahim, the IECI
has not responded to any of these complaints. She
sifted through several of the violations to point out
how the Shia Alliance (555) is conducting a smear
campaign that not only attacks Allawi but also
threatens anyone who deigns to vote for him.


4. (SBU) Rahim also provided PolOffs with photos of
Shia Alliance (Badr Corps) banners that insinuate that
the Alliance has the blessing of the Marja'iya and
posters of Allawi's face melded with Saddam's. In
addition, she provided PolOffs with a short video of
policemen in Baghdad tearing down Allawi posters at
night.


5. (C) On December 8, Rahim expressed to PolOff her
disgust with these criminal campaign tactics. She
urged EmbOffs to intervene, make a public statement
denouncing these measures, and put pressure on the IECI
to sanction political coalitions violating IECI
campaign regulations. She stated that the Allawi team
has worked very hard on its media campaign that
engages in television advertisements, wide
distribution of posters and leaflets, personal
appearances, rallies, and cultural events. It is a
shame that other parties can destroy all this hard
work by engaging in dirty campaign tactics, Rahim
commented.

--------------
Comment
--------------


6. (C) Rahim is influential in many circles;
articulate, extremely capable, and aware of the issues.
She strongly believes in Ayad Allawi's candidacy,
becoming his Campaign Manager, even after Allawi's
Advisor Rosum al-Awadi removed her name from the
Baghdad candidate roster without her knowledge. Rahim
told PolOff that she was very disappointed that she
will not be able to participate in Iraqi politics at
the Council of Representatives level.
KHALILZAD