SISTANI, SADR OFFER APPROVAL OF ELECTION PROCESS IN MEETINGS

C O N F I D E N T I A L HILLAH 000380

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/18/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM KISL IZ
SUBJECT: SISTANI, SADR OFFER APPROVAL OF ELECTION PROCESS IN MEETINGS
WITH PRIME MINISTER JAAFARI

CLASSIFIED BY: ALFRED FONTENEAU, REGIONAL COORDINATOR, REO,
AL-HILLAH, STATE.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)





1. (C) Summary: In separate meetings December 17 with Prime
Minister Ibrahim Jaafari, Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani and
Moqtada Sadr each expressed his approval of the December 15
election process. In meetings in Najaf, Sistani reportedly
stressed to Jaafari the importance of quickly releasing the
election results, forming a national government, and ensuring a
smooth transition to a permanent National Assembly (NA). Sadr
reportedly said that he would only support United Iraqi Alliance
(UIA, ballot number 555) candidates for government posts who are
in favor of the withdrawal of Coalition Forces, and offered his
followers as a nationwide security force in the upcoming
provincial elections. End summary.


2. (C) Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari visited Najaf December 17,
where he met with both Sistani and Sadr regarding the December
15 elections. According to sources in Sistani's house, Sistani
expressed his approval of the election and his desire to see the
speedy release of the results. He reportedly emphasized to
Jaafari the need to consider all complaints from competing
coalitions, in order to give the election the utmost legitimacy,
and to work quickly to form a new government and oversee a
smooth transition from the previous assembly to the new NA.
Jaafari assured Sistani that there would be a smooth transition,
sources said.


3. (C) Sistani also discussed the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF)
and the constitution. On security, Sistani advised the Prime
Minister to continue the development of the ISF to protect Iraq
and to hasten the withdrawal of Coalition Forces. On the
constitution, Sistani expressed hope that the NA would soon
resolve outstanding constitutional articles, particularly those
relating to federalism, and repeated his rejection of a divided
Iraq.


4. (C) The Sadr meeting, according to Sadrist contacts who spoke
to SET NAJAF local staff, was less an audience and more a
bargaining session. While he said that he accepted the election
process, Sadr said that he would only ally with political
entities that favored Iraqi unity and rejected the "invasion" of
Iraq by Coalition Forces. Asked by Jaafari if he would support
UIA candidates to fill key government positions, Sadr replied
that he would only support those in favor of a Coalition
withdrawal. (Note: Many Sadr followers ran for office beneath
the UIA umbrella in the election. End note.) The new government
must be in the hands of "true Iraqis," Sadr reportedly said, and
not those serving foreign interests.


5. (C) Looking ahead, Sadr offered Jaafari the services of his
own followers to provide security nationwide, in all provinces,
for the upcoming provincial elections. (Note: the provincial
elections are scheduled to take place 60 days after the
formation of a national government. End note.) Sadr also
demanded the replacement of the current judge in Saddam's trial
and the execution of Saddam Hussein.


7. (C) Comment: Sistani's comments, as related by contacts to
SET NAJAF local staff, indicate that he remains a detached,
albeit interested, observer of Iraq's political development. It
would appear from his comments on the election and the
constitution that he wishes to continue to exert a subtle,
stabilizing force on the nation. Sadr, by contrast, continues to
jockey for position in the political process. His qualifications
of support for UIA candidates seem to indicate that he continues
to act in his own interests, rather than those of the election
slate under which some of his followers ran for office. End
comment.
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