BAGHDAD PROVINCIAL COUNCIL CEASES RELATIONS WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001015 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/27/2016 TAGS: PGOV PINS IZ SUBJECT: BAGHDAD PROVINCIAL COUNCIL CEASES RELATIONS WITH EMBASSY AND COALITION Classified By: ROBERT S. FORD FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). ¶1. (C) The Baghdad Provincial Council (BPC),after a four hour meeting, voted to cease all communication with the Embassy and U.S. Army Forces. This decision came in a March 27 resolution protesting U.S. participation in a military operation March 26 evening in the Shaab neighborhood of north Baghdad, near Sadr City, that also included Iraqi Special Operations forces. ¶2. (C) PolOff was taken aside before the meeting by Chairman Mu'een who suggested he not attend because the council members would "seek to embarrass" PolOff. PolOff persisted and requested permission to attend the session to listen to council member comments, record complaints, and be provided the opportunity to respond. Following heated discussions, that included sharp attacks against the U.S., PolOff urged the council to delay any action until all the facts about the operation were known. Ex-council chairman Mazin Makia also said a vote should be delayed until after more information has been gathered. ¶3. (C) BPC Chairman Mu'een Hameed, however, moved the council to approve a declaration protesting the March 26 operation. The declaration stated that the BPC will cease all communications and interactions with the Embassy and U.S. Forces. This boycott will include the BPC, the Amanat (City Hall),the district/qada advisory councils, the Regional Council, and the neighborhood councils. The council requested a full investigation into the March 26 operation, and demanded the findings be presented to the council. Fourth, the council demanded an apology to the families affected by the attack and compensation for any injuries or damages. Fifth, they wanted criminal prosecution for anyone found guilty of breaking the law. Sixth, the BPC requested MOI and MOD provide guidance about how the provincial council could be included security policy decisions. Finally, the BPC demanded the full withdrawal of all U.S. Forces from the city of Baghdad and responsibility for security issues to be given to the Iraqi Army. The council demanded the resignation of Ambassador Khalilzad whom the council called biased against Shia. ¶4. (C) Comment. In the eleven months that PolOff has attended Baghdad Provincial Council meetings, he has never seen the council as a whole so critical of the U.S. Most of the council members (28 of 41) are from the Sadr City area, but the council itself includes SCIRI and the Dawa party members as well as Sadrists (there are no Sunni Arabs). The council's collective mind was made up on what action they would take prior to the formal vote. The council members score political points by encouraging the deployment of militias that provide security (and in the process they seek to embarrass the U.S. and Iraqi forces). It is meant to demonstrate the BPC has a political spine and aims to placate angry citizens. Looking forward, we should expect coolness to the Embassy and military but continued off-line discussions; we do not anticipate a permanent break in ties. A fuller disclosure of the March 26 events would help Provincial Council slowly walk back. Moreover, we suspect that some of the Baghdad district councils, whose relations with the Baghdad Provincial Council have been strained or whose members dislike Shia militias, will want to maintain their links to us. End Comment. KHALILZAD