FADHILA MEMBER DISCUSSES GOVERNMENT FORMATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001096 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/04/2016 TAGS: PGOV KDEM IZ SUBJECT: FADHILA MEMBER DISCUSSES GOVERNMENT FORMATION Classified By: Political Counselor Robert S. Ford for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) In a March 29 introductory meeting, Council of Representatives (CoR) and Fadhila member Kareem Mushin Hassan al-Yaqubi told PolOff and PolFSN that the Tawafuq coalition plan to invest a Deputy Prime Minister with absolute authorities (including assigning people and chairing the Ministerial Committee on National Security) would leave the Prime Minister without a role. Al-Yaqubi jokingly asked, "What is his role in a functioning MCNS? To present coffee and tea?" He added that the Constitution (Article 78) states that the Prime Minister is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. ¶2. (C) Al-Yaqubi claimed that, in most countries around the world, the simple majority voting system is used in the Council of Ministers or equivalent body. He stated that Tawafuq wants a 2/3 majority for certain decisions (particularly, security). He countered that extraordinary conditions may exist when a quick decision is needed. He told PolOff that he sees a time when an emergency would arise and a decision requiring a 2/3 vote could be needed, but 2/3 of the members would not be present. According to al-Yaqubi, the Shia Coalition and Iraqiyya have presented two plans that are similar that would require a simple majority for normal situations and 2/3 in specific situations (e.g., budget, war, treaties, etc). Agreement is still required on exactly when to use the 2/3 vote. He reiterated that he prefers a simple majority for security decisions. ¶3. (C) Al-Yaqubi said there were a lot of disagreements between the political parties before they reached final agreement on the National Security Council. He added that this Council will be advisory and make recommendations and therefore not violate the constitution. He said that it will play an effective role and have its recommendations considered because of the committee members, who will have representatives in the ministries and the Council of Representatives. He said that, if the NSC were given shared authorities with other government bodies, it would delay decision making ¶4. (C) BIONOTE. Kareem Mushin Hassan al-Yaqubi was born in Najaf in 1958. He received his bachelors degree in soil science in 1981 from the University in Mosul, served in the Iraqi Army from 1981-1984, and then received his masters degree in agricultural biology in 1988 from the University of Baghdad. After finishing his graduate studies, he worked in marketing at a petrochemicals/fertilizer plant in Bayji (when Husayn Kamal was Minister of Military Industrialization). He left this job one year later and returned to the army in 1989 for one year. He noted to PolOff that although holders of higher degrees were supposedly exempt from conscription into the army, they were being incorporated into the popular army and into the al-Quds army. As a result, he said, he moved from place to place inside of Iraq from the outbreak of the Gulf War until 2003. KHALILZAD