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