Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD1137
2006-04-06 08:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
SHIA INDEPENDENT MEMBERS DISCUSS GOVERNMENT
how-toVZCZCXRO4053 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHMOS DE RUEHGB #1137 0960856 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 060856Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3765 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001137
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: SHIA INDEPENDENT MEMBERS DISCUSS GOVERNMENT
FORMATION
REF: BAGHDAD 1055
Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Michael J. Adler for
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 001137
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: SHIA INDEPENDENT MEMBERS DISCUSS GOVERNMENT
FORMATION
REF: BAGHDAD 1055
Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Michael J. Adler for
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Shia Independents and Council of Representatives (CoR)
members Dr. Haider Karim al-Suweidi (no. 8 on List 555 in
Babil),Muhammad Izz al-Din al-Khateeb (no. 1 ) Wasit),and
Taha De'ra al-Saadi (no. 1 ) Diyala) met with POLOFF and
PolFSN March 27. In the first part of the meeting, they
criticized the March 26 Ur raid (reftel).
2. (C) When the discussion switched to government formation,
Al-Khateeb said he did not know the details of the
negotiations, but he did know the general attitudes and
outlines of the Shia Coalition position. He said the Shia
Coalition is defending the election results, the
Constitution, and the principle that those who committed
crimes against the Iraqi people should not participate in the
government. Dr. al-Suweidi added that the Independents are
meeting weekly to discuss developments and to reach
conclusions on views for the Independent bloc leaders to take
back to the Shia Coalition. Al-Khateeb affirmed that it is a
good sign that Dr. Hussein al-Shahristani speaks in the name
of the independents and the Shia Coalition. He says this
enhances cooperation within and outside the Coalition.
Al-Khateeb said the independents have no policy agenda and
only want to tell everything and relay the suffering of the
people. (COMMENT: It is unclear whether the three
politicians' lack of detailed knowledge reflects their
indifference to the government formation process, their
confidence in the Shia Coalition leadership, the top-down
nature of the negotiations, or a combination of all three.
END COMMENT)
3. (C) BIONOTES. Dr. Haider Karim Fahad al-Suweidi has a PHD
in Semitic languages and is a professor and vice-dean at the
University of Babil. He is the nephew of Ali al-Tamimi,
spokesman for "MARAM" -- the group of parties that protested
the results of the December 2005 election. He says he was
arrested three times ) in 1982, 1986, and 1991, and spent a
total of two years in prison where he was tortured. Muhammad
Izz al-Din Muter al-Khateeb has a bachelors degree in
accounting. He was a member of the Wasit Provincial Council
and Deputy Governor in the same governorate before his
election to the CoR.
KHALILZAD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: SHIA INDEPENDENT MEMBERS DISCUSS GOVERNMENT
FORMATION
REF: BAGHDAD 1055
Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Michael J. Adler for
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Shia Independents and Council of Representatives (CoR)
members Dr. Haider Karim al-Suweidi (no. 8 on List 555 in
Babil),Muhammad Izz al-Din al-Khateeb (no. 1 ) Wasit),and
Taha De'ra al-Saadi (no. 1 ) Diyala) met with POLOFF and
PolFSN March 27. In the first part of the meeting, they
criticized the March 26 Ur raid (reftel).
2. (C) When the discussion switched to government formation,
Al-Khateeb said he did not know the details of the
negotiations, but he did know the general attitudes and
outlines of the Shia Coalition position. He said the Shia
Coalition is defending the election results, the
Constitution, and the principle that those who committed
crimes against the Iraqi people should not participate in the
government. Dr. al-Suweidi added that the Independents are
meeting weekly to discuss developments and to reach
conclusions on views for the Independent bloc leaders to take
back to the Shia Coalition. Al-Khateeb affirmed that it is a
good sign that Dr. Hussein al-Shahristani speaks in the name
of the independents and the Shia Coalition. He says this
enhances cooperation within and outside the Coalition.
Al-Khateeb said the independents have no policy agenda and
only want to tell everything and relay the suffering of the
people. (COMMENT: It is unclear whether the three
politicians' lack of detailed knowledge reflects their
indifference to the government formation process, their
confidence in the Shia Coalition leadership, the top-down
nature of the negotiations, or a combination of all three.
END COMMENT)
3. (C) BIONOTES. Dr. Haider Karim Fahad al-Suweidi has a PHD
in Semitic languages and is a professor and vice-dean at the
University of Babil. He is the nephew of Ali al-Tamimi,
spokesman for "MARAM" -- the group of parties that protested
the results of the December 2005 election. He says he was
arrested three times ) in 1982, 1986, and 1991, and spent a
total of two years in prison where he was tortured. Muhammad
Izz al-Din Muter al-Khateeb has a bachelors degree in
accounting. He was a member of the Wasit Provincial Council
and Deputy Governor in the same governorate before his
election to the CoR.
KHALILZAD