Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD1492
2006-05-05 19:00:00
SECRET
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
BADR CORPS LEADER AL-AMIRI: DON'T CALL US A MILITIA
how-toVZCZCXRO5808 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHMOS DE RUEHGB #1492 1251900 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 051900Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4276 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHINGTON DC
S E C R E T BAGHDAD 001492
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR PINS PNAT PTER KDEM KISL IZ
SUBJECT: BADR CORPS LEADER AL-AMIRI: DON'T CALL US A MILITIA
REF: BAGHDAD 397
Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR MICHAEL J. ADLER, FOR REASONS
1.4 (B) AND (D).
S E C R E T BAGHDAD 001492
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR PINS PNAT PTER KDEM KISL IZ
SUBJECT: BADR CORPS LEADER AL-AMIRI: DON'T CALL US A MILITIA
REF: BAGHDAD 397
Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR MICHAEL J. ADLER, FOR REASONS
1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C/REL UK) Badr Organization General Secretary Hadi
al-Amiri and Badr Organization Deputy Secretary for
Protection Tahsin al-Azawi said in an April 24 meeting with
DCG LTG Robert Fry, MG Rick Lynch, RDML Scott Van Buskirk and
PolOffs that the Badr Organization should not be labeled a
militia "because it disarmed" and became a political
organization in 2003. In an apparent contradiction, he then
protested that the USG should not refer "only" to the Badr
Organization when it talks about militias. Al-Amiri also
added that he rejected militia activity in the streets. The
Badr Organization is proud to have fought against Saddam
Hussein's regime, al-Amiri said, but after the fall of Saddam
the members laid down their weapons. He further claimed that
the Badr Organization does not commit acts of violence and
Badr Organization members who insist on keeping their weapons
must resign their membership.
2. (C/UK) Al-Amiri reiterated his desire to integrate 8,000
to 9,000 Badr Organization members into the ISF (reftel). He
called on Fry to help speed the process. Al-Amiri argued
that it is unfair to integrate soldiers from the former
regime into the ISF and not include Shia militia members who
fought against Saddam. Al-Amiri said that, if CF and GOI
were serious about militia integration, the Badr Organization
could do it quickly. He expressed his hope that all militias
would cease to exist by the end of 2006.
3. (S/UK) When Fry showed al-Amiri evidence that Abd al-Allah
Abd al-Lateifa of Diwaniyah, a self-professed Badr
Organization member, was detained by MNF-I because he was
caught with explosively formed projectiles (EFPs),al-Amiri
repeated that the Badr Organization does not allow people to
join unless they lay down their arms. He countered that
although some CF soldiers have committed human rights
violations in Iraq, Iraqis do not blame GEN Casey for their
actions. Al-Amiri then said he would investigate Lateifa to
determine if he was truly a Badr Organization member.
4. (C/UK) Comment: Hadi al-Amiri's comments reflect the
standard SCIRI/Badr party line. What will matter in the end
is the extent to which he and fellow SCIRI/Badr leaders are
prepared to follow up with public statements and concrete
actions that demonstrate acceptance that there is no place
for extragovernmental armed groups in a democratic Iraq. End
Comment.
SATTERFIELD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR PINS PNAT PTER KDEM KISL IZ
SUBJECT: BADR CORPS LEADER AL-AMIRI: DON'T CALL US A MILITIA
REF: BAGHDAD 397
Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR MICHAEL J. ADLER, FOR REASONS
1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C/REL UK) Badr Organization General Secretary Hadi
al-Amiri and Badr Organization Deputy Secretary for
Protection Tahsin al-Azawi said in an April 24 meeting with
DCG LTG Robert Fry, MG Rick Lynch, RDML Scott Van Buskirk and
PolOffs that the Badr Organization should not be labeled a
militia "because it disarmed" and became a political
organization in 2003. In an apparent contradiction, he then
protested that the USG should not refer "only" to the Badr
Organization when it talks about militias. Al-Amiri also
added that he rejected militia activity in the streets. The
Badr Organization is proud to have fought against Saddam
Hussein's regime, al-Amiri said, but after the fall of Saddam
the members laid down their weapons. He further claimed that
the Badr Organization does not commit acts of violence and
Badr Organization members who insist on keeping their weapons
must resign their membership.
2. (C/UK) Al-Amiri reiterated his desire to integrate 8,000
to 9,000 Badr Organization members into the ISF (reftel). He
called on Fry to help speed the process. Al-Amiri argued
that it is unfair to integrate soldiers from the former
regime into the ISF and not include Shia militia members who
fought against Saddam. Al-Amiri said that, if CF and GOI
were serious about militia integration, the Badr Organization
could do it quickly. He expressed his hope that all militias
would cease to exist by the end of 2006.
3. (S/UK) When Fry showed al-Amiri evidence that Abd al-Allah
Abd al-Lateifa of Diwaniyah, a self-professed Badr
Organization member, was detained by MNF-I because he was
caught with explosively formed projectiles (EFPs),al-Amiri
repeated that the Badr Organization does not allow people to
join unless they lay down their arms. He countered that
although some CF soldiers have committed human rights
violations in Iraq, Iraqis do not blame GEN Casey for their
actions. Al-Amiri then said he would investigate Lateifa to
determine if he was truly a Badr Organization member.
4. (C/UK) Comment: Hadi al-Amiri's comments reflect the
standard SCIRI/Badr party line. What will matter in the end
is the extent to which he and fellow SCIRI/Badr leaders are
prepared to follow up with public statements and concrete
actions that demonstrate acceptance that there is no place
for extragovernmental armed groups in a democratic Iraq. End
Comment.
SATTERFIELD