Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD1641
2006-05-17 15:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
SCIRI POLITBURO MEMBER COMPLAINS ABOUT MALIKI;
how-toVZCZCXRO8058 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHMOS DE RUEHGB #1641/01 1371531 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 171531Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4512 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001641
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: SCIRI POLITBURO MEMBER COMPLAINS ABOUT MALIKI;
FADHILA NOT BUDGING; IRAQIYYA MEMBERS GIVE MIXED PICTURE OF
INTENTIONS
REF: BAGHDAD 1623
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT S. FORD, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B)
AND (D).
-------
SUMMARY
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001641
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: SCIRI POLITBURO MEMBER COMPLAINS ABOUT MALIKI;
FADHILA NOT BUDGING; IRAQIYYA MEMBERS GIVE MIXED PICTURE OF
INTENTIONS
REF: BAGHDAD 1623
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT S. FORD, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B)
AND (D).
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) SCIRI political bureau member Ridha Jawad Taki
complained to Poloff May 17 that PM-designate Nuri al-Maliki
had failed to keep his word to SCIRI to allow the party to
name the Interior Minister, Council of Ministers
Secretary-General and advisors on the PM's staff. Taki said
SIPDIS
al-Maliki has blamed the USG for his inability to accept
SCIRI-backed Qassim Daoud for the MOI position. Taki
reported that Fadhila Spiritual Leader Yaqubi has refused to
allow his party to rejoin government talks. Iraqiyya member
Safia Suhail told PolOff May 17 that Ayad Allawi had added
both her and Hamid Mousa to the bloc's government formation
negotiating team. Suhail claimed that Allawi planned to
leave town, deferring to the committee to make the right
decisions. Fellow Iraqiyya member Medhi Hafedh, however,
stressed that only Allawi can make decisions for the bloc.
--------------
SCIRI COMPLAINTS ABOUT MALIKI
--------------
2. (C) Taki predicted to PolOff May 17 that SCIRI will be
lucky to get the Trade Ministry, Council of Ministers
Secretary-General (Bayan Jabr Solagh),and Municipalities
SIPDIS
(Hassan al-Ansari) as a result of government formation
negotiations. Taki charged that PM-designate al-Maliki has
not adhered to an agreement with SCIRI leader Abd al-Aziz
al-Hakim reached on the eve of Jafari's announcement of his
departure, whereby Dawa would get the premiership and SCIRI
the right to name the Minister of Interior, the Secretary
General of the Council of Ministers and all the advisors to
the PM it deemed necessary.
3. (C) Taki further complained that al-Maliki has not kept
his word to SCIRI regarding PM advisors. He said that
al-Maliki was surrounding himself with Jafari's closest
advisors, cutting himself off from even Shia Coalition
partners. "He won't even consider a secretary from another
party!" Taki exclaimed that Dawa policy man Falah Fiad is
running the show behind al-Maliki, taking power away from
other Coalition parties. Taki further charged that the
presence of Sami al-Askari reinforces the Dawa-Sadrist
partnership in the PM's office.
4. (C) Taki said that on May 16, al-Maliki attended a dinner
at al-Hakim's house with the SCIRI leadership at which
al-Hakim reminded the PM of their previous agreement. Taki
said that al-Maliki promised to honor the agreement with the
exception of allowing SCIRI to name the Minister of Interior
(MOI). Taki said that Al-Maliki blamed the U.S. for
red-lining SCIRI MOI candidate Qassim Daoud. (NOTE: Taki
told PolOff he thought al-Maliki would reject anybody SCIRI
puts forward for the ministry and blame the USG. END NOTE)
Taki said he was disgusted that Ahmed Chalabi's name had been
put forward by Dawa for MOI and Finance minister. Taki said
that Chalabi is a red-line for SCIRI, the Kurds and Iraqiyya
and hopes he will not find a place anywhere in government.
5. (C) Taki said that in a May 16 meeting with Badr
organization head Hadi al-Amiri, al-Maliki tried to persuade
al-Amiri to endorse newly proposed MOI candidate Nasir
al-Amiri. Taki said that SCIRI had not yet decided to agree
on Nasir al-Amiri for MOI because al-Amiri was too close to
Dawa. (NOTE: On May 16, Dawa member Ali Adeeb told PolOff
that he did not know how Nasir al-Amiri's name had been put
forward and would like to know more about him. Also on May
16, Qassim Daoud said he was still waiting to hear about MOI
but did not think his chances were good because of
personality differences with Maliki. END NOTE)
6. (C) Taki reflected that SCIRI had been weakened by the PM
nomination competition within the UIC. He said that
SISTANI's insistence on keeping the Shia Coalition together
had seriously damaged SCIRI's maneuvering room and diminished
its stature both nationally and within the UIC. Taki said he
has had several conversations with Politburo members about
the possibility of restructuring to make a come back. He
said that SCIRI has thrown all its energies into the
ministerial race, but has decided not to take drastic public
measures (e.g., threatening to leave the UIC) to get better
ministries. Taki said the party leaders have yet to think
BAGHDAD 00001641 002 OF 002
about their approach to the provincial elections,
acknowledging their importance.
--------------
YAQUBI REJECTS FADHILA RETURN
--------------
7. (C) Taki noted that Dawa Tenzim's Abd al-Karim Ali Hussein
al-Anzi went to Najaf on May 15 to persuade Fadhila Party
Spiritual Leader Mohammed al-Yaqubi to allow Fadhila to
re-enter government negotiations (reftel). Taki said that
al-Yaqubi flatly rejected the possibility. Taki said there
is little hope of changing al-Yaqubi's mind and a proposal by
Fadhila Deputy Secretary-General Ali al-Dabbagh that his
party receive the Trade Ministry in exchange for the Oil
Ministry has no legs.
-------------- --------------
ELEVENTH HOUR CHANGES TO IRAQIYYA NEGOTIATING TEAM
-------------- --------------
8. (C) Iraqiyya members continue to present a confused
picture of their bloc's intentions. Safia Suhail told PolOff
May 17 that Ayad Allawi had added two members to Iraqiyya's
negotiating committee; herself and Hamid Mousa. She said
that Allawi planned to leave town at this crucial stage in
government negotiations, deferring to the committee to make
the right decisions. She requested that the U.S. advocate
for her "PM Assistant" position claiming that she has already
obtained the support of the Kurds and Tawafuq. On May 17,
original negotiating committee member Shaikh Hussein
al-Sha'alan told PolOff that he was not convinced that Allawi
would stay in town all week. He said that he and fellow
Iraqiyya member Saad al-Janabi went to Allawi's home on May
16 to try to persuade him to stay. Al-Sha'alan would not
confirm or deny that Safia Suhail and Hamid Mousa have joined
the Iraqiyya negotiating team, smiling and rolling his eyes
at the question. On May 17, close advisor to Allawi and
Iraqiyya member Medhi Hafedh said that only Allawi can make
the big decisions now.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
9. (C) Despite the unhappy chatter, the PM-designate's
discussions with party leaders continue. Some of the
complaints -- e.g., Taki re. the "broken promise" to SCIRI
over the Interior Ministry -- would seem to reflect welcome
developments; the position should not be under partisan
control. Taki's comments, however, reaffirm the continued
tensions within UIC. Maliki will likely be in a position to
announce his government within the coming days, but he will
still face challenges within the fractious Shia Coalition, as
well as from his non-Shia partners in the National Unity
Government. END COMMENT
KHALILZAD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: SCIRI POLITBURO MEMBER COMPLAINS ABOUT MALIKI;
FADHILA NOT BUDGING; IRAQIYYA MEMBERS GIVE MIXED PICTURE OF
INTENTIONS
REF: BAGHDAD 1623
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT S. FORD, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B)
AND (D).
--------------
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (C) SCIRI political bureau member Ridha Jawad Taki
complained to Poloff May 17 that PM-designate Nuri al-Maliki
had failed to keep his word to SCIRI to allow the party to
name the Interior Minister, Council of Ministers
Secretary-General and advisors on the PM's staff. Taki said
SIPDIS
al-Maliki has blamed the USG for his inability to accept
SCIRI-backed Qassim Daoud for the MOI position. Taki
reported that Fadhila Spiritual Leader Yaqubi has refused to
allow his party to rejoin government talks. Iraqiyya member
Safia Suhail told PolOff May 17 that Ayad Allawi had added
both her and Hamid Mousa to the bloc's government formation
negotiating team. Suhail claimed that Allawi planned to
leave town, deferring to the committee to make the right
decisions. Fellow Iraqiyya member Medhi Hafedh, however,
stressed that only Allawi can make decisions for the bloc.
--------------
SCIRI COMPLAINTS ABOUT MALIKI
--------------
2. (C) Taki predicted to PolOff May 17 that SCIRI will be
lucky to get the Trade Ministry, Council of Ministers
Secretary-General (Bayan Jabr Solagh),and Municipalities
SIPDIS
(Hassan al-Ansari) as a result of government formation
negotiations. Taki charged that PM-designate al-Maliki has
not adhered to an agreement with SCIRI leader Abd al-Aziz
al-Hakim reached on the eve of Jafari's announcement of his
departure, whereby Dawa would get the premiership and SCIRI
the right to name the Minister of Interior, the Secretary
General of the Council of Ministers and all the advisors to
the PM it deemed necessary.
3. (C) Taki further complained that al-Maliki has not kept
his word to SCIRI regarding PM advisors. He said that
al-Maliki was surrounding himself with Jafari's closest
advisors, cutting himself off from even Shia Coalition
partners. "He won't even consider a secretary from another
party!" Taki exclaimed that Dawa policy man Falah Fiad is
running the show behind al-Maliki, taking power away from
other Coalition parties. Taki further charged that the
presence of Sami al-Askari reinforces the Dawa-Sadrist
partnership in the PM's office.
4. (C) Taki said that on May 16, al-Maliki attended a dinner
at al-Hakim's house with the SCIRI leadership at which
al-Hakim reminded the PM of their previous agreement. Taki
said that al-Maliki promised to honor the agreement with the
exception of allowing SCIRI to name the Minister of Interior
(MOI). Taki said that Al-Maliki blamed the U.S. for
red-lining SCIRI MOI candidate Qassim Daoud. (NOTE: Taki
told PolOff he thought al-Maliki would reject anybody SCIRI
puts forward for the ministry and blame the USG. END NOTE)
Taki said he was disgusted that Ahmed Chalabi's name had been
put forward by Dawa for MOI and Finance minister. Taki said
that Chalabi is a red-line for SCIRI, the Kurds and Iraqiyya
and hopes he will not find a place anywhere in government.
5. (C) Taki said that in a May 16 meeting with Badr
organization head Hadi al-Amiri, al-Maliki tried to persuade
al-Amiri to endorse newly proposed MOI candidate Nasir
al-Amiri. Taki said that SCIRI had not yet decided to agree
on Nasir al-Amiri for MOI because al-Amiri was too close to
Dawa. (NOTE: On May 16, Dawa member Ali Adeeb told PolOff
that he did not know how Nasir al-Amiri's name had been put
forward and would like to know more about him. Also on May
16, Qassim Daoud said he was still waiting to hear about MOI
but did not think his chances were good because of
personality differences with Maliki. END NOTE)
6. (C) Taki reflected that SCIRI had been weakened by the PM
nomination competition within the UIC. He said that
SISTANI's insistence on keeping the Shia Coalition together
had seriously damaged SCIRI's maneuvering room and diminished
its stature both nationally and within the UIC. Taki said he
has had several conversations with Politburo members about
the possibility of restructuring to make a come back. He
said that SCIRI has thrown all its energies into the
ministerial race, but has decided not to take drastic public
measures (e.g., threatening to leave the UIC) to get better
ministries. Taki said the party leaders have yet to think
BAGHDAD 00001641 002 OF 002
about their approach to the provincial elections,
acknowledging their importance.
--------------
YAQUBI REJECTS FADHILA RETURN
--------------
7. (C) Taki noted that Dawa Tenzim's Abd al-Karim Ali Hussein
al-Anzi went to Najaf on May 15 to persuade Fadhila Party
Spiritual Leader Mohammed al-Yaqubi to allow Fadhila to
re-enter government negotiations (reftel). Taki said that
al-Yaqubi flatly rejected the possibility. Taki said there
is little hope of changing al-Yaqubi's mind and a proposal by
Fadhila Deputy Secretary-General Ali al-Dabbagh that his
party receive the Trade Ministry in exchange for the Oil
Ministry has no legs.
-------------- --------------
ELEVENTH HOUR CHANGES TO IRAQIYYA NEGOTIATING TEAM
-------------- --------------
8. (C) Iraqiyya members continue to present a confused
picture of their bloc's intentions. Safia Suhail told PolOff
May 17 that Ayad Allawi had added two members to Iraqiyya's
negotiating committee; herself and Hamid Mousa. She said
that Allawi planned to leave town at this crucial stage in
government negotiations, deferring to the committee to make
the right decisions. She requested that the U.S. advocate
for her "PM Assistant" position claiming that she has already
obtained the support of the Kurds and Tawafuq. On May 17,
original negotiating committee member Shaikh Hussein
al-Sha'alan told PolOff that he was not convinced that Allawi
would stay in town all week. He said that he and fellow
Iraqiyya member Saad al-Janabi went to Allawi's home on May
16 to try to persuade him to stay. Al-Sha'alan would not
confirm or deny that Safia Suhail and Hamid Mousa have joined
the Iraqiyya negotiating team, smiling and rolling his eyes
at the question. On May 17, close advisor to Allawi and
Iraqiyya member Medhi Hafedh said that only Allawi can make
the big decisions now.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
9. (C) Despite the unhappy chatter, the PM-designate's
discussions with party leaders continue. Some of the
complaints -- e.g., Taki re. the "broken promise" to SCIRI
over the Interior Ministry -- would seem to reflect welcome
developments; the position should not be under partisan
control. Taki's comments, however, reaffirm the continued
tensions within UIC. Maliki will likely be in a position to
announce his government within the coming days, but he will
still face challenges within the fractious Shia Coalition, as
well as from his non-Shia partners in the National Unity
Government. END COMMENT
KHALILZAD