Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD1658
2006-05-18 16:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
SADR CITY DAC MEMBER ON RECONSTRUCTION; DAC ROLE
how-toVZCZCXRO9834 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHMOS DE RUEHGB #1658/01 1381640 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 181640Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4537 INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001658
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2016
TAGS: PINS PNAT PTER KDEM KISL IZ
SUBJECT: SADR CITY DAC MEMBER ON RECONSTRUCTION; DAC ROLE
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT S. FORD FOR
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001658
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2016
TAGS: PINS PNAT PTER KDEM KISL IZ
SUBJECT: SADR CITY DAC MEMBER ON RECONSTRUCTION; DAC ROLE
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT S. FORD FOR
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) Summary: Sadr City District Advisory Council (DAC)
and Baghdad City Council member Khudair al-Lami told PolOff
on May 15 that Sadr City residents would give Coalition
Forces (CF) credit for reconstructing their area if large,
visible structures were built. It is difficult to notice
sewer and waters lines, he said, and so many Sadr City
residents are losing patience with CF. To better
coordinate such reconstruction projects, al-Lami said the
DAC should be an independent local government, rather than
a strictly advisory body. This would allow the DAC to
better serve the people of Sadr City, he said. He argued
that effective local government is needed to maintain the
rule of law and eliminate militia influence in Sadr City.
End Summary
--------------
"Look What the British Gave Us!"
--------------
2. (C) In a May 15 meeting with PolOff, Khudair al-Lami,
member of the Sadr City DAC and Baghdad City Council, urged
CF to build large, visible structures. He said that,
because it is difficult to notice new sewer and water
lines, average Iraqis do not recognize CF reconstruction
efforts. As a result, he said, many people in Sadr City
are losing patience with CF promises to rebuild the area.
Al-Lami said large structures such as the ones the UK built
when they ruled Iraq will serve as a visible reminder of
how CF helped the Iraqi people. (Comment: We hear
comments about creating visual reminders of aid from other
Iraqis. In fact, much of Sadr City was covered in sewage
in late 2004. Now, the water infrastructure and sewerage
in Sadr City is better now due to US efforts. End
Comment.)
--------------
Back To the DAC
--------------
3. (C) Al-Lami expects SCIRI, Fadhila, and the Sadrists to
win the majority of seats on the Sadr City DAC in the
upcoming provincial elections. He said he hopes that,
after the elections, the DAC can become a true local
government, rather than remain a strictly advisory body.
The DAC, he argued, should be able to levy taxes on the
people of Sadr City and use this money to carry out
projects. Having an independent budget, he argued, is
essential for the DAC to maintain its independence as a
governing body and better serve Sadr City residents.
--------------
JAM: What Weak Government Hath Wrought
--------------
4. (C) Al-Lami argued that strong local government is
essential to maintaining the rule of law. In the absence
of government control, Al-Lami stated, the Sadrist-backed
Jaysh al-Mahdi (JAM) has taken control of Sadr City.
During the Saddam era, al-Lami claimed, over 7,000 Iraqi
Police (IP) officers patrolled Sadr City. Now, there are
only 1,200. Calling Sadr City the "Heart of Baghdad," Al-
Lami said that the lack of IP control over Sadr City
threatens to destabilize the whole capital. PolOff replied
that CF continuously trains new Iraqi Police officers and
soldiers, and the 6th Iraqi Army Division has assumed
battle space in Sadr City.
--------------
Comment
--------------
5. (C) Al-Lami's comments seem to show a willingness on the
part of Sadr City politicians to take charge of security in
their area. While it may be true that the GOI has yet to
provide adequate security in Sadr City, we have not seen
much evidence of Sadr politicians or citizens taking
measures to advance their own security. Iraqis do not seem
to understand that communities are also responsible for
their own stability. We welcome DAC members' interest in
filling the void, as long as it is done legally. Al-Lami's
statements on reconstruction echo those of other embassy
contacts: reconstruction is something many Iraqis do not
see, and so many assume that it is not happening. The
primary reason why CF and others have spent reconstruction
funds on water and sewage is because those are the needs
identified by Iraqis and CF as priorities. CF and others
have tended to keep reconstruction projects low-profile to
ensure the security of the project staff and the project
BAGHDAD 00001658 002 OF 002
itself. However, constructing large buildings that are
readily apparent to Iraqis, while not necessarily serving
the immediate needs of the people, would apparently score
public relations points with some Iraqis.
KHALILZAD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2016
TAGS: PINS PNAT PTER KDEM KISL IZ
SUBJECT: SADR CITY DAC MEMBER ON RECONSTRUCTION; DAC ROLE
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT S. FORD FOR
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) Summary: Sadr City District Advisory Council (DAC)
and Baghdad City Council member Khudair al-Lami told PolOff
on May 15 that Sadr City residents would give Coalition
Forces (CF) credit for reconstructing their area if large,
visible structures were built. It is difficult to notice
sewer and waters lines, he said, and so many Sadr City
residents are losing patience with CF. To better
coordinate such reconstruction projects, al-Lami said the
DAC should be an independent local government, rather than
a strictly advisory body. This would allow the DAC to
better serve the people of Sadr City, he said. He argued
that effective local government is needed to maintain the
rule of law and eliminate militia influence in Sadr City.
End Summary
--------------
"Look What the British Gave Us!"
--------------
2. (C) In a May 15 meeting with PolOff, Khudair al-Lami,
member of the Sadr City DAC and Baghdad City Council, urged
CF to build large, visible structures. He said that,
because it is difficult to notice new sewer and water
lines, average Iraqis do not recognize CF reconstruction
efforts. As a result, he said, many people in Sadr City
are losing patience with CF promises to rebuild the area.
Al-Lami said large structures such as the ones the UK built
when they ruled Iraq will serve as a visible reminder of
how CF helped the Iraqi people. (Comment: We hear
comments about creating visual reminders of aid from other
Iraqis. In fact, much of Sadr City was covered in sewage
in late 2004. Now, the water infrastructure and sewerage
in Sadr City is better now due to US efforts. End
Comment.)
--------------
Back To the DAC
--------------
3. (C) Al-Lami expects SCIRI, Fadhila, and the Sadrists to
win the majority of seats on the Sadr City DAC in the
upcoming provincial elections. He said he hopes that,
after the elections, the DAC can become a true local
government, rather than remain a strictly advisory body.
The DAC, he argued, should be able to levy taxes on the
people of Sadr City and use this money to carry out
projects. Having an independent budget, he argued, is
essential for the DAC to maintain its independence as a
governing body and better serve Sadr City residents.
--------------
JAM: What Weak Government Hath Wrought
--------------
4. (C) Al-Lami argued that strong local government is
essential to maintaining the rule of law. In the absence
of government control, Al-Lami stated, the Sadrist-backed
Jaysh al-Mahdi (JAM) has taken control of Sadr City.
During the Saddam era, al-Lami claimed, over 7,000 Iraqi
Police (IP) officers patrolled Sadr City. Now, there are
only 1,200. Calling Sadr City the "Heart of Baghdad," Al-
Lami said that the lack of IP control over Sadr City
threatens to destabilize the whole capital. PolOff replied
that CF continuously trains new Iraqi Police officers and
soldiers, and the 6th Iraqi Army Division has assumed
battle space in Sadr City.
--------------
Comment
--------------
5. (C) Al-Lami's comments seem to show a willingness on the
part of Sadr City politicians to take charge of security in
their area. While it may be true that the GOI has yet to
provide adequate security in Sadr City, we have not seen
much evidence of Sadr politicians or citizens taking
measures to advance their own security. Iraqis do not seem
to understand that communities are also responsible for
their own stability. We welcome DAC members' interest in
filling the void, as long as it is done legally. Al-Lami's
statements on reconstruction echo those of other embassy
contacts: reconstruction is something many Iraqis do not
see, and so many assume that it is not happening. The
primary reason why CF and others have spent reconstruction
funds on water and sewage is because those are the needs
identified by Iraqis and CF as priorities. CF and others
have tended to keep reconstruction projects low-profile to
ensure the security of the project staff and the project
BAGHDAD 00001658 002 OF 002
itself. However, constructing large buildings that are
readily apparent to Iraqis, while not necessarily serving
the immediate needs of the people, would apparently score
public relations points with some Iraqis.
KHALILZAD