FADHILA LEADER CALLS MILITIAS DEFENSIVE MEASURE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002471

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2016
TAGS: IZ PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: FADHILA LEADER CALLS MILITIAS DEFENSIVE MEASURE
AGAINST INSURGENTS


Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR MARGARET M. SCOBEY, FOR REASONS 1.4
(B) AND (D).


1. (C) Summary. In a July 9 meeting with poloffs, Fadhila
Party General Secretary Abd al-Rahim al-Hasuna said that his
party continued to consider itself a part of the Shia
Coalition, despite the "unfair" outcome of the government
formation process which left it without any ministries.
Al-Hasuna agreed that militia activity poses a threat to
Iraqi stability, but insisted that the Shia militias are
primarily a defensive response to Sunni insurgent attacks.
He criticized what he characterized as heavy-handed tactics
used by U.S. military forces in Iraq, but expressed interest
in working with the USG on economic reconstruction projects.
Al-Hasuna claimed that Fadhila opposed forcing women to wear
the hijab, but did not respond to the suggestion that he
express this position publicly. He blamed security problems
in Basra on political instability and a lack of economic
progress. He said that Fadhila did not have a position on
the timing of provincial elections. Al-Hasuna expressed
general support for national reconciliation, but expressed
opposition to offering premature amnesty to insurgents. End
summary.

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Fadhila Still in Coalition, But Unhappy
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2. (C) On July 9, Al-Hasuna told poloffs that the Fadhila
Party has been shortchanged compared to other parties in the
Shia Coalition because, even though Fadhila has 15 seats in
the 275-member Council of Representatives, it did not receive
any ministries. He compared Fadhila's position to Dawa
Tanzim, which has 13 seats in the CoR but holds three
ministerial positions. He noted Fadhila still considers
itself a part of the Shia Coalition, which is in turn the
largest bloc in the government. Hasuna said, however, that
without a ministry, it is difficult for Fadhila to accomplish
its goals in the government. He particularly deplored
Fadhila's "loss" of the oil ministry, noting that his party
had hoped the USG would support its effort to keep the
portfolio. Poloff replied that allocation of ministries had
been an Iraqi decision.

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Lack of Security Fosters Militias
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3. (C) Al-Hasuna claimed that Fadhila forbids its members to
engage in violence. He said, however, that Shia militias are
a defensive measure against attacks by Sunnis. He said two
conditions would hasten elimination of militias -- an end to
insurgency violence and economic opportunity. Poloff replied
that the Iraqi Government -- not militias -- should provide
security and that security would in turn help promote
economic growth.

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Mixed Views Toward USG
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4. (C) Al-Hasuna unfavorably compared the U.S. presence in
Iraq to that of the British, claiming that the British
military has used a more conciliatory approach than U.S.
forces. He said that U.S. forces have often used
heavy-handed tactics, for example when the Karbala Provincial
Council Chair was arrested because of suspected militia
involvement. Poloff replied that MNF-I uses force only when
absolutely necessary. On the other hand, Al-Hasuna said that
he recognized the USG effort to help Iraq and would be
pleased to exchange views on economic development projects,
particularly in southern Iraq. (NOTE: Al-Hasuna is from
Nasiriyah.)

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Hijabs
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5. (C) Poloff noted Embassy concern over reports of
harassment and threats against Iraqi women who choose not to
wear the hijab. Hasuna blamed such behavior on "Wahabis and
Takfiris." He characterized the tolerance displayed by
Islamic rulers in medieval Spain as the true face of
political Islam. He stopped short, however, of agreeing to
publicly express opposition to harassment of women who do not
wear the hijab.

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Problems in Basrah
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6. (C) Al-Hasuna said that the security problems in Basrah
are at root a political problem. He predicted that no
lasting security will be achieved in Basrah until an
agreement is reached among the various political factions in
the province. He said that an even more fundamental problem
in Basrah and southern Iraq is a lack of economic progress
since the 2003 liberation. He said that the people of
southern Iraq have not seen concrete benefits from democracy
and therefore are not committed to making the new government
succeed.

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Provincial Elections
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7. (C) Al-Hasuna said that Fadhila is not yet ready to
endorse a specific time for provincial elections. When
elections are held, Fadhila will decide on a
province-by-province basis whether to join a coalition or run
independently.

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Amnesty and National Reconciliation
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8. (C) Al-Hasuna expressed general support for the Prime
Minister's national reconciliation plan. He said, however,
that amnesty should be delayed until after the insurgency is
defeated. Al-Hasuna said that to grant amnesty while the
insurgency is still active would be comparable to catching
fish and then throwing them back into the water, i.e., it
would allow imprisoned insurgents to resume their fight
against the government.

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Comment
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9. (C) Al-Hasuna appeared keen to establish an ongoing
dialogue with the USG. He repeatedly asked if we could
provide him with pictures of the President's visit to Baghdad
and noted that he is reading the Arabic-language edition of
Alexis de Toqueville's "Democracy in America," which he
received at post's July 4 reception. He is reportedly an
Islamic scholar by training and still largely an unknown
within his own party. He replaced Nadeem al-Jabiri
(currently Fadhila's leader in the Council of
Representatives) as party General Secretary in May 2006.
SATTERFIELD