Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD258
2006-01-30 13:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

ALLAWI ALLY SAYS AYAD OPEN TO OVERSEEING SECURITY

Tags:  PGOV PNAT KDEM KWMN IZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6059
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHMOS
DE RUEHGB #0258/01 0301311
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 301311Z JAN 06
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2369
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000258 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2016
TAGS: PGOV PNAT KDEM KWMN IZ
SUBJECT: ALLAWI ALLY SAYS AYAD OPEN TO OVERSEEING SECURITY
MINISTRIES

Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT S. FORD FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) A
ND (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000258

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2016
TAGS: PGOV PNAT KDEM KWMN IZ
SUBJECT: ALLAWI ALLY SAYS AYAD OPEN TO OVERSEEING SECURITY
MINISTRIES

Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT S. FORD FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) A
ND (D).


1. (C) Summary. Safia Suhail told Poloffs January 30 that
former PM Allawi would be open to a government appointment
overseeing the security ministries. She added that SCIRI's
Abd' al-Aziz al-Hakim is trying to establish a political
marja'iya in order to remain in power over ever-increasing
popular Moqtada al-Sadr. Suhail claimed that Tawafuq and
Allawi will stay aligned during government formation talks.
Suhail added that if the Shia Alliance decides to pick
Ibrahim Jafari for Prime Minister, it would not be surprising
if Fadhila Party's Nadim al-Jabiri and SCIRI Adel Abd
al-Madhi leave the Alliance and join with the Kurds. In that
case, Suhail said that the Allawi camp would be open to
working with both al-Jabiri and Abd' al-Madhi to form a
coalition government. End Summary.

--------------
First Iraqi Woman Negotiator
--------------


2. (C) On January 29, Safar Suhail expressed excitement to
PolOffs that she was the only woman named to the Iraqi
National List negotiating team for the new government
formation talks. She said that other members of the team
included Allawi, himself, as well as Rosum al-Awadi, Adnan
Pachachi, and Ghazi al-Yawr. Mohamed Allawi and Azzet
Shahbander will be Allawi,s second tier interlocutors with
Fadhila's Nadim al-Jabiri and SCIRI's Abd' al-Aziz al-Hakim.


3. (C) Suhail reported that Mohamed Allawi and Shahbander
have spoken with al-Jabiri on policy but not about his bid
for Prime Minister. Suhail said that everyone was awaiting
Masoud Barzani,s arrival in order to start serious talks
about government formation. (NOTE: Barzani arrived in Baghdad
January 28. END NOTE) Although Suhail said she urged Ayad
Allawi to stay in Baghdad to be available for talks, Allawi
left for London and should be back in a couple of days.

--------------
Allawi Not Insisting on Premiership
--------------


4. (C) Suhail was aware of discussions to create a third
Deputy Prime Minister position and National Security Council.
She added that Allawi was resigned to the fact that he was
unlikely to be Prime Minister and would be open to a position
such as Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the security
ministries. Suhail said the UIA was still unsure as to who
would be its candidate for the PM spot. She said that the
declaration that the candidate would be named after the
election result certification was just an excuse to cover up
internal UIA uncertainty. Both Jafari and Abd' al-Mahdi are
influenced by Iran said Suhail, though Mahdi enjoys President
Talabani's support. Suhail claimed that Da'wa is busy
creating its own militia within the security forces.

--------------
Al-Hakim's Political Marja'iya
--------------


5. (C) Suhail claimed that Abd' al-Aziz al-Hakim's quest for
a political marja'iya is well known to the Allawi bloc. She
added that Hakim's hatred of Moqtada al-Sadr remained strong
and that the SCIRI leaders wanted to win over Moqtada at all
costs. Suhail claimed that Hakim was aware he was losing
influence to the more popular Moqtada; Hakim's leadership of
political marja'iya would afford him a superior position over
Sadr.

--------------
Delisting Not Unexpected
--------------


6. (C) Suhail expressed her dismay that Allawi ally Saad
al-Janabi was delisted from the candidate list due to
de-Ba'thification. However, Suhail said she understood why
both Adnan al-Janabi and Rosum al-Awadi were delisted,
admitting that both men had been part of Saddam's power
circle and financially benefited from their relationship with
the deposed dictator.


7. (C) Suhail did not offer PolOffs names of possible cabinet
ministers. She considered it premature since no decision has
been made on who will be the next Prime Minister. As for
herself, Suhail said she wanted a real decision-making
position in the next government. She said she understood the
dynamics of a coalition government could result in Allawi's
group perhaps garnering only one high-level position.

BAGHDAD 00000258 002 OF 002


"Logically it will be filled by Ayad," she said. She said
serving in the Council of Representatives COR would be
extremely worthwhile. She added that it would be a pleasure
to work with her colleague Maysoon al-Damaluji, to whom
Allawi promised his seat if he got appointed to higher office.


8. (C) COMMENT: Safia Suhail is number three on the Allawi
list. She is one of the most outspoken female politicians in
Iraq. She appears frequently in the media. She is
considered part of Allawi's inner circle. END COMMENT.
KHALILZAD