LEADING SHIA POLITICIAN SHAYKH HUMAM HAMMOUDI LAYS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 004254

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS IZ
SUBJECT: LEADING SHIA POLITICIAN SHAYKH HUMAM HAMMOUDI LAYS
OUT STRATEGY FOR SUCCESS

Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY. Leading SCIRI party member Shaykh Humam
Hammoudi laid out a vision on how to achieve democracy in
Iraq and gave specific recommendations in the security,
political and economic spheres. He highlighted the
short-term importance of building Iraqi Security Forces (ISF)
committed to democracy through the integration of militias
(citing Badr Corps as an example) to fight terrorists and
Saddamists and place less emphasis on balance and human
rights in the short term. Over the long term, after the
terrorists and Saddamists have been defeated, we could then
emphasize getting rid of militias from the security forces
and improving human rights. This is the first time that a
Shia politician has so openly suggested that militia members
should be integrated into the ISF in to defeat terrorists and
Saddamists so that the long-term goal of democracy be
achieved. Hammoudi insisted that majorities must be able to
enact legislation. The framework should be "majority rules"
-- without requiring 100 percent approval; otherwise, no
state could function. He also praised democracy's economic
benefits, and highlighted the fact that security is good
enough for investment in seven to ten governorates (i.e., the
Shia south). He said it should not be difficult to begin
major projects, particularly in electricity, oil, and
services. END SUMMARY

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Let Security Forces (With Integrated Militias) That Support
Democracy Deal With Terrorists and Saddamists
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2. (C) Leading SCIRI member Shaykh Humam Hammoudi highlighted
the long-term importance of building state security
institutions that have credibility with all communities and
respect human rights and basic security apparatuses. He said
the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) need forces now that are able
to defeat those who oppose democracy (i.e., militias). He
used the peshmerga as an example, saying they currently
provide security and stability in the north. He added that
the long-term goal should be to place the militia under the
MOI with close monitoring, but acknowledged that this is not
happening now because of the political problems it would
create. Hammoudi defended integrating Badr Corps members
into ISF, saying that security institutions need
"experienced" people who have democratic convictions to help
defeat the terrorists. He suggested that after three years,
when there is security, these integration decisions can be
reviewed.

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Majority Rule, Not Consensual Politics
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3. (C) Hammoudi insisted that majorities must be able to
enact legislation and achieve projects in support of
democracy. The framework should be "majority rules." No
state could function otherwise. Hammoudi added that "all of
the deprived" (Shia, Kurds, and some Sunni) support
democracy, as do those who think positively about the U.S.
Hammoudi estimated that about 10 percent of Iraqis are
against the current democracy, but this 10 percent should not
be allowed to affect the goal. Hammoudi decried "consensual"
politics, describing it as a poor compromise between
democracy and dictatorship, and a violation of the
one-person-one vote concept. Hammoudi agreed that Sunnis
(but not every Sunni) should be involved in the political
process. He said the Shia could have formed a government
with just the Kurds, but compromised on the national unity
government. He said that democracy where minorities can veto
every project is not real democracy.


4. (C) Hammoudi said the U.S. and the Shia will both be
blamed if the Iraqi democracy fails and both will succeed if
it works. Shia live in fear because of what happened to them
after the 1920 Revolution and the 1991 uprising, but are not
vying for a monopoly of power; Hammoudi credited Grand
Ayatollah SISTANI for this vision. Highlighting the presence
of five Sunnis on the UIC electoral list in Mosul, Hammodi
predicted that sectarian entrenchment in politics will not
continue.

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Economic Benefits Can Be Achieved Now
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5. (C) Hammoudi praised democracy's economic benefits and
claimed that security is good enough for investment in seven
to ten governorates (i.e., the Shia south). He said it
should not be difficult to begin major projects particularly
in electricity, oil, and services, instead of spending small
amounts of funding everywhere.

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COMMENT
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6. (C) This marks the first time that a Shia politician has
so openly suggested that militia members be integrated into
the ISF in the short term to defeat the terrorists and
Saddamists so that the long-term goal of democracy can be
achieved and secured. In Hammoudi's view, once terrorists
and Saddamists are defeated, then the state institutions can
be built up and defeated enemies brought into the political
process. Shia politicians increasingly feel that the Iraqi
Police and Army cannot protect their constituents; increasing
attacks and casualties have caused many Shia to question the
current democratic government and its leaders who encouraged
them to support it with promises of a better future.
Speckhard