DHI QAR POLITICAL LANDSCAPE PART II: FADILA PARTY;

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 004791 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS PINR IZ SUBJECT: DHI QAR POLITICAL LANDSCAPE PART II: FADILA PARTY; C-IA6-01667 REF: A. BAGHDAD 4650 ¶B. STATE 171583 Classified By: Dhi Qar PRT Deputy Team Leader Richard Riley for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This is a PRT Dhi Qar cable, the second in a series of six cables covering the political landscape of Dhi Qar Province and responding to the information request in ref ¶B. This cable focuses on the Fadila party. ¶2. (C) Summary: Fadhila was founded and is led today by Ayatollah Mohammed Al-Yaqubi, a follower of the late Ayatollah Mohammed Sadiq al-Sadr (Sadr II; also Muqtada's father). In Dhi Qar, Fadhila's appeal stems less from its Islamist ideology than from its grip on sources of patronage. Fadhila leaders in Dhi Qar seem primarily concerned with their economic and political gain, and they use their affiliation with Fadhila in part as a means to that end. Fadhila does not have a significant militia presence in Dhi Qar, but its association with the Sadrists, who boycotted the provincial elections, gives Fadhila political power greater than its numbers would otherwise suggest. The Chairman of the Provincial Council is from Fadhila, as is the Chairman of the Provincial Reconstruction Development Committee. End summary. ¶3. (C) Fadila and SCIRI hold 11 seats each on the Dhi Qar Provincial Council (PC),out of a total of 41 seats. Under a power-sharing agreement brokered by SCIRI leader Abdulaziz al-Hakim, the Dhi Qar governor is from SCIRI, the Provincial Council Chairman is from Fadhila, and the vice-Chairman is from Dawa (which secured 10 seats). -------------- --- Sources of Strength: Patronage and the Sadrists -------------- --- ¶4. (S) The Fadila Party, like most political parties in Dhi Qar, has its provincial headquarters in the city of Nasiriyah. In addition, it has offices in each district and sub-district. Fadhila leaders use these offices to hold political meetings and for business purposes. They also use the offices as employment and recruitment centers. Like most political parties except perhaps Da'wa, Fadila tries to employ only Fadila members in offices which it controls. In addition, where the Fadila party controls a contract, it will use a Fadila-approved contractor where possible, and reportedly expects consideration in the form of a kickback from the contractor for awarding a contract. ¶5. (C) Though Fadila members consider themselves more educated and refined than the Sadrists, there is nevertheless crossover between the two groups in Dhi Qar. Both groups share the vision and heritage of Sadr II and draw their support mostly from the ranks of poorer and less educated Iraqis. In Dhi Qar Province, there are several mosques that can be identified as having a strong Fadila presence. It is not uncommon for Sadrists to attend these mosques and pray with Fadila members in solidarity. Fadila uses the occasion of Friday prayers at these mosques to conduct party business and to recruit members. Fadhila does not have a significant militia presence in Dhi Qar, but this association with the Sadrists gives Fadhila greater political power than its numbers or lack of a militia might suggest. -------------- Fadhila Leaders in Dhi Qar -------------- ¶6. (C) Ihsan Talib al-Ta'ee is the most senior Fadila Party member in Dhi Qar and is Chairman of the Provincial Council (PC). He is in his mid-30's and was a high school teacher and follower of Sadr II before joining the Fadhila movement in about 2001. He studied at the University of Basrah, and his parents both belonged to the Ba'ath Party under the previous regime. The fact that both his parents were Ba'athists means that some inside and outside of Fadhila view him with suspicion. His main political rival is Governor Alwan (ref A). He has done a good job as chairman, focusing on reconstruction and working with Coalition Forces (CFs). He has been to two training courses in Italy sponsored by MNF-I. He appears to follow the guidance of al-Yacoubi closely. ¶7. (C) Hassan Wirawish is the Chairman of the Provincial BAGHDAD 00004791 002 OF 002 Reconstruction Development Committee (PRDC). (Note: The PRDC is the council set up with representatives from the Governor's office and the PC to work with the CFs on reconstruction. The PRDC has direct oversight on reconstruction, and reports to both the Governor's office and the PC. End note.) In his late 30's, he is from Chabaish, which is west of Suq Ash Shukuyah in Dhi Qar Province. He is a civil engineer, has a technical grasp of the reconstruction issues facing the province, and appears very focused on winning reconstruction projects for his own Al-Kabaish District. He remained in Iraq during the Iran- Iraq War and joined Fadhila in 2003. Although he is not staunchly pro-American, he has cooperated well with the coalition on reconstruction projects. SCOBEY