Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD509
2006-02-17 19:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

FADHILA MEMBER AND SUNNI ARAB SHAYKH STRESS

Tags:  PGOV PHUM PNAT IZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1914
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHMOS
DE RUEHGB #0509 0481942
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 171942Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2769
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000509 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDED CAPTION)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/17/2026
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PNAT IZ
SUBJECT: FADHILA MEMBER AND SUNNI ARAB SHAYKH STRESS
IMPORTANCE OF INTERIOR MINISTRY IN GOVERNMENT FORMATION

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 BAGHDAD 000509

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDED CAPTION)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/17/2026
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PNAT IZ
SUBJECT: FADHILA MEMBER AND SUNNI ARAB SHAYKH STRESS
IMPORTANCE OF INTERIOR MINISTRY IN GOVERNMENT FORMATION

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


1. SUMMARY: In a February 16 meeting, Fadhila Member Mohammed
al-Kusai told PolOff that he doubted PM Jafari would be
successful leading the new government. However, he maintained
that the UIC 555 would seek to motivate Jafari to perform
well. Also on February 16, an al-Dulaymi tribal leader
linked support for the insurgency to Sunni Arab fear of
sectarian persecution. Both the Dulaymi shaykh and Kusai
stressed the importance of filling the interior ministry
appropriately. END SUMMARY

--------------
FADHILA MEMBER ON JAFARI'S WEAK POINTS
--------------


2. (C) In a February 16 meeting, Mohammed Ismail al-Kusai,
recently-elected Council of Representatives member and close
aide to Fadhila Party head Nadeem al-Jabiri, told PolOff that
Prime Minister Ibrahim Jafari would not be successful leading
the new government. Kusai faulted Jafari for his poor
relationship with the Kurds. He added that the next prime
minister's biggest challenge would be ending sectarianism in
Iraq. The best way to address this issue would be to form a
national unity government, with no red lines for any party or
individual to serve in a particular capacity in government.
Kusai said this approach would also help end the insurgency,
as more Sunni Arabs are brought into the political process
and eschew violence. He added that Jafari would have to
achieve some early successes because he had signed a letter
of resignation which he would have to submit one year after
assuming office if his performance is not satisfactory.
Kusai said, however, that this letter was meant to motivate
Jafari to perform well, and that the UIC 555 wants Jafari to
succeed.


3. (C) Choosing heads of some ministries, such as the
Ministry of Interior (MoI),will be very contentious, Kusai
said. There are some in UIC 555 who feel the Shia Coalition
should always control the MoI, he added. Many Sunni Arabs,
Kusai acknowledged, believe the Interior Minister should be
an independent. The Fadhila Party, al-Kusai said, has some
good candidates for the Interior Minister post, although he
declined to offer any names.

--------------
Dulaymi Tribal Leader: Interior Is Key
--------------


4. (C) Shaykh Mohamad al-Dulaymi told PolOff, February 16,
that new ministers, but especially the new interior minister,
must be non-sectarian and nationalist. PolOff told Dulaymi
that the USG also hoped to see a cross-sectarian government.
Dulaymi said a Shi'a leader could be the next interior
minister, adding that there is widespread Sunni Arab support
for either Ayad Allawi or Fadhila's Nadeem al-Jabiri.
Dulaymi said the new interior minister must focus on
accountability and transparency. There will be a massive
reaction in the Iraqi streets - either good or bad - the
minute the GOI announces the new Interior Minister, he said.


5. (C) Dulaymi linked support for the insurgency to Sunni
Arab fear of sectarian persecution. He said that the small
number of foreign fighters in Iraq had "brainwashed" locals
so well that many Iraqi insurgents "no longer know right from
wrong." The solution, he said, would be to have an interior
ministry that helped Iraqis - especially Sunni Arabs - feel
safe from persecution.
KHALILZAD