Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD510
2006-02-17 20:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
DECLARED SHIA INDEPENDENT WORRIES ABOUT FRACTIOUS
how-toVZCZCXRO1627 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHMOS DE RUEHGB #0510 0482014 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 172014Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2770 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 000510
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/17/2026
TAGS: PGOV PNAT PINR KWMN IZ
SUBJECT: DECLARED SHIA INDEPENDENT WORRIES ABOUT FRACTIOUS
COALITION
REF: BAGHDAD 480
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 000510
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/17/2026
TAGS: PGOV PNAT PINR KWMN IZ
SUBJECT: DECLARED SHIA INDEPENDENT WORRIES ABOUT FRACTIOUS
COALITION
REF: BAGHDAD 480
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT S. FORD, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B)
AND (D).
1. (C) At a February 16 introductory meeting, independent
Shia Coalition member Shatha Mosa Sadiq al-Mousawi expressed
her strong resentment toward the Embassy for reaching out to
Ayad Allawi and Sunni "Ba'thists" and for "ignoring" the
Shia. She warned that public perception about Americans is
changing for the worse. Poloff countered strongly that the
Embassy was reaching out to all groups because of our belief
that Iraq should have a government of national unity, which
represents the interests of all Iraqis.
2. (C) Mousawi expressed her concern that the Shia Coalition
is fractious and fragile, especially since the premiership
was decided by only one vote. However, Mousawi doubted SCIRI
or Fadhila would leave the Coalition because Najaf would
forbid such a move. Mousawi explained that political parties
inside the Coalition were established "outside" Iraq's
southern region (read Kurdistan or Iran). As a result, she
argued that SCIRI and Dawa are inherently loyal to parties
outside Iraq and will never act in the country's best
interest. In contrast, she proudly stated that Shia
Coalition independents are only loyal to Ayatollah Sistani
and Iraq's national interests. "We are the only political
hope for home-grown Iraqis," exclaimed Mousawi.
3. (C) COMMENT: As with comments by Hezbollah Movement of
Iraq's Hassan al-Sari (reftel),Mousawi's comments about
outreach to Allawi and Sunni Arabs reflect a zero-sum,
sectarian view of government power. We will continue to
press against this view in our discussions with Iraqi
politicians from all groups.
4. (C) BIONOTE: Shatha Mosa Sadiq Mousawi was born to a
very religious family in Najaf. In 1980, her father was
assassinated, and in the following year, two of her aunts
were murdered ) all because of their religious affiliations.
In 1982, her mother and siblings were arrested and
imprisoned. Several years later, some of her siblings
survived and were released. For years, she worked with human
rights organizations and established an NGO called
Association for Women. Mousawi said she managed to elude
direct persecution, marry and have three children during the
Saddam regime. She returned to her language studies at the
Baghdad College of Languages in 1995 and graduated with a
Bachelors equivalent in 2003. She placed her graduate
studies on hold when she was elected to the Transitional
National Assembly (TNA). During her tenure as a TNA member,
Mousawi served on the Martyrs and Political Prisoners
Committee where she made several contacts with international
and local NGOs. Mousawi said she will seek to serve on this
committee and the Integrity Committee when the CoR convenes.
She wears traditional conservative dress and speaks some
English.
KHALILZAD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/17/2026
TAGS: PGOV PNAT PINR KWMN IZ
SUBJECT: DECLARED SHIA INDEPENDENT WORRIES ABOUT FRACTIOUS
COALITION
REF: BAGHDAD 480
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT S. FORD, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B)
AND (D).
1. (C) At a February 16 introductory meeting, independent
Shia Coalition member Shatha Mosa Sadiq al-Mousawi expressed
her strong resentment toward the Embassy for reaching out to
Ayad Allawi and Sunni "Ba'thists" and for "ignoring" the
Shia. She warned that public perception about Americans is
changing for the worse. Poloff countered strongly that the
Embassy was reaching out to all groups because of our belief
that Iraq should have a government of national unity, which
represents the interests of all Iraqis.
2. (C) Mousawi expressed her concern that the Shia Coalition
is fractious and fragile, especially since the premiership
was decided by only one vote. However, Mousawi doubted SCIRI
or Fadhila would leave the Coalition because Najaf would
forbid such a move. Mousawi explained that political parties
inside the Coalition were established "outside" Iraq's
southern region (read Kurdistan or Iran). As a result, she
argued that SCIRI and Dawa are inherently loyal to parties
outside Iraq and will never act in the country's best
interest. In contrast, she proudly stated that Shia
Coalition independents are only loyal to Ayatollah Sistani
and Iraq's national interests. "We are the only political
hope for home-grown Iraqis," exclaimed Mousawi.
3. (C) COMMENT: As with comments by Hezbollah Movement of
Iraq's Hassan al-Sari (reftel),Mousawi's comments about
outreach to Allawi and Sunni Arabs reflect a zero-sum,
sectarian view of government power. We will continue to
press against this view in our discussions with Iraqi
politicians from all groups.
4. (C) BIONOTE: Shatha Mosa Sadiq Mousawi was born to a
very religious family in Najaf. In 1980, her father was
assassinated, and in the following year, two of her aunts
were murdered ) all because of their religious affiliations.
In 1982, her mother and siblings were arrested and
imprisoned. Several years later, some of her siblings
survived and were released. For years, she worked with human
rights organizations and established an NGO called
Association for Women. Mousawi said she managed to elude
direct persecution, marry and have three children during the
Saddam regime. She returned to her language studies at the
Baghdad College of Languages in 1995 and graduated with a
Bachelors equivalent in 2003. She placed her graduate
studies on hold when she was elected to the Transitional
National Assembly (TNA). During her tenure as a TNA member,
Mousawi served on the Martyrs and Political Prisoners
Committee where she made several contacts with international
and local NGOs. Mousawi said she will seek to serve on this
committee and the Integrity Committee when the CoR convenes.
She wears traditional conservative dress and speaks some
English.
KHALILZAD