SHIA ALLIANCE LEADERS BLAME MNF-I AND SUNNIS FOR

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 BAGHDAD 000052

SIPDIS

REL USA AND MCFI
S FOR JIM JEFFREY AND STEVE BEECROFT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/06/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM IZ
SUBJECT: SHIA ALLIANCE LEADERS BLAME MNF-I AND SUNNIS FOR
CURRENT SECURITY SITUATION

Classified By: AMBASSADOR ZALMAY KHALILZAD FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d).


1. (S/REL) SUMMARY: A Shia Coalition "security committee"
told the Ambassador and MNF-I Deputy Commanding General (DCG)
that the level of violence in Iraq since the election has
prompted community and religious leaders to call for taking
measures to defend themselves. The committee members said
they may not be able to restrain the street from reacting.
Furthermore, post-election statements by the Sunni-Arab
Tawafuq bloc threaten violence over the election results, but
the security ministries are telling the "security committee"
that MNF-I is preventing MOD and MOI forces from carrying out
their duties. The Ambassador and the DCG reiterated
Coalition commitment to fighting terrorism in Iraq, and
Coalition support for building up the Iraqi Security Forces
(ISF) and continuing to transfer security responsibility to
them. The Ambassador stressed that he has told Sunni Arabs
that they cannot participate simultaneously in the political
process and the insurgency without being branded as
terrorists. END SUMMARY.
.

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SECURITY SITUATION:
SO BAD WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE STREET
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2. (C/REL) The Ambassador and MNF-I DCG Lt Gen Houghton met
January 4 with Dr. Hussein Shahristani (Deputy Speaker of the
TNA),Jawad al-Maliki (leading figure in Dawa and chairman of
the Security and Defense Committee),and Hadi al-Amiri (Badr
Corps). According to Dr. Shahristani, they, along with Dr.
Qusay (a Sadrist who was not present),constitute a security
committee appointed by the leadership within the Shia
Coalition, the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA).


3. (S/REL) Dr. Shahristani described the security situation
as "very serious," with religious and local leaders
complaining. He said the situation has deteriorated since
December 19 when Tawafuq announced it would resist the
election results, with some Tawafuq leaders threatening
violence. He claimed that many Shia are saying that if the
government cannot protect them, then they will take measures
to defend themselves. Shahristani added that political and
religious leaders have been able to restrain the street
previously, but that they may be reaching a point where they
do not have enough influence to stop the street.

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MOD AND MOI SAY MNF-I HINDERS THEIR OPERATIONS
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4. (S/REL) Dr. Shahristani told Ambassador Khalilzad and Lt
Gen Houghton that this newly formed UIA "security committee"
had met January 3 with the Ministers of Defense and Interior,
and with UK Ambassador Patey on January 4, regarding the
security situation. Dr. Shahristani said that MOD Dulime and
MOI Jabr had both acknowledged that there are sufficient
forces to protect the people; however, they said their work
is being hindered by MNF-I, specifically citing a lack of
cooperation and of support for targeting insurgents. Dr.
Shahristani stated that this assertion called into question
the Shia Coalition's faith both in democracy and in MNF-I.
He said they thought MNF-I was here to help Iraqis build
democracy and build the capacity of the ISF in order to allow
MNF-I to leave. He said that if this perception is not
correct, the Shia Coalition will have to tell its supporters
that it cannot continue the political process and that the
ISF is being prevented from carrying out its duties.


5. (S/REL) Ambassador Khalilzad thanked Dr. Shahristani for
his comments and replied that he endorsed the UK Ambassador's
proposal for an additional meeting to be held on the security
situation. This meeting would include MOD Dulime and MOI
Jabr, and would address specific complaints.


6. (S/REL) Ambassador Khalilzad then addressed three points.
First, he has been clear with the Sunnis that they can't have
one foot in politics and one foot in the insurgency/terror.
There is no such thing as legitimate resistance (violence) to
a legitimate government. Second, there are issues about
areas of responsibility for MOD and MOI forces, particularly
in Baghdad. It may be necessary to reduce some MOD areas of
responsibility to prevent forces from being spread too thin,
and this is a topic for further discussion between MOI and
MOD. He underlined the U.S. and Coalition commitment to
fighting terrorism and establishing security throughout Iraq,
and he also reiterated that the Coalition wants the ISF to
carry out its responsibilities so that MNF-I can reduce its
footprint. Last, the Ambassador noted that there are certain
standards that need to be held to in a democracy, and that
ISF and MNF-I may differ on tactics and techniques. He
stated that the Coalition wants all people who are in custody
to be treated according to the law.


6. (S/REL) Lt Gen Houghton then stated that the overall
status of transfer of security responsibility to the Iraqi
government is good. He said there is a concern that the
nature of the security situation in places like Diyala and
Baghdad is shifting to inter-sectarian conflict. It is
important, he added, not to respond in a sectarian fashion to
sectarian tensions; security issues need to be resolved in an
even-handed manner. Lt Gen Houghton noted that MNF-I
counsels against the Iraqi Police conducting large-scale
detention raids in Sunni communities because these actions
that would likely exacerbate the security situation. More
carefully targeted operations would be better, he cautioned.
Lt Gen Houghton said the Baghdad security plan is being
reviewed and will be presented shortly to the Minister's
Committee for National Security, in an effort to balance
security and sectarian concerns without making the security
situation worse.

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HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERNS ARE PARALYZING THE MOI
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7. (S/REL) Hadi al-Amiri agreed that the number of ISF are
growing, which is good, but so are the car bombings and
kidnappings, which is not. He pointed out that the
kidnapping of MOI Jabr's sister the day before (on January 3)
"tells everyone that they are vulnerable." He acknowledged
that large-scale operations and mass arrests are not good,
but the security situation will deteriorate if the security
ministries do nothing. Al-Amiri acknowledged that there are
human rights abuses in MOI, but pointed out that the abuses
are committed by people who were themselves abused by the
Sunnis under Saddam Hussein (and therefore understandable).
He reiterated that MOI should not be held back by human
rights concerns; it needs to act. The Ambassador said MOI
should not be frozen into inaction, but still needs to adhere
to certain standards. Lt Gen Houghton added that MOI must
try to improve its intelligence operations.


8. (S/REL) Jawad al-Maliki said the GOI is trying to control
the street, but terrorists are provoking people. He said
there are rumors that the U.S. Embassy had agreed with
Tawafuq to stop all raids, adding that all gains will be lost
if groups can pull out the violence card. He also alleged
that while the MOI and MOD are paralyzed, killers are being
released because of the Embassy. Al-Maliki said that people
need to be interrogated, accusing the Ministry of Human
Rights of acting as if only criminals have rights. He then
stated his concern that a unity government will be set up in
a manner that hampers those who received the most votes in
the election.


9. (C/REL) The Ambassador stated that there is no agreement
with Tawafuq or anyone else, adding that the Coalition has
been pushing Tawafuq to disavow violence. He said the
Coalition has told Sunni leaders that the Coalition does not
prefer big raids, but instead supports intelligence-driven,
focused operations. As for politics, the Ambassador
acknowledged that the Coalition favors a national unity
government and that Sunni integration is good. The
Ambassador said the USG has never called for a ministry
distribution formula outside of the elections. He cautioned
al-Maliki not to believe stories that the U.S. supports a
particular shape or weight for the GOI.

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TAWAFUQ STATEMENTS:
MAKING US RECONSIDER NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT
-------------- -


10. (S/REL) Dr. Shahristani noted that the Shia Coalition
leadership meets daily and that they have been committed to
the idea of a national unity government with Tawafuq. The
Shia Coalition is under great pressure to reconsider this
position, Shahristani said, because Tawafuq is perceived not
to be a serious partner. He said Tawafuq made strategic
mistakes by calling for violence and that it should retract
those statements. He said the Shia Coalition will continue
to engage Sunni Arab leaders, urging them to use their
influence to reduce violence. The Ambassador pointed to the
shock felt by Sunni Arabs from the election results,
especially in cities like Baghdad. He mentioned that the
IMIE observers will act as a face-saving mechanism, and he
urged the Shia Coalition to talk seriously and realistically
with them. Lt Gen Houghton then offered to brief Dr.
Shahristani on the security situation and the transfer of
security responsibility on a regular basis, to which Dr.
Shahristani agreed.
KHALILZAD