Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD733
2006-03-07 19:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
POLITICAL LEADERS MEETING ENDS WITHOUT AGREEMENT
how-toVZCZCXRO1152 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHMOS DE RUEHGB #0733/01 0661907 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 071907Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3136 INFO RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0468
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000733
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/07/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINS PNAT KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: POLITICAL LEADERS MEETING ENDS WITHOUT AGREEMENT
ON DATE FOR FIRST COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES SESSION
REF: BAGHDAD 725
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 SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000733
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/07/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINS PNAT KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: POLITICAL LEADERS MEETING ENDS WITHOUT AGREEMENT
ON DATE FOR FIRST COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES SESSION
REF: BAGHDAD 725
Classified By: Political Counselor Robert S. Ford for
reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
1. (C) SUMMARY: At the close of the day March 7, it
appeared that the Shia Islamists were resisting the
Talabani call to convene the Council of Representatives
March 12. List 555 independent Sami al-Askari told us
March 7 that Deputy President Abd al-Mahdi's refusal to
sign the convocation with President Talabani would delay
the opening session. However, Kurdish and Sunni Arab
leaders reportedly were still pressing for this date.
Abd al-Mahdi told the Ambassador March 7 that he thought
ultimately Shia hardline cleric Moqtada as-Sadr would
keep backing Jafari and hence make his removal harder.
Abd al-Mahdi thought the Shia Islamist Coalition (List
555) would make a decision about whether or not to keep
Jafari within the next several days. List 555
independent Qassem Daoud also thought Sadr would maintain
his support for Jafari. He doubted Coalition member
party SCIRI would quit the Coalition to join the Kurds,
Sunni Arab Tawafuq Front and Allawi in a common front
unless Ayatollah SISTANI pledged not to criticize SCIRI
for breaking the unity of the List 555 group. END
SUMMARY.
--------------
Differing Opinions Over CoR Opening Session
--------------
2. (C) Following the conclusion of the Talabani-hosted
meeting of political leaders (reftel),Saifadeen Abd al-
Rahman told PolOff the evening of March 7 that the Shia
coalition was continuing to push hard to delay the first
session of the Council of Representatives. However, Abd
al-Rahman said that the Kurds and Sunni Arabs would
continue to advocate holding the first session on March
12, the date called for by President Talabani.
--------------
SCIRI's Abd al-Mahdi on Jafari and Sadr
--------------
3. (C) Deputy President Adil Abd al-Mahdi opined to the
Ambassador March 7 that hardline Shia cleric Moqtada as-
Sadr was being cagey about whether he would support
Jafari staying as prime minister. He said that SCIRI
leader al-Hakim had sent his son Muhsin to see Sadr
earlier this week. When Muhsin asked the question
directly, Sadr avoided a response. Abd al-Mahdi
concluded that he thought Sadr would hold fast to Jafari.
Abd al-Mahdi said he was not sure how the List 555 would
decide on keeping Jafari or not; it might be a leadership
consensus decision or it might come to a vote within the
List 555. He thought a decision would come down within
days. The Ambassador underlined that a decision needs to
be made quickly - Iraq needs a government urgently. He
also underlined U.S. problems with Jafari.
--------------
Shia Independent Doubts SCIRI Will Jump
--------------
4. (C) On March 7, Shia independent Qassem Daoud informed
us that he believes Ja'afari is unlikely to step down.
He noted that Moqtada al-Sadr appears to supporting
Ja'afari's nomination. Daoud commented that Jafari is
having government-owned al-Iraqiya TV highlight Sadr-
related stories. (Comment: Adil Abd al-Mahdi said the
same to the Ambassador March 7. End Comment.)
5. (C) Daoud claimed that SCIRI would not split from the
main Shia Coalition over Jafari. Ayatollah SISTANI is
committed to the unity of the Shia Coalition. Daoud said
he is urging the Najaf clerics to pledge they will not
criticize parties like SCIRI if they quit the Coalition
over Jafari. He said that he is not encouraged so far.
He was dubious that SCIRI would take the risk without
having assurances.
--------------
Another Shia Independent Backs Jafari Still
--------------
6. (C) Independent Sadrist/Jafari-leaning List 555
parliamentarian Sami al-Askari told us March 7 that the
parliament would not hold its first session on March 12
because Deputy President Adel Abd al-Mahdi would not add
BAGHDAD 00000733 002 OF 002
his signature to President Jalal Talabani's order. Al-
Askari then argued that editorials in the New York Times
and the Washington Post criticizing Prime Minister Jafari
resulted from a USG campaign to discredit Jafari.
PolOffs vigorously denied this, saying the USG would work
with any Prime Minister the Iraqis chose. Al-Askari
added that the Kurds would not support Jafari's
nomination because of President Talabani, and because
Jafari does not support Kurdish aspirations to control
Kirkuk.
KHALILZAD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/07/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINS PNAT KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: POLITICAL LEADERS MEETING ENDS WITHOUT AGREEMENT
ON DATE FOR FIRST COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES SESSION
REF: BAGHDAD 725
Classified By: Political Counselor Robert S. Ford for
reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
1. (C) SUMMARY: At the close of the day March 7, it
appeared that the Shia Islamists were resisting the
Talabani call to convene the Council of Representatives
March 12. List 555 independent Sami al-Askari told us
March 7 that Deputy President Abd al-Mahdi's refusal to
sign the convocation with President Talabani would delay
the opening session. However, Kurdish and Sunni Arab
leaders reportedly were still pressing for this date.
Abd al-Mahdi told the Ambassador March 7 that he thought
ultimately Shia hardline cleric Moqtada as-Sadr would
keep backing Jafari and hence make his removal harder.
Abd al-Mahdi thought the Shia Islamist Coalition (List
555) would make a decision about whether or not to keep
Jafari within the next several days. List 555
independent Qassem Daoud also thought Sadr would maintain
his support for Jafari. He doubted Coalition member
party SCIRI would quit the Coalition to join the Kurds,
Sunni Arab Tawafuq Front and Allawi in a common front
unless Ayatollah SISTANI pledged not to criticize SCIRI
for breaking the unity of the List 555 group. END
SUMMARY.
--------------
Differing Opinions Over CoR Opening Session
--------------
2. (C) Following the conclusion of the Talabani-hosted
meeting of political leaders (reftel),Saifadeen Abd al-
Rahman told PolOff the evening of March 7 that the Shia
coalition was continuing to push hard to delay the first
session of the Council of Representatives. However, Abd
al-Rahman said that the Kurds and Sunni Arabs would
continue to advocate holding the first session on March
12, the date called for by President Talabani.
--------------
SCIRI's Abd al-Mahdi on Jafari and Sadr
--------------
3. (C) Deputy President Adil Abd al-Mahdi opined to the
Ambassador March 7 that hardline Shia cleric Moqtada as-
Sadr was being cagey about whether he would support
Jafari staying as prime minister. He said that SCIRI
leader al-Hakim had sent his son Muhsin to see Sadr
earlier this week. When Muhsin asked the question
directly, Sadr avoided a response. Abd al-Mahdi
concluded that he thought Sadr would hold fast to Jafari.
Abd al-Mahdi said he was not sure how the List 555 would
decide on keeping Jafari or not; it might be a leadership
consensus decision or it might come to a vote within the
List 555. He thought a decision would come down within
days. The Ambassador underlined that a decision needs to
be made quickly - Iraq needs a government urgently. He
also underlined U.S. problems with Jafari.
--------------
Shia Independent Doubts SCIRI Will Jump
--------------
4. (C) On March 7, Shia independent Qassem Daoud informed
us that he believes Ja'afari is unlikely to step down.
He noted that Moqtada al-Sadr appears to supporting
Ja'afari's nomination. Daoud commented that Jafari is
having government-owned al-Iraqiya TV highlight Sadr-
related stories. (Comment: Adil Abd al-Mahdi said the
same to the Ambassador March 7. End Comment.)
5. (C) Daoud claimed that SCIRI would not split from the
main Shia Coalition over Jafari. Ayatollah SISTANI is
committed to the unity of the Shia Coalition. Daoud said
he is urging the Najaf clerics to pledge they will not
criticize parties like SCIRI if they quit the Coalition
over Jafari. He said that he is not encouraged so far.
He was dubious that SCIRI would take the risk without
having assurances.
--------------
Another Shia Independent Backs Jafari Still
--------------
6. (C) Independent Sadrist/Jafari-leaning List 555
parliamentarian Sami al-Askari told us March 7 that the
parliament would not hold its first session on March 12
because Deputy President Adel Abd al-Mahdi would not add
BAGHDAD 00000733 002 OF 002
his signature to President Jalal Talabani's order. Al-
Askari then argued that editorials in the New York Times
and the Washington Post criticizing Prime Minister Jafari
resulted from a USG campaign to discredit Jafari.
PolOffs vigorously denied this, saying the USG would work
with any Prime Minister the Iraqis chose. Al-Askari
added that the Kurds would not support Jafari's
nomination because of President Talabani, and because
Jafari does not support Kurdish aspirations to control
Kirkuk.
KHALILZAD