Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD840
2006-03-15 18:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
PST BAGHDAD: SUPREME COUNCIL FOR THE ISLAMIC
how-toVZCZCXRO9950 RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHMOS DE RUEHGB #0840/01 0741825 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 151825Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3311 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000840
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR IZ
SUBJECT: PST BAGHDAD: SUPREME COUNCIL FOR THE ISLAMIC
REVOLUTION IN IRAQ CONSOLIDATION OF KEY POLITICAL POSITIONS
IN BAGHDAD PROVINCE
Classified By: Joseph Gregoire for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000840
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR IZ
SUBJECT: PST BAGHDAD: SUPREME COUNCIL FOR THE ISLAMIC
REVOLUTION IN IRAQ CONSOLIDATION OF KEY POLITICAL POSITIONS
IN BAGHDAD PROVINCE
Classified By: Joseph Gregoire for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
1. (C) Summary: Over the past several months the Supreme
Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) and its
subsidiary, the Badr Organization, have consolidated power at
the Baghdad provincial level by acquiring the Provincial
Council (PC) chairmanship and other key governorate
positions. This consolidation, along with positions already
held by SCIRI, has tipped the balance of power firmly into
the hands of SCIRI within Baghdad province. End summary.
--------------
Governor of Baghdad Province
--------------
2. (U) The Governor of Baghdad Province, Hussein Al-Tahan, is
a senior Badr Organization commander and brigadier general in
the Iraqi Ministry of Defense. He was appointed governor in
April 2005 by the Baghdad Provincial Council (PC).
--------------
Provincial Council Chair
--------------
3. (U) In December 2005, during a closed session of the PC,
Mueen Hameed, a senior local SCIRI official and at the time
the Deputy Chairman of the PC, was elected PC chairman. He
then replaced chairman Mazin Makiya, a Da'wa party member.
--------------
Mayor of Baghdad City
--------------
4. (U) The Mayor of Baghdad City, Dr. Saber Nabat Al-Esawi,
is a moderate self-described independent SCIRI member. While
he has demonstrated a propensity for independent decision
making, he is still bound by SCIRI guidance. On at least one
occasion, he was threatened with removal if he did not follow
the party line.
--------------
Provincial Council Committees
--------------
5. (U) Eleven of the 17 committees of the Provincial Council
are headed by SCIRI party members. The committees not
chaired by SCIRI members are often influenced or pressured to
fall in line with SCIRI priorities.
--------------
Other Officials
--------------
6. (U) Baghdad's Deputy Mayor for Administration, Hussein
Bahraini, is a SCIRI member.
7. (U) The Governorate Director for Economics and Planning,
Bassim Al-Yakoubi is a SCIRI member.
8. (U) The Governorate Director of Administration and Chief
Assistant to the Governor, Fehami Amedi, is a senior Badr
Organization commander.
9. (U) Three other influential officials within the province,
the Provincial Council Deputy Chairman Mohan Al-Saidi, the
Deputy Governor Qassim N'ima Al-Dragy, and the Deputy Mayor
for Municipalities Naeem Aboob (also a member of the PC),are
either Sadrists or Fadila Party members. Both Al-Dragy and
Aboob were appointed to their positions by a SCIRI-dominated
provincial leadership.
10. (U) Within the Baghdad Provincial Governorate, there is
one Sunni in a senior political position. Ziad Tariq
Al-Zobie, deputy governor until he was removed from this
position in fall 2005, is now the Governorate's Director for
Engineering. He is also a member of the Baghdad Regional
Council and the Mahmoudiyah Qada Council. Ziad recently
survived an assassination attempt.
--------------
Comment
--------------
11. (C) SCIRI has consolidated its power within the province
by acquiring most of the key political positions. This
action has diluted the influence in Baghdad of other Shiite
political parties, such as Da'wa. For example, the removal
of former PC chairman Mazin has left Da'wa without a senior
position in the provincial governorate.
BAGHDAD 00000840 002 OF 002
12. (C) Worrisome indicators abound. There is only one Sunni
in a key position in the governorate. We are not seeing
increasing PC collaboration with Sunnis or their inclusion in
provincial politics. The de-baathification (removal) of two
of the three deputy mayors for Baghdad city in the last year
points to a future with less inclusion rather than more.
13. (C) In the near term, SCIRI will likely continue to
control most of the key political positions within Baghdad
province. SCIRI may use this time to find ways to ensure
future control of key offices in the governorate after the
next round of provincial elections. The SCIRI bloc likely
views this positioning as necessary to offset what otherwise
might be the potential gains that other political parties
could make in the next provincial election.
KHALILZAD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR IZ
SUBJECT: PST BAGHDAD: SUPREME COUNCIL FOR THE ISLAMIC
REVOLUTION IN IRAQ CONSOLIDATION OF KEY POLITICAL POSITIONS
IN BAGHDAD PROVINCE
Classified By: Joseph Gregoire for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).
1. (C) Summary: Over the past several months the Supreme
Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) and its
subsidiary, the Badr Organization, have consolidated power at
the Baghdad provincial level by acquiring the Provincial
Council (PC) chairmanship and other key governorate
positions. This consolidation, along with positions already
held by SCIRI, has tipped the balance of power firmly into
the hands of SCIRI within Baghdad province. End summary.
--------------
Governor of Baghdad Province
--------------
2. (U) The Governor of Baghdad Province, Hussein Al-Tahan, is
a senior Badr Organization commander and brigadier general in
the Iraqi Ministry of Defense. He was appointed governor in
April 2005 by the Baghdad Provincial Council (PC).
--------------
Provincial Council Chair
--------------
3. (U) In December 2005, during a closed session of the PC,
Mueen Hameed, a senior local SCIRI official and at the time
the Deputy Chairman of the PC, was elected PC chairman. He
then replaced chairman Mazin Makiya, a Da'wa party member.
--------------
Mayor of Baghdad City
--------------
4. (U) The Mayor of Baghdad City, Dr. Saber Nabat Al-Esawi,
is a moderate self-described independent SCIRI member. While
he has demonstrated a propensity for independent decision
making, he is still bound by SCIRI guidance. On at least one
occasion, he was threatened with removal if he did not follow
the party line.
--------------
Provincial Council Committees
--------------
5. (U) Eleven of the 17 committees of the Provincial Council
are headed by SCIRI party members. The committees not
chaired by SCIRI members are often influenced or pressured to
fall in line with SCIRI priorities.
--------------
Other Officials
--------------
6. (U) Baghdad's Deputy Mayor for Administration, Hussein
Bahraini, is a SCIRI member.
7. (U) The Governorate Director for Economics and Planning,
Bassim Al-Yakoubi is a SCIRI member.
8. (U) The Governorate Director of Administration and Chief
Assistant to the Governor, Fehami Amedi, is a senior Badr
Organization commander.
9. (U) Three other influential officials within the province,
the Provincial Council Deputy Chairman Mohan Al-Saidi, the
Deputy Governor Qassim N'ima Al-Dragy, and the Deputy Mayor
for Municipalities Naeem Aboob (also a member of the PC),are
either Sadrists or Fadila Party members. Both Al-Dragy and
Aboob were appointed to their positions by a SCIRI-dominated
provincial leadership.
10. (U) Within the Baghdad Provincial Governorate, there is
one Sunni in a senior political position. Ziad Tariq
Al-Zobie, deputy governor until he was removed from this
position in fall 2005, is now the Governorate's Director for
Engineering. He is also a member of the Baghdad Regional
Council and the Mahmoudiyah Qada Council. Ziad recently
survived an assassination attempt.
--------------
Comment
--------------
11. (C) SCIRI has consolidated its power within the province
by acquiring most of the key political positions. This
action has diluted the influence in Baghdad of other Shiite
political parties, such as Da'wa. For example, the removal
of former PC chairman Mazin has left Da'wa without a senior
position in the provincial governorate.
BAGHDAD 00000840 002 OF 002
12. (C) Worrisome indicators abound. There is only one Sunni
in a key position in the governorate. We are not seeing
increasing PC collaboration with Sunnis or their inclusion in
provincial politics. The de-baathification (removal) of two
of the three deputy mayors for Baghdad city in the last year
points to a future with less inclusion rather than more.
13. (C) In the near term, SCIRI will likely continue to
control most of the key political positions within Baghdad
province. SCIRI may use this time to find ways to ensure
future control of key offices in the governorate after the
next round of provincial elections. The SCIRI bloc likely
views this positioning as necessary to offset what otherwise
might be the potential gains that other political parties
could make in the next provincial election.
KHALILZAD