Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD931
2006-03-21 11:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
TRIBAL SHEIKH WANTS TO BE BIGGER THAN SCIRI
how-toVZCZCXRO6388 RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHMOS DE RUEHGB #0931 0801113 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 211113Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3460 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000931
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2016
TAGS: PGOV PNAT KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: TRIBAL SHEIKH WANTS TO BE BIGGER THAN SCIRI
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 000931
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2016
TAGS: PGOV PNAT KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: TRIBAL SHEIKH WANTS TO BE BIGGER THAN SCIRI
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT S. FORD FOR
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) In a March 4 conversation, Sheikh Talib al-Yasseri
of Najaf told PolOffs that the politicians who were elected
in the December 15 elections do not represent the ordinary
people of Iraq. "There was much fraud," he said, "but the
people remain silent. The winners passed over the heads of
ordinary Iraqis." In order to build a truly democratic
Iraq, al-Yasseri said, it is necessary to "win over
ordinary Iraqis."
2. (C) To this end, al-Yasseri asked PolOffs to help him
secure Embassy support for his fledgling political party,
the Arabic Coalition for Iraq. "If supported," Al-Yasseri
said, "this party would be a force allied with the United
States." Al-Yasseri continued stating that he has a long
history of working with Coalition Forces (CF),and as proof
gave PolOffs a photo copy of a letter of introduction and
recommendation dated December 28, 2003, that he had
received from Headquarters, U.S. Army 352nd Civil Affairs
Command (Baghdad) acknowledging his help to the unit. With
CF help, Al-Yasseri predicted his political party could be
a force greater than SCIRI or the Sadr Bureau. To further
prove his point, al-Yasseri showed PolOffs approximately 50
letters from tribal sheikhs in southern and south-central
Iraq pledging support. These letters included 12 tribal
leaders in the Baghdad area, ten from Najaf, five from
Karbala, and five from Basrah.
--------------
Comment
--------------
3. (C) Al-Yasseri is a political outsider looking for his
big break. His party was listed on the December 15 ballot
and received only 170 votes, winning no seats. While he
has worked with CF in the past, his motives appear to be
somewhat self-serving. During the meeting he told PolOffs
several times that they should "listen only to him," and
should not deal with other political leaders. Subsequent
to the meeting, PolOffs provided al-Yasseri with contact
information for NDI and IRI offices so he could take
advantage of their democratization programs. We often find
tribal leaders coming to us hoping to find support to build
political organizations. We find very few who come with a
plan, or resources, to actually build something
operational.
KHALILZAD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2016
TAGS: PGOV PNAT KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: TRIBAL SHEIKH WANTS TO BE BIGGER THAN SCIRI
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT S. FORD FOR
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) In a March 4 conversation, Sheikh Talib al-Yasseri
of Najaf told PolOffs that the politicians who were elected
in the December 15 elections do not represent the ordinary
people of Iraq. "There was much fraud," he said, "but the
people remain silent. The winners passed over the heads of
ordinary Iraqis." In order to build a truly democratic
Iraq, al-Yasseri said, it is necessary to "win over
ordinary Iraqis."
2. (C) To this end, al-Yasseri asked PolOffs to help him
secure Embassy support for his fledgling political party,
the Arabic Coalition for Iraq. "If supported," Al-Yasseri
said, "this party would be a force allied with the United
States." Al-Yasseri continued stating that he has a long
history of working with Coalition Forces (CF),and as proof
gave PolOffs a photo copy of a letter of introduction and
recommendation dated December 28, 2003, that he had
received from Headquarters, U.S. Army 352nd Civil Affairs
Command (Baghdad) acknowledging his help to the unit. With
CF help, Al-Yasseri predicted his political party could be
a force greater than SCIRI or the Sadr Bureau. To further
prove his point, al-Yasseri showed PolOffs approximately 50
letters from tribal sheikhs in southern and south-central
Iraq pledging support. These letters included 12 tribal
leaders in the Baghdad area, ten from Najaf, five from
Karbala, and five from Basrah.
--------------
Comment
--------------
3. (C) Al-Yasseri is a political outsider looking for his
big break. His party was listed on the December 15 ballot
and received only 170 votes, winning no seats. While he
has worked with CF in the past, his motives appear to be
somewhat self-serving. During the meeting he told PolOffs
several times that they should "listen only to him," and
should not deal with other political leaders. Subsequent
to the meeting, PolOffs provided al-Yasseri with contact
information for NDI and IRI offices so he could take
advantage of their democratization programs. We often find
tribal leaders coming to us hoping to find support to build
political organizations. We find very few who come with a
plan, or resources, to actually build something
operational.
KHALILZAD