PARLIAMENTARIAN DISCUSSES SECURITY IN BASRAH

C O N F I D E N T I A L BASRAH 000157

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/5/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR IZ
SUBJECT: PARLIAMENTARIAN DISCUSSES SECURITY IN BASRAH

CLASSIFIED BY: Ken Gross, Regional Coordinator, REO Basrah, DOS.

REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)




1. (C) Summary. Council of Representative member and former
Basrah governor Wae'il Abdul Latief told the Regional
Coordinator (RC) on October 4 that militias are the true sources
of authority in Basrah city. The security situation is still
dismal, he said, and the UK military operation to exorcize the
death squads and offer small refurbishment projects is being
opposed by Sadr affiliated groups who do not want to see their
influence diminished. Abdul Latief said that he plans to submit
a bill to parliament next week that would provide funds for a
sizeable housing construction project for Basrah and offer
employment to youth as an alternative to militia membership.
End Summary.


2. (C) Judge Abdul Latief explained to the RC that his short
three-day visit to Basrah is to meet with local politicians,
businessmen and other local leaders to stay in touch with his
home district. He decried the deplorable state of security in
Basrah and said that control of the city is divided among
Fadillah, SCIRI and Sadr elements, with their militias
exercising the real power. Only a strong Iraqi military presence
could tame the militias, Abdul Latief said. Operation Sinbad,
the UK military's effort to rid the city of death squads and to
gain the favor of the populace by quick reconstruction and
assistance projects, is strongly opposed by Sadr groups and is
hampered by the opposition of the Basrah Provincial Council -
Abdul Latief said that Sadr is attempting to intimidate Basrah
residents from accepting or participating in the projects,
though he noted that many citizens expressed their appreciation
to him for the projects the British had completed.


3. (C) The judge told the RC that he plans to submit
legislation next week calling for the Iraqi Government to fund
the construction of a substantial amount of new housing in
Basrah. He said his legislation, dubbed the "Safe City
Initiative," would create jobs and lure youth from the militias
into steady employment. He alleged that it had substantial
support from businessmen in Amman and Dubai.


4. (C) Bio Note: Abdul Latief was the first governor of Basrah
after the removal of Saddam Hussein in 2003. Though now a
member of Iraqi National Accord, he has close ties to many
Fadillah party members, including Governor al-Wa'eli, and he was
a Fadillah party member when he was elected governor. Abdul
Latief's personal wealth comes from a company registered under
the name of his son, Sarmad. End Note.


5. (C) Comment. Judge Abdul Latief came across as a strong
proponent for eliminating the militias, instituting the rule of
law and attracting investment to Basrah. Many of his
statements, including a call for early provincial elections, run
counter to the wishes of his erstwhile colleagues in Fadillah.
Nonetheless, personal ties in Basrah society trump party
allegiances, and it would not be surprising to see Abdul Latief
reprise his old political associations at a later date. End
Comment.

GROSS