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