AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES DEBAATHIFICATION REFORM,

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001191

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINR IR IZ
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES DEBAATHIFICATION REFORM,
SCIRI STRATEGIC DIALOGUE WITH VP ABDEL MEHDI

Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (S) Summary: Ambassador paid an introductory call on
Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) VP
Adel Abdel Mehdi April 2, who had just returned from several
weeks outside Iraq, including a visit to Washington where he
met with President Bush. The VP described his meeting as
"tremendous," saying he felt from President Bush a true sense
of friendship and partnership with Iraq. Ambassador and VP
reviewed the progress of the Baghdad Security Plan, previewed
the difficult work still ahead; both reaffirmed their
commitment to work together for the benefit of Iraq's future.
The VP promised to name SCIRI representatives to the
economic, political and security committees to begin work on
the U.S.- SCIRI Strategic Dialogue. Abdel Mehdi expressed
his own as well as SCIRI Chairman Abdulaziz al-Hakim's
enthusiasm for the initiative, but implied that the issue of
MNF-I SCIRI/Badr detainees remained extremely contentious to
the SCIRI side. End summary.

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Oval Office Meeting
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2. (C) VP Abdel Mehdi described his March 15 oval office
meeting as "tremendous" and "productive," saying he felt from
President Bush a true sense of friendship and partnership.
The VP said their discussion covered "most issues" and that
he was very encouraged by the Administration's commitment to
the Iraqi people. He also characterized the sense of
optimism in the U.S. on Iraq, including media, as much
improved since his last visit in June 2006.

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Synchronizing Timetables for Political Benchmarks
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3. (C) Abdel Mehdi shared his impression that the Baghdad
Security Plan (BSP) was demonstrating gains and that the
Iraqi people feel a sense of improved security on the ground.
Ambassador agreed that the BSP is showing encouraging signs
but said that much work remained to be done to establish
lasting security; he emphasized that as the President works
to maximize U.S. support for Iraq and the Iraqi people,
demonstrating GOI progress on essential political issues such
as hydrocarbon and debaathification reform legislation will
be key.


4. (C) Ambassador acknowledge that there are two timetables
for political benchmarks -- a U.S. one propelled in part by
domestic politics, and an Iraqi one conditioned on Iraqi
realities. While there is no obvious or necessary link
between the two, he told the VP, one of our challenges is to
better synchronize these timetables. Abdel Mehdi assured
Ambassador that the GOI is cognizant of and working toward
achieving "American benchmarks," however, he added, Iraqis
also have their own priorities, specifically mentioning
Article 140 on Kirkuk, and security issues.

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VP: The Hydrocarbons Law Will Pass
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5. (C) Abdel Mehdi spoke of positive movement on the draft
hydrocarbons law, saying the cabinet, which represents all
the sectarian interests, had already reached general
consensus on the issue and had prepared a paper on
hydrocarbon revenues. "Once the issue of how to manage
revenue is resolved, I think it will pass," said the VP, but
did not allude to when.

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Debaathification Reform
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6. (C) Along with hydrocarbons legislation, Ambassador said
he planned to engage closely with Iraqi interlocutors on the
draft debaathification reform law signed by PM Maliki and
President Talabani March 26. The VP explained that although
he had been out of the country when the draft was signed, he
had been deeply involved in the debate and "exchange of
projects and we had progressed on this issue." The VP said
he spoke with Maliki while out of the country and that "we
agreed on the main issues." At the moment, Abdel Mehdi
continued, "there is a big discussion on this issue and a
better understanding of past mistakes." He criticized
Chalabi and the current debaathification commission for
launching a counter attack on the latest agreement between
the PM and President. SCIRI had already agreed to one of the
draft laws, the VP said, adding that the UIA Shia coalition
will hold discussions on the new draft in the next few days.
(Comment: In previous meetings covering the details of

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debaathification reform, Abdel Mehdi has indicated that
selling a reform law to the Shia will not be an easy task.
End comment.)

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Ready to form Strategic Dialogue Joint Committees...
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7. (S) Abdel Mehdi said he returned from Washington with the
impression that for the first time the concept of a
U.S.-SCIRI strategic dialogue had become "institutionalized."
Such an idea "is historical for SCIRI and for Iraq and we
look forward to this relationship," said the VP, adding that
SCIRI can play a key role in clarifying Shia goals, visions,
and expectations for the future of Iraq -- "SCIRI can move
this project forward for the interest of Iraq." Ambassador
agreed, saying the key purpose for this initiative must be
for the future of Iraq and not the interests of any
particular community -- only through the broader security of
the state can the communities within be secure. Noting the
agreement to set up three strategic dialogue joint committees
on Security, Economic, and Political issues, Ambassador said
the Embassy has named representatives to each -- as soon as
you select your interlocutors we will begin work, he told
Abdel Mehdi. The VP promised to name the SCIRI participants
in ten days.

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But...What About Our Detainees
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8. (S) Predictably raising the contentious issue of
SCIRI/BADR MNF-I detainees, the VP said that SCIRI Chairman
al-Hakim was very enthusiastic about the strategic dialogue,
"but we still have 200 prisoners. Either they are guilty, or
they should be released." Abdel Mehdi repeated the SCIRI
line on MNF-I arrests and detention: if you have evidence,
share it; if you suspect someone of nefarious activity, come
discuss their case with us as we will not accept actions
against our guidelines by our members. SCIRI has no hidden
agenda, continued the VP, we will always be frank with you,
we are transparent, along with our desire to build stronger
relations with the U.S., we do not deny our good relations
with Iran. Without drawing a red line, the VP stated "we
cannot have a real partnership while this is happening."
Noting that he and the VP had grappled with this same issue
during his 2003 CPA tenure, Ambassador agreed that the issue
of SCIRI/BADR detainees was a troubling long-standing issue.
CROCKER