DPM ZOBAIE DISCUSSES SERVICES, BUDGET EXECUTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002022

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2017
TAGS: IR IZ PGOV PINS PREL SY XF
SUBJECT: DPM ZOBAIE DISCUSSES SERVICES, BUDGET EXECUTION
WITH DEPUTY SECRETARY


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

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Summary
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1. (C) During a meeting with the Deputy Secretary, Deputy
Prime Minister (DPM) and chairman of the Baghdad Security
Plan's services subcommittee, Salam Zobaie (Sunni, Iraqi
People's Conference) described security as the best service
the Iraqi Government (GOI) can provide. He criticized budget
execution, attributing problems to cumbersome requirements
and administrative corruption. He warned against the
sectarian nature of the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and
wondered whether the GOI is missing an opportunity by not
supporting Sunni tribes fighting al-Qaida. Finally, Zobaie
opined that the GOI's lack of coordination stems from a
Kurdish desire for a sovereign state, a Shia desire to
preserve gains made since 2003, and a Sunni desire to recover
powers lost since Iraq's liberation and warned that if
religion dogma dominates political institutions, then all
Iraqis will suffer.


2. (SBU) The meeting took place on June 12 at the Deputy
Prime Minister's office. U.S. participants included the
Deputy Secretary, Ambassador Crocker, and S/I Satterfield.
Iraqi participants included DPM Salam Zobaie, office director
Omar al-Nuyami, and political advisor Dhia al-Zobaie.

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DPM Calls for Improved Services, Better Budget Execution
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3. (C) In response to the Deputy Secretary's question on
services, the DPM responded that "services are tied to
security," and it is not possible to separate them. For
example, he said, terrorists frequently destroy critical
infrastructure, further impeding the GOI's ability to provide
essential services. Security is the best service the GOI can
provide, Zobaie concluded. The DPM told the Deputy Secretary
that budget execution remains a sizeable challenge the GOI
faces, noting complications and obstacles to spending money.
Foremost among these are administrative corruption and
complicated criteria for budget execution, according to
Zobaie.

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GOI Must Cooperate to Improve Security, Make Progress
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4. (C) Agreeing with the Deputy Secretary on the GOI's need
to focus on national reconciliation through progress on key
benchmarks, the DPM said that current debate in the United
States Congress and in the media is a "strong challenge to
the GOI." There will be no real peace or security, Zobaie
noted, unless all of Iraq's leaders work together. For
example, he said, the GOI should support Sunni tribes who are
fighting against al-Qaida. Instead, the DPM lamented, the
GOI is missing this opportunity. Furthermore, he noted, the
Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) do not target (Shia) militias,
making Sunnis sympathetic to others who will fight against
the (Shia) militias. The DPM emphasized the need for
non-sectarian ISF and counter-measures against Iranian
influence on the ISF in addition to improved political
cooperation.

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DPM: Kurds, Shia, and Sunnis Each Motivated by Different Goals
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5. (C) The DPM described Iraq's Kurdish, Sunni, and Shia
communities as having three distinct goals which dictate how
they make decisions and are responsible for the GOI's
"immature behavior." The Kurds, Zobaie said, believe Kurdish
problems will be resolved with the creation of a Kurdish
state; every decision they make is based on whether it
advances the goal of Kurdish sovereignty. The Shia, he
continued, make decisions based on maintaining gains achieved
since Iraq's liberation. Finally, the DPM said, the Sunnis
make decisions in the hope they can regain power. Zobaie
opined that the GOI and its affiliated institutions should be
built on science and rational thought instead of religion.
Zobaie warned that "all Iraqis would pay" if religion
dominates the political process.


6. (U) This reporting message has been cleared by the Deputy
Secretary's staff.

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