PM SPEAKS TO AMBASSADOR AND COMMANDING GENERAL IN

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002025

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2017
TAGS: PTER MOPS PREL PGOV MARR IZ
SUBJECT: PM SPEAKS TO AMBASSADOR AND COMMANDING GENERAL IN
WAKE OF SAMARA BOMBING


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


1. (S) SUMMARY: During Prime Minister Maliki's June 14
meeting with Ambassador Crocker and General Petraeus, he said
that the latest Golden Dome bombing showed Al Qaeda continues
to attack holy sites to foment sectarian discord, making it
critical to ensure that key shrines will be adequately
protected in the future. Ambassador Crocker emphasized the
importance of the calming steps already taken by Maliki,
noting the positive effect of his meeting with the Presidency
Council, and pressed Maliki to ensure that the curfew and
vehicle ban was maintained until the danger further
diminished. Maliki responded the curfew would be extended to
Sunday, at which point it would be reviewed daily. General
Petraeus suggested that the media be invited to the signing
of the agreement to rebuild the Golden Dome mosque and that
Iraqi leaders increase their media engagement concurrently
with the increasing pace of security operations against Al
Qaeda set to begin on June 15.


2. (S) The leaders also discussed the need to move forward
swiftly on hydrocarbons legislation. Maliki indicated that
Mashhadani was likely to retain his role as Speaker of the
Council or Representatives. Finally, they agreed on a
compromise formula for allowing vehicle traffic on Abu Nuwas
Street -- where some Western media outlets are located. END
SUMMARY.


3. (S) Maliki began by voicing hope that the risk of
violent reaction to the destruction of the minarets at the
Golden Dome shrine in Samara had waned. Maliki said that the
attacks again demonstrated that the terrorists view the holy
sites as key targets in their effort to foment sectarian
discord. Maliki said that Al Qaeda understands it will be
forced out of Iraq if it cannot provoke communal tension. Al
Qaeda attacks infrastructure, oil and electricity related
targets in order to weaken public confidence in the
government, he said, but the sectarian issue was vital to Al
Qaeda's continued existence in Iraq. He noted that an
intercepted letter to Bin Laden had made clear Zarqawi's
belief that Al Qaeda could not operate in Iraq unless Shia
and Sunni were brought into conflict.


4. (S) Al Qaeda would continue to try to provoke the
sectarian conflict upon which it depended by attacking holy
sites, Maliki predicted. He said that Iraqis once felt the
presence of these sites was a blessing upon Iraq, however, if
they could not be protected, the holy sites would become a
curse. The shrines in Samara, Najaf, Karbala and Baghdad's
Khadamiya had religious significance to both Sunni and Shia.
In addition, they were a major source of tourism and
economically important to the country. The security forces
must protect them.


5. (S) Ambassador Crocker agreed that the extra security the
Prime Minister had ordered deployed to Samara was important.
The tone of the statements made after the attack on the
Golden Dome by the Prime Minister, Sistani and others had
also been significant. The Ambassador noted the positive
outcome of the Prime Minister's meeting with the Presidency
Council, a body that represents all of Iraq's major
communities. Ambassador Crocker and General Petraeus agreed
that while Maliki had taken the correct remedial action, the
danger had not yet passed. Maliki agreed, noting that was
why he had extended the curfew and postponed students'
examinations. He said the curfew would be extended to
Sunday, and then reviewed each day. (Note: The curfew ended
on Sunday morning.)


6. (S) Maliki shared his suspicion that the Samara attack had
been an inside job by the Mosque's security force, members of
the Facilities Protection Service who were quartered near the
minarets. General Petraeus agreed that this was a
possibility. He noted that he had recently visited Samara
and had observed the ample security presence, with police
cars all around the shrine.


7. (SBU) Maliki revealed that at the time of the Samara
bombing he had been discussing Samara and planning to sign
the agreement with UNESCO and a Turkish contractor to rebuild
the Golden Dome Mosque. General Petraeus suggested that
going ahead with the signing of the agreement in a public
ceremony would be a good way to demonstrate Iraqi resolve.
It would also be useful to highlight the role of the Turkish
contractor. Maliki agreed that this would be useful.


8. (S) Maliki opined that contractors would not be able to
carry out their work if security was inadequate. Security
must be in place in Samara within days, he said, so that a
UNESCO-linked company could begin the preparations for

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rebuilding, including removing treasures and artifacts from
the shrine. Work on the shrine was set to begin in early
July. He said that President Bush had called him the previous
night to state that the US would pay for the rebuilding
expenses. Ambassador Crocker reinforced the desirability of
arranging a public signing ceremony with international media
coverage.


9. (S) Maliki said that the first new Iraqi troops to be
dispatched to Samara had arrived that morning. Assuring that
security was in place was vital as rebuilding Samara was an
important element of national reconciliation. Maliki said
that one new Army brigade would secure the Baghdad-Samara
road and another National Police Brigade -- to be commanded
by General Adnan Thabit would protect the city and its
environs. An Army Battalion would complement Thabit's force
in the city, he added. Until those units are ready, the city
would be secured by a deployment of forces form the 6th
Brigade.


10. (S) Maliki commented that the people and Sheikhs of the
principal thirteen tribal groups of Samara were intimidated
by Al Qaeda. If adequate security could be deployed there,
the people would resist Al Qaeda, he said. General Petraeus
said that coalition forces would significantly raise the
tempo of operations against Al Qaeda within the next days.
These simultaneous operations would take place across a broad
area.


11. (C) Ambassador Crocker indicated that Kurdish leader
Barzani had agreed to support a compromise proposal on
hydrocarbons legislation and the next step was to bring the
two draft bills to parliament. Maliki agreed, disclosing
that there were still some reservations about revenue
sharing. He pressed for the two elements of the Hydrocarbons
legislation -- the legal framework and revenue distribution
-- to be put together as a package and submitted to the
Council of Representatives. Maliki undertook to work on it.
He indicated that it could pass quickly through the Council
of Representatives, with first and second readings were
scheduled only two days apart, it could be done in a week.


12. (C) Maliki disclosed that Council of Representatives
Speaker Mashhadani -- who places obstacles to the Hydrocarbon
and other useful legislation -- would not be removed from his
leadership position. A political agreement had been reached
within the Sunni parties to retain him as Speaker. Maliki
commented that it was good that the Sadr faction had
withdrawn from the Council in reaction to the Samara bombing.


13. (C) General Petraeus reviewed progress in economic
reconstruction in the area around Baghdad's Abu Nuwas Street.
This prompted Maliki to agree that the barriers on the
street could be partially removed to allow traffic to
circulate, leaving the final section where the international
media outlets were located closed to vehicle traffic but open
to pedestrians.
CROCKER