KADHAMIYA DC CHAIR DISCUSSES SECURITY, RUMORS,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002050

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/21/2017
TAGS: PGOV PINS PINR IZ
SUBJECT: KADHAMIYA DC CHAIR DISCUSSES SECURITY, RUMORS,
ELECTIONS

Classified By: Deputy Political Counselor Robert Gilchrist for reasons
1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (C) Summary: The Kadhamiya District Council (DC) Chairman
told PRToff June 10 that the residents in his district remain
frustrated by the continued activities of militias and
terrorists and poor public services. He also said that he
and other secular moderates would like U.S. support ahead of
the next provincial and local elections. He said that
independent moderates cannot compete with entrenched
religious parties, which receive substantial financial and
other support from neighboring countries and which already
hold most positions of power in Iraq. End summary.

Residents' Frustrations Feed Rumors
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2. (C) Kadhamiya District Council (DC) Chairman Muslim Ahmad
Al-Falah (Shia, independent) expressed the view to PRToff
June 10 that residents in his district, and average Baghdad
residents more broadly, remain frustrated by security and
services. Al-Falah said that average citizens do not
understand why militia and terrorist activities persist in
Baghdad. He said average citizens also do not understand why
electricity has not been restored to at least pre-war levels,
noting that Kuwait was able to restore its infrastructure in
less than six months after the Gulf War. PRToff replied that
Kuwaitis did not experience the continued violence that Iraq
currently confronts, which makes reconstruction more
difficult. ( MNF-I comment : The electricity shortages are
complicated. A number of factors contribute to the problem,
such as the shortages of oil to power the district wide
generators. To overcome this difficulty, the population has
started using individually run generators to provide
electricity for personal needs. High and low voltage network
rehabilitation continues throughout Kadhamiya in conjunction
with the Baghdad Joint Planning Commission.)


3. (C) Al-Falah cautioned that frustrations are frequently
turned against the U.S., with rumors repeatedly circulating
in the streets surrounding the U.S. intentions in Iraq.He
specifically noted rumors that the U.S. is orchestrating car
bombings in order to punish communities where insurgent or
militia presence is particularly strong. He said that
militiamen and extremists also spread rumors that the U.S. is
deliberately depriving communities of electricity as a form
of collective punishment, adding that such rumors are gaining
traction among neutral citizens.


4. (C) Al-Falah said that constituents in Kadhamiya want the
U.S. to crack down on JAM elements in the area, although they
fear getting caught in the crossfire. He said that average
citizens believe that U.S. forces are more capable of
eliminating militias in the area than Iraqi forces because
Iraqi army and police are &too weak and too penetrated by
militiamen.8 (MNF-I comment : Coalition Forces are seeing a
separation of JAM Special Groups and JAM traditional elements
which we believe is exploitable in order to reduce JAM,s
overall ability to engage in sectarian conflict and
intimidation.)


5. (C) Al-Falah said that although average Kadhamiya citizens
are increasingly suspicious of U.S. intentions in Iraq, they
feel more secure when there are U.S. patrols and checkpoints
in the area. He said his constituents believe U.S. troops
will carry out their duties in a professional and even handed
manner, while they fear that Iraqi forces are corrupt,
penetrated by criminal elements, and sectarian.

Moderates Need U.S. Support to be Competitive in Elections
-------------- --------------


6. (C) AL-Falah asked why the U.S. does not provide more
support to secular moderates. He said that independents like
him cannot compete against religious parties such as the
Islamic Supreme Council for Iraq (ISCI) when it receives
millions of dollars of support annually from Iran and runs
its own militia. He claimed that the U.S. does not do enough
to support Iraqis who most closely identify its moderate,
democratic values.


7. (C) Al-Falah claimed that he and his moderate associates
increasingly feel that there is little incentive to cooperate
with the U.S. He said that associating with the U.S. puts him
in danger and brings few tangible benefits to his community.
He claimed that he continues to work with the U.S. only
because he believes it is the only country powerful enough to
stabilize and rebuild Iraq, and because he identifies with
U.S. values.

Comment
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8. (C) Al-Falah is a secular moderate who is among the PRT,s
most cooperative contacts and has worked closely with the
U.S. since the fall of the previous regime. Over the past
six months Al-Falah has increasingly complained that the U.S.
is not doing enough to support secular moderates like him.
He constantly asks PRToffs how the U.S. can claim to support
liberal democracy while letting extremist militias control
the streets and working closely with pro-Iran theocratic
parties like ISCI and Dawa.


9. (C) Al-Falah,s comments about the power of anti-U.S.
propaganda on the Iraqi street track with what we hear from
other contacts. Conspiracy theories are treated by
Baghdadi,s as fact and the populace appears to be
increasingly predisposed to believing the worst. End comment.
CROCKER