DR. AL-KASIR BLAMES IRAQI ARMY FOR HAIFA TERROR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000235

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

CONFIDENTIAL/REL MNF-I

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2017
TAGS: MOPS MARR PINS PNAT PINR PREL IZ
SUBJECT: DR. AL-KASIR BLAMES IRAQI ARMY FOR HAIFA TERROR

Classified By: Ambassador Khalilzad, reasons 1.4 (a),(b) and
(d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: On January 16, Dr. Quraish Fajir al-Kasir
told the Ambassador that the militia-infiltrated Iraqi Army
was to blame for the recent eight-day siege of his
Sunni-dominated neighborhood. He attributed the ongoing
ethno-sectarian violence in Baghdad to 'politicians' such as
Jalal al-Saghir, a Shia cleric and Council of Representatives
member from the SCIRI party. Dr. Kasir alleged that Saghir
is conducting illicit activities from his Baratha mosque in
Rayahmania, including launching mortars into Kasir's
neighborhood. Despite the violence in Iraq, Kasir remains
optimistic that the country will stabilize. Unlike many of
his medical colleagues, he said he would not leave Iraq to
become "a beggar in another country." He said his plan was
to work as a consultant to his good friend, Deputy Prime
Minister Zawba'i and to the Acting Minister of Health Dr.
Rafi'a al-Essawi. The Ambassador thanked Kasir for his
courage and perseverance and encouraged him to pursue his
plan to work with the new Acting Minister of Health, to
restore integrity to the ministry. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) In a January 16 meeting with the Ambassador, Dr. Kasir
discussed the U.S. military operation that rescued Dr. Kasir
and his family from their home in the northern end of Haifa
Street in central Baghdad. This evacuation occurred after
the Embassy received several reports, including from a CBS
journalist, that a major Iraqi-led operation on the street
had placed Dr. Kasir's house under a virtual siege for more
than eight days, endangering his family. Following the
rescue, he and his family were taken to the International
Zone, where they remain.

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BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE ON DR. KASIR
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3. (C) Dr. Quraish Fajir al-Kasir is a well known Iraqi
surgeon, whose career in medicine spans thirty-two years. He
worked and studied overseas, including at the Mayo Clinic in
Minnesota and is the President of the Iraqi Surgical Society.
Until recently, he taught courses at Mustansiria University
in Baghdad. He is a friend of former Senator Frist (R-TN)
and was a guest of President Bush in 2004.

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IRAQI ARMY TO BLAME FOR THE TERROR ON HAIFA
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4. (C) After thanking the Ambassador for the U.S. rescue
mission, Dr. Kasir said the Iraqi Army was responsible for
the siege on his street. He added that the IA's actions were
directed against the larger Sunni-dominated neighborhood, not
just the area immediately around his home.


5. (C) Dr. Kasir said the Iraqi Army and U.S. forces arrived
in his neighborhood on January 6 in response to an armed
uprising. When the U.S. forces left later that day, the IA
remained and the 'terror' began. The soldiers began
house-to-house searches stealing valuables and breaking
household items. Dr. Kasir said he watched soldiers in the
street pulling men from their homes. He said that the IA
lined 10 of these men up and began shooting them. After the
fourth shooting death, the soldiers noticed an approaching
U.S. military force patrol. All action stopped and the six
remaining men were released. As night fell, the forces
withdrew, offering a temporary respite.


6. (C) According to Dr. Kasir, the IA forces returned on the
morning of January 7 and spent the next week occupying and
attacking the neighborhood during the daylight hours. Dr.
Kasir said the IA would stop their attacks whenever a U.S.
convoy would patrol the area. After about three days, Dr.
Kasir began to suspect the he and his family were specific
targets. His family huddled in their windowless bathroom as
'snipers' took out most their windows.


7. (C) As the situation worsened, Dr. Kasir called his
friend, Deputy Prime Minister Zubai, who promised to calling
the Prime Minister Maliki and Minister of the Defense Abdul
Qader for assistance. When Dr. Kasir reported no assistance,
Zubai provided a number of a Colonel Hussein. COL Hussein
promised support but after six hours and no sign of support,
he called again only to be told by COL Hussein that his
forces were 'too busy fighting terrorists to save you.'


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8. (C) Dr. Kasir said that at that point, he lost all faith
in the GOI and its security forces. Fearing his end was
near, he called his few U.S. contacts, including a U.S.
network correspondent. He said that within hours U.S.
military soldiers arrived and rescued his family from their
'prison home.' They were taken to a secure location within
the International Zone, where he and his family remain.

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POLITICIANS TO BLAME FOR THE ETHNO-SECTARIAN VIOLENCE
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9. (C) Dr. Kasir expressed frustration with the increasing
levels of ethno-sectarian violence in Baghdad and elsewhere
in Iraq. He said prior to 2003 this was not a problem; Sunnis
and Shia lived and worked together for centuries. When asked
who is to blame, Dr. Kasir said the 'politicians,' citing
Council of Representatives SCIRI member, Jalal al-Saghir as
among the most culpable. He said Jalil is using his Baratha
Mosque in Rahmaniya as a safe haven for 'his militia' and a
headquarters for carrying out attacks against innocent
civilians. Dr. Kasir urged military action be taken against
the Mosque, as well as the larger neighborhood of Rahmaniya.


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DR. KASIR TO 'STAY THE COURSE'
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10. (C) Dr. Kasir said that while he would not return to
Haifa Street, he would remain in Baghdad. While many doctors
he knows have fled Iraq, he still remains hopeful that Iraq
will stabilize. Dr. Kasir said he is a consultant to his
friend, Deputy Prime Minister Zubai, and said he had
developed a strategy to revamp the Iraqi health care system.
The Ambassador urged him to contact Acting Minister of Health
Dr. Rafi'a al-Essawi about his plan, stressing the former
'Sadrist nest' needed to be cleaned out, overhauled, and
restaffed. Dr. Kasir agreed.
KHALILZAD