RRT ERBIL: CODEL BAUCUS MEETING WITH KRG PRESIDENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003146

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/19/2017
TAGS: PREF PTER PGOV IZ IR
SUBJECT: RRT ERBIL: CODEL BAUCUS MEETING WITH KRG PRESIDENT
MASSOUD BARZANI


Classified By: Classified By Regional Coordinator Jess Baily for reason
s 1.4 (b) and (d)

This is a Regional Reconstruction Team (RRT) Cable.


1. (C) SUMMARY: The President of the Kurdistan Region
Massoud Barzani told a Congressional delegation that he
supported a federal Iraq. He did not believe national
reconciliation was possible if Sunni and Shiia Islamic
extremists remained in control and favored the idea of a U.S.
residual troop level of 50,000 in Iraq. Barzani expressed
disappointment that neither General Petraeus nor Ambassador
Crocker mentioned the contribution of the Kurdistan Region in
the war on terror in their testimony before Congress during
the week of September 10. END SUMMARY

OPENING REMARKS


2. (SBU) On September 16, Senators Max Baucus (D-MT),
Olympia Snowe (R-ME),Ken Salazar (D-CO),Ben Nelson (D-NE)
and RRT Offs met with Massoud Barzani, the President of the
Kurdistan Region, at his office in Sallahaddin, Iraqi
Kurdistan. The discussion opened with President Barzani
expressing his appreciation for the visit. Sen. Baucus
thanked the President and underscored the importance of
Barzani's advice on key issues related to national
reconciliation as Congress considers various proposals
regarding Iraq.


3. (C) President Barzani said he was grateful for the
sacrifices the U.S. has made to overthrow the Ba'th regime.
After the liberation, he continued, the U.S. made some
mistakes that led to a vacuum that was filled by terrorists
and sectarian violence. The sectarian violence is an Iraqi
problem but the war on terror is international in scope and
"must be led by the U.S."


4. (C) The Iraq of the past is an artificial state created
by the British, President Barzani said. Today we believe in
a federal Iraq in which each region is protected by
constitutional rights. The Kurds support the Iraqi
Constitution, he continued, and uphold the provision for
national oil revenue sharing by population.

ON NATIONAL RECONCILIATION


5. (C) Senator Snowe asked Barzani if national
reconciliation was possible under Prime Minister Maliki.
President Barzani expressed doubts about reconciliation
because, he said, the problem was an ineffectual mix of
moderates and extremists in the Government of Iraq (GOI). He
stressed that the Sunni and the Shia want to fight and carry
out "sectarian cleansing." This problem reflects a cultural
tradition of vengeance and retaliation rather than the choice
of Mr. Maliki as the Prime Minister, President Barzani said.


6. (C) Senator Salazar also questioned the possibility of
national reconciliation among the Sunni, Shia, and Kurds.
President Barzani replied that the Kurds are struggling for
democracy but as long as the Sunni and Shia Islamic
extremists are in power, national reconciliation is not
possible and moderate democratic forces cannot come in.
Barzani called the recent four-party agreement an example of
moderates coming together.


7. (C) As a follow-on question, Senator Salazar asked if the
U.S. withdraws militarily, would that make reconciliation a
lost cause. The President restated the impossibility of
national reconciliation in the presence of Islamic extremists
in the ministries and in the political decision making
process. He said it is better for the U.S. to focus on
bringing in and supporting groups of moderates into the GOI,
such as the new alliance of four parties; this would also
send the right message to neighboring countries.

BORDER SECURITY AND U.S. TROOP LEVELS


8. (C) Senator Nelson then raised the issue of border
security to the President as an area of concern. He asked
about the proposal before Congress to rely on a residual
force of 50,000 troops to deal with Al Qaeda and local
militias along with implementing counterterrorist measures.
President Barzani replied that he did not disagree with the
50,000 level and that 130,000 was too high. Many missions
can be handled by the Iraqi forces, and the USG should not be
a police force patrolling the streets of Iraq, he added. He
thought the Iraqi forces should take control of the cities,
and the U.S. forces - their location and size - could be
negotiated. The President did stress, however, the need for
a U.S. military presence irrespective of the level to promote
regional development and guard against interference from

BAGHDAD 00003146 002 OF 002


neighboring countries, in particular Iran.


9. (C) Senator Baucus asked if reducing the U.S. troops in
Iraq would send a message to the GOI to take control of their
affairs. Barzani replied that, yes, the Iraqis would "get
their house in order" when they realized the U.S. would pull
out its troops.

RECOGNITION OF THE KRG IN THE WAR ON TERROR


10. (SBU) In closing, President Barzani made a point of
expressing his disappointment that not once during the recent
testimony by General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker was the
Kurdistan Region mentioned, particularly the cooperation the
Kurds extended to the U.S. in fighting insurgents and
terrorism. He stressed that the Kurds are part of Iraq and
deserve to be recognized by the U.S.


11. (C) COMMENT: Due to scheduling and technical matters,
the meeting was cut short. President Barzani was candid on
his views of the possibilities of reconciliation and the
importance of a USG presence not its size but gave little
indication of the way forward in terms of the Kurds
contribution to national unity. END COMMENT.


12. (U) CODEL BAUCUS did not have the opportunity to clear
this cable before their departure.
BUTENIS