CODEL MCCAIN STRESSES NEED FOR POLITICAL PROGRESS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003859

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL IZ
SUBJECT: CODEL MCCAIN STRESSES NEED FOR POLITICAL PROGRESS
TO PM MALIKI

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


1. (C) Summary: In a brief meeting with Prime Minister
Maliki on Nov. 23, the members of Codel McCain applauded the
recent security progress in Iraq but stressed the need for
political progress to cement the security gains. In
particular, Senator McCain pressed Maliki on the need to make
progress on legislation addressing revenue sharing,
provincial powers, and de-Ba'athification reform. "Will the
de-Ba'athification law be passed by January 1, 2008?" the
Senator asked Maliki repeatedly. Maliki danced around the
question before ultimately -- and unconvincingly -- saying
that the law would "certainly" be passed by that date. The
members of Codel McCain tried to focus the Prime Minister by
reminding him that the majority of the American people still
favor withdrawal from Iraq. As Senator Graham put it: "The
environment is as secure as it has ever been...The time (for
real political progress) is now." End summary.


2. (C) The members of Codel McCain (Senators John McCain,
R-AZ; Lindsey Graham, R-SC; John Barrasso, R-WY; Saxby
Chambliss, R-GA; and Governor Jon Huntsman, R-UT) met briefly
with Prime Minister Maliki on November 23 at his residence.
Sen. McCain congratulated the Prime Minister (PM) on the
security gains in Iraq, noting that notwithstanding the
casualties taken by the Iraqi Security Forces, thousands of
Iraqis are still stepping forward to join the police and
protect their country. He urged the PM to move forward on
legislation addressing de-Ba'athification reform, revenue
sharing, and provincial elections. Speaking as "a friend of
yours, and of the Iraqi people," Sen. McCain told Maliki that
political progress would make a big difference in how the
American public perceive Iraq.


3. (C) The other members of the Codel echoed Sen. McCain's
point. For example, Sen. Chambliss cautioned Maliki that all
of the Democratic presidential candidates favor a withdrawal
of U.S. troops from Iraq and warned that American patience
has worn thin. "Now is the time to move ahead on
de-Ba'athification and provincial powers. We haven't given
you timetables, but the time is now. I urge you to move
forward with all due haste," said Sen. Chambliss. Sen.
Grasso said that the people of Wyoming were looking to PM
Maliki for "quick results."


4. (C) Maliki attempted to assure his interlocutors that any
delays in achieving political reonciliation were due solely
to the security situation; now that security had improved,
his government was free to focus on advancing reconiliation
and economic reconstruction. The Codel was politely
skeptical. Sen. Graham asked Maliki: "When I'm asked whether
there will be a breakthrough on the benchmarks by January
2008, what should I say?" Maliki responded with a somewhat
incoherent explanation of Iraq's "social evolution," which
included insights such as "citizens are now playing a
positive role" and "Iraqi forces were primitive, but now the
quality of their training has increased." Sen. Graham
politely but firmly told Maliki that: "The environment is as
secure as it has ever been...The time (for real political
progress) is now."


5. (C) Perhaps sensing that PM Maliki wasn't hearing the
Codel clearly enough, Sen. McCain asked Maliki whether the
de-Ba'athification bill would be passed by January 1, 2008.
Maliki side-stepped, saying the law had been through its
first reading this week (sic). Sen. McCain reiterated his
question: "Will the de-Ba'athification law be passed by
January 1, 2008?" Maliki finally, if somewhat
unconvincingly, said that the law would "certainly" be passed
by that date. Sen. McCain concluded the meeting by stressing
that passage of the de-Ba'athification would be very
important symbolically.


6. (U) Codel McCain did not have an opportunity to review
this cable before departing Iraq.
CROCKER