SOUTH'S GOVERNORS AND PCS: SHIFTING ALLEGIANCES,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BAGHDAD 003971

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL IR IZ
SUBJECT: SOUTH'S GOVERNORS AND PCS: SHIFTING ALLEGIANCES,
PITCHED BATTLES

Classified By: Deputy Political Counselor Greg D'Elia for reasons 1.4 (
b) and (d).


1. (U) This is a joint Baghdad POL - Southern PRT/REO/ePRT
cable.


2. (C) Summary: The relationships between provincial
governors and the Provincial Councils (PCs) shape the
political landscape of southern Iraq. Those relations are
marked by fluid political identities, uneven distributions of
power, and ) in at least two provinces (Babil and Basrah) )
pitched battles between the governor and the Provincial
Council. This cable provides brief descriptions and analysis
of the relationships between the governors and PC in Iraq's
nine southern governorates.


3. (C) Summary c'td: Politicians affiliated with the Supreme
Islamic Council of Iraq (ISCI) dominate elected offices in
the south. Five southern governors belong to ISCI, two
(nominally) are members of Da'wa and Fadhilah and the Sadr
Trend each boast one governor. ISCI also holds majorities in
the Babil, Diwaniyah, Karbala and Najaf PCs and holds a
significant number of seats in Muthanna and Thi Qar. Party
affiliations are fluid throughout the south and politicians
often switch allegiances multiple times after assuming
office. The actual power of the governors depends on their
personal relationship to the PC and national leadership.
Shared party affiliation is no guarantee of cooperation
between a PC and governor. End Summary.

Babil: ISCI PC versus ISCI Governor
--------------


4. (C) In Babil the ISCI-dominated PC is actively trying to
force the ISCI governor from office. Babil was scheduled to
transition to provincial Iraqi control (PIC) in December
2007, but PRT and MNF point to PIC in February 2008 at the
earliest. Governor Salem Saleh Mahdi al-Muslimawi (ISCI) is
a political protege of Abdel Aziz al-Hakim. Mohammed Ali
Hussein al-Masoudi (ISCI) chairs the PC and the ISCI-linked
Faithful Iraqis Association controls 25 seats. (Note: Each
Provincial Council is composed of 41 members including the
governor and deputy governor. End note)


5. (C) Muslimawi has survived repeated challenges from the
PC encouraged by Sayyid Rasul, a longtime rival and political
independent. A recent effort to oust the governor for
falsifying his educational history gained the backing of
several ISCI members. The most serious challenge to date to
Muslimawi's authority, Muslimawi reacted by mustering support
of national leaders and delivering populist speeches against
Coalition Forces (CF). The PC failed to achieve quorum on
the day of the vote for Muslimawi's ouster after intimidation
of members by armed men linked to the Badr Corps. Even with
quorum, subsequent PC sessions have not moved for a vote. On
November 23 fifteen PC members, representing Sayyid Rasul,
ISCI, Dawa,a and the Communist Party held a joint press
conference and signed a petition demanding the Governor's
removal and prosecution. To date, Muslimawi retains his grip
on office. Public clamoring for his ouster notwithstanding,
no further action, pending a PC vote, is likely.

Basrah: Fadhilah Governor a political survivor
-------------- --------------


6. (C) Basrah remains Fadhilah's sole political stronghold.
The party retains control of the governorship and PC despite
repeated challenges from other quarters. Mohammed Wa'eli
(Fadhilah) holds the governorship. Fadilah also holds 12
seats on the PC, which is chaired by Mohammed Obadi (Da'wa).
The Islamic Basrah party has the largest presence with 20
seats.


7. (C) Wa'eli has survived numerous attempts to oust him
from office. The most recent came in a PC vote of
no-confidence in May 2007 following allegations of corruption
and power-hoarding. The PC challenge to Wa'eli reportedly
enjoyed support from outside forces, notably PM Maliki.
Wa'eli fought back, mounting a successful defense on the
parliamentary grounds that two-thirds of the total PC
membership were not actually present at the vote, as
required. On November 22 the Iraqi Supreme Court ruled in
Wa'eli's favor, confirming the September 30 verdict of the
Basrah Administrative Court and effectively ending the case.
Since the September 30 verdict Wa'eli has met with Badr
officials and reached out to PM Maliki thanks to U.S.
encouragement. The governor and PC have settled back into a
working relationship, based partly on mutual suspicion of PM
Maliki's central government and partly on an understanding
that the the governor will allow the PC greater control over
the budget.


BAGHDAD 00003971 002 OF 003


Diwaniyah: ISCI Governor and PC
--------------


8. (C) Governor Hamid al-Khaduri (ISCI),a long-time Badr
member, was elected into office following the August 2007
assassination of Governor Khaleel Jamil Hamza. The PC is led
by Sheikh Hussein al Kailidi and is dominated by ISCI (20
seats of 41 total).

Karbala: Strong Da'wa Governor
--------------


9. (C) Governor Aqeel (Da'wa) is a strong politician facing
no serious political threats to his office. Karbala's PC is
dominated by ISCI (21),followed by Fadhilah (5),and headed
by Abd Al'al Mohammed al-Yasiry (Iraqi Democratic Current),a
political independent currently finishing his law degree.
Karbala transitioned to Provincial Iraqi Control (PIC) in
October 2007.

Maysan: The south's only Sadrist Governor
--------------


10. (C) Maysan Governor Adil Mohoder Rahdi al-Maliki is a
former JAM fighter closely aligned to Muqtada al-Sadr. He
belongs to the Hussein Ideology Front (HIF),a local party
platform of the Office of Muqtada al-Sadr (OMS). Maysan's PC
is the most diverse in the south, with 11 different parties
holding seats. The HIF controls the largest portion on the
PC with 10 seats. The PC has periodically announced
"disengagements" from CF to protest raids and arrest
operations. The Maysan Governor enjoys close ties to Iraq's
national leadership as well as other political parties. He
also has a close working relationship with the PC. Despite
his strong political base he is reportedly intimidated by
more militant JAM/OMS members, especially local JAM leader
Sayyid Amar al-Battat.

Muthanna: New Governor not up to task
--------------


11. (C) Governor Muthanna Ali al-Hassani, a longtime Badr
officer and ISCI member, was assassinated on August 20.
Local officials believe that Sadrists, with Iranian backing,
exploited tensions within Hassani's tribe to carry out the
assassination. Following the assassination, political
maneuvering between ISCI and the Albu Hassan faction led to
the appointment of Ahmed Marzook al-Salal as governor and
Abdul Hussein al-Dhalami (ISCI) as PC chair. Salal began his
political career with the INC, later switched to Da'wa, and
now leans to ISCI. He lacks the political clout of his
predecessor. The three most powerful parties in Muthanna's
diverse PC are Fadhilah (6 seats),ISCI (8 seats) and
al-Furat al-Aswat (6 seats).

Najaf: ISCI Governor and PC
--------------


12. (C) Najaf Governor Asad Sultan Abu Jilal al-Ta'ie (ISCI)
lived in Finland during the 1990s and returned to Iraq as an
advisor to Ayattolah Hakim. He works closely with Deputy
Governor Abdul Hussein Baqir Abtan (Badr) although there is
some tension between the two politicians. There is friction
between their respective staffs and both camps compete for
media attention. The DG recently took on an enlarged role on
reconstruction and investment issues. PC Chair Abdul Hussein
Musa Aboud al-Mosawi (independent) does not enjoy close
relationships with any of Najaf's leaders and is routinely
ignored by the provincial government. ISCI holds 17 seats on
the PC, guaranteeing that the council as a whole supports the
governor and his administration.

Thi Qar: ISCI Governor clashing with diverse PC
-------------- --


13. (C) Governor Aziz Alwan al-Ghili (ISCI) resided in Iran
for 17 years. A general in the Badr Brigade, al-Ghili was
wounded in a gas attack while fighting alongside the
peshmerga against Saddam. Hassan Talif al-Tali, a former
Arabic teacher from Nasiriyah, heads the Thi Qar PC.
Originally a member of Fadilah, he secretly switched his
allegiance to the small Islamic Democratic Party. Seats in
the PC are divided between Fadhilah (11),Da'wa (10),and
ISCI (10),with the remainder distributed among various
smaller parties. There is an ongoing clash between the
governor and PC over the distribution of powers, particularly
on the budget and development projects. Despite this tension
they have effectively controlled the governorate by finding
accommodation with the many parties in government as well as
the local tribes.

Wassit: Da'wa Governor, independent PC, both incompetent

BAGHDAD 00003971 003 OF 003


-------------- --------------


16. (C) Governor Abd al Latif Hamad Turfa is a
self-proclaimed political independent with close ties to
Da'wa and Iran. Latif lacks interest in politics,
governance, provision of services, or budget issues. It is
widely believed that he heavily relies on his well-spoken and
intelligent Deputy Governor, Ahmed Abd al Raseed, for
expertise in governing the province. The governor's office
has monopolized local political and technical talent, office,
forcing the PC to accede to Turfa's budget prioritization to
ensure projects are properly planned and executed.


17. (C) The Wassit PC is dominated by the Iraqi Elites
Gathering with 31 seats. Most members now identify
themselves as &independent.8 The current PC chair, Mohamed
Hassan Jaber, is a former professor of psychology at Wassit
University and one of the few competent PC members. The
public sees the council as corrupt, uncaring, and under the
control of Iran. Many PC members have family and property in
Iran. The local Da'wa leader, for example, reportedly has
only Iranian citizenship.
BUTENIS