A YEAR IN REVIEW: AYAD ALLAWI'S IRAQIYYA COALITION

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003988 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR IZ SUBJECT: A YEAR IN REVIEW: AYAD ALLAWI'S IRAQIYYA COALITION THREATENS COLLAPSE IN HIS ABSENCE REF: A. BAGHDAD 1942 ¶B. BAGHDAD O-I 12/6/07 ¶C. BAGHDAD 3823 ¶D. BAGHDAD O-I 11/28/07 ¶E. BAGHDAD 3422 Classified By: PolCouns Matt Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S/NF) Summary. Despite high expectations by many, Allawi's attempts to make a splash in Iraqi national politics fell flat in 2007. Instead of participating in a positive agenda to unify the government, he focused his efforts on overthrowing PM Maliki. This strategy appears to have back-fired. Not only did he alienate members of his own party by not consulting them on key decisions, his continued absence from Iraq made personal interaction with party members difficult. His decision to withdraw Iraqiyya ministers in August was disregarded by several Iraqiyya ministers. No doubt, Allawi faces security concerns in Iraq, as well as health problems. However, unless Allawi returns to Iraq full-time, develops a centrist agenda, and participates with other GOI leaders as a key negotiator on difficult issues, he may become obsolete on the Iraq political scene. End summary. ALLAWI'S COMEBACK FIZZLES -------------- ¶2. (S/NF) Former PM Ayad Allawi's attempts to make headlines in Iraqi politics and build a centrist, issues-based coalition started off strong in early 2007 (ref A),but fizzled during the year due to prolonged absences and lack of participation in the CoR. Given the public's disillusionment with the GOI and popular perception of Allawi as a secular alternative, Allawi missed a golden opportunity to return as a major player. He only spent small spurts of time in Iraq throughout the year, instead traveling in the Arab region and Europe. Allawi did not hesitate to criticize PM Maliki from afar, but did not spend enough time inside Iraq to contribute to positive change. Instead he withdrew his party from the GOI in August. Allawi even announced a "Six Point Plan" during this time to describe his own agenda. His goals included improving security, reducing sectarianism, building support among Iraq's neighbors, strengthening the economy, and bringing about national reconciliation. However, he did not stick around long enough to implement this plan. ¶3. (S/NF) At one point, Allawi was rumored by members of Hewar, Tawafuq, and independents as a possible replacement to PM Maliki should confidence be withdrawn by the CoR. He traveled to European and Arab capitals to drum up international support for his centrist agenda. However, he failed to focus his efforts inside Iraq. His long-term absences, lack of organization within his own party, and other weaknesses caused many supporters to jump ship. In early December, one of his former (independent) CoR supporters who three months earlier sang his praises told PolOff that, "Allawi's party now is almost non-existent (ref B)." IRAQIYYA DEFECTIONS: MORE ON THE WAY -------------- ¶4. (S/NF) Dr. Allawi lost three members of the Iraqiyya party in the past several months, including Safia Souhail, Dr. Mehdi Hafedh, and Hachim Hassani (now all independents). While Hafedh and Hassani were reluctant to state their reasons for departing from Iraqiyya, Safia was more open with her criticism (ref C). She admitted while she feels Allawi is almost "like a brother," she became frustrated with Allawi for not consulting party members on decisions. Safia announced her departure from Iraqiyya in September shortly after press reports that Allawi was meeting with Ba'athists in Amman. (Note: Souhail's father was assassinated by former Ba'athist agents. End Note). ¶5. (S/NF) Three other members of Iraqiyya may also jump ship. Iraqiyya CoR member Judge Wa'el Latif complained to PolOff regarding Allawi's prolonged absence from Iraq, as well as insufficient participation of Iraqiyya CoR members in CoR sessions (9 out of 25 continuously absent) (Ref D). He told PolOff he will withdraw from the party unless changes occur in the near-term. Another Iraqiyya coalition member, Mufid al-Jaziry (Iraqi Communist Party),told PolOff in a December 4 meeting Iraqiyya used to have close to 40 CoR member seats; now just 25. He called Allawi's leadership "unbalanced" and opposite of Iraqiyya's democratic, moderate agenda. He was displeased by Allawi's "romancing" of Tawafuq. He also echoed Safia Souhail's criticisms that Allawi does not consult Iraqiyya members about decisions, leaving many of the coalition members surprised by his public statements. BAGHDAD 00003988 002 OF 002 Iraqiyya coalition and CoR member Hamid Majid Mousa (Secretary General of the Communist Party),echoed many of these same complaints in a December 5 meeting with PolOff, characterizing Allawi's agenda to overthrow the PM Maliki government as "strange and weird." None of these three want to abandon Allawi or Iraqiyya, but say they may have no choice. WILL IRAQIYYA SURVIVE? -------------- ¶6. (S/NF) Iraqiyya may dissolve or further splinter in the absence of effective leadership. It is unclear whether Allawi will return to Baghdad. Further rumors of Allawi's poor health also raise questions about his ability to play a political role in Iraq. (Note: A close relative of Allawi's told PolOff that Allawi was ill and hospitalized in Jordan in early November. End note). Most notably, however, Allawi's loyal inner circle complains that the Maliki Government is out to assassinate him should he return (ref E). These Iraqiyya members point to unfair accusations from the Ministry of Interior regarding violent incidents outside of Najaf in January 2007 and Allawi's purported connections with an almost cult-like terrorist group called "Jund al-Samma," or Soldiers of Heaven. LOSS OF MINISTERIAL CONTROL: WITHDRAW BACKFIRES -------------- -- ¶7. (S/NF) In protest of PM Maliki's lack of attention to a March 1 letter requesting he carry out a list of fourteen demands, Allawi withdrew his party from the GOI in early August. However, this decision had unintended consequences. Minister of Science and Technology Dr. Raid Fahmi Jahid and Minister of Human Rights Wijdan Salim chose instead to remain in their ministerial positions in the GOI and withdrew from Iraqiyya. As far as we are aware, Minister of State Without Portfolio (Tribal Affairs) Muhammad al-Uraybi decided to remain in his position, although he doesn't spend much time in Baghdad. ¶8. (S/NF) Only the former Justice Minister (Hashim al-Shibli) and Minister of Communications (Muhammad Allawi) stood by Ayad Allawi's decision. However, it is important to note Muhammad Allawi is Ayad Allawi's cousin. Muhammad ran his ministry from the UK for many months and only recently fully resigned from his position and rejoined the CoR. Iraqiyya CoR member Wa'el Latif told PolOff in late November Iraqiyya does not plan to return to the GOI in the near future (ref D). This leaves Iraqiyya without any representation in the cabinet and is weakening its ability to influence GOI decisions. COMMENT -------------- ¶9. (S/NF) Since its inception, Iraqiyya has articulated a promising vision for a democratic, inclusive, and secular Iraq, but it has not been well served by its leadership. Allawi's absence from Iraq, lack of participation in the CoR, and undermining of Maliki's government in foreign capitals have severely hurt Iraqiyya's ability to build alliances to promote its agenda. Given Allawi's stature from his days of former Prime Minister in the Iraqi Interim Government (IIG), he missed an opportunity in 2007 to play a key mediating role in reducing sectarian differences and promoting national reconciliation. Other party bloc leaders told PolOff Allawi is widely respected and seen as someone who can bridge these differences. However, given Allawi's track record this year, it is doubtful he will return to Iraq and roll up his sleeves in the CoR, or help the Maliki government achieve its objectives. If Allawi does not reverse this trend, he may soon become obsolete in Iraqi politics. BUTENIS