IRAQ PARLIAMENT SPEAKER MASHHADANI'S MELTDOWN

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 BAGHDAD 000501 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2017 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL MOPS PINS PNAT IZ SUBJECT: IRAQ PARLIAMENT SPEAKER MASHHADANI'S MELTDOWN Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S//REL UK, AUS) SUMMARY: A February 10th working dinner, intended to facilitate intra-Sunni dialogue, devolved into a shouting match between Iraqi Minister of Defense Abdul Qader Mohammed al-Ubadyi and Council of Representatives (CoR) Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, with the Speaker storming out. Mashhadani spent most of the evening complaining of Qader's poor performance, accusing him of being unwilling to prevent the killing or displacement of thousands of Iraqi Sunnis and allowing the MOD to become Shia-dominated. After over an hour of complaints, Qader responded that as Defense Minister he is responsible to all Iraqis, regardless of sect. He cited many examples of the Iraqi Army fighting Shia militias throughout the country, emphasizing that the MOD is taking steps to ensure a proper sectarian balance in the Army and security for all. ¶2. (S//REL UK, AUS) SUMMARY CONTINUED: MNF-I Commanding General Petraeus emphasized his high opinion of Qader and told Mashhadani that the Sunni leadership must renounce the insurgency. He noted that the sectarian balance within the MOD would improve if Sunnis joined the Army adding that the Speaker should encourage this. When Qader asked Mashhadani to clarify his conflicting public statements regarding Coalition Forces, Mashhadani exploded, calling Qader "filthy", a traitor, and threatening to "smash" his head. He then stormed out of the dinner. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (S//REL UK, AUS) On February 10, Ambassador Khalilzad hosted a working dinner for Minister of Defense Abdul Qader Mohammed al-Ubadyi and Council of Representatives (CoR) Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, hoping that the two could begin to work through the issues that divide them. Also in attendance were Tawafuq Front CoR member Hasan Degan, British Ambassador Asquith, and MNF-I Commanding General Petraeus. -------------- MOD Has Allowed Baghdad to Become a Shia City -------------- ¶4. (S//REL UK, AUS) Claiming that he was expressing the views of the "Sunni street" and the Tawafuq Front -- with which he said he did not entirely agree -- Mashhadani argued that Abdul Qader's tenure has been a disaster for Iraq's Sunnis. He said that while Qader had been nominated by Tawafuq to be the leader of a "Sunni ministry," it had in fact become Shia-dominated, thousands of Sunnis had been killed, and Sunni areas in Bahgdad, including Mashhadani's own, had been subjected to sectarian cleansing. Asserting that the Iraqi Army (IA) was now little more than an extension of Jaysh al-Mahdi (JAM),Mashhadani said that the IA actively participated in sectarian activities, routinely raping Sunni women (including eight of Mashhadani's cousins) and committing thousands of killings. He said that Abdul Qader personally might be a good man, but that he had been ineffective in protecting Sunnis and asserting their rights. Also criticizing other Sunni politicians, such as Deputy Prime Minister Zubaie, Mashhadani claimed to be the only one defending Sunni interests. -------------- Mashhadani: Sunni's Have Gained Nothing -------------- ¶5. (S//REL UK, AUS) Mashhadani said that the Sunnis had provided the GOI with the "gift of legitimacy" only to receive violence and discrimination in return. He said that sectarian displacement, firings, and De-Baathification specifically targeted Sunnis. He also argued that "parliamentary terror" brands Sunnis as terrorist supporters merely for raising concerns about security and justice. Mashhadani said he could not name a single positive benefit Sunnis had received from the government, but could list at least one hundred areas where they had lost ground. He claimed to be the only Sunni leader that Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki had not "bent," while at the same time arguing that he was unable to accomplish much because of the terrible security situation. He concluded that the future of Tawafuq is in doubt, as well as its participation in the Iraqi Government. ¶6. (S//REL UK, AUS) Ambassador Khalilzad cautioned that leaving the government would be a disastrous mistake, since it would deprive the Sunni community of its political voice. Mashhadani responded that if Tawafuq did remain it would only be for "the sake of Iraq," adding Tawafuq is in an BAGHDAD 00000501 002 OF 003 "unenviable position" because of the lack of security. He stated that he hoped that the new security plan would succeed, but then immediately complained that he had not been consulted on the plan. He said that Abdul Qader and Maliki sent its details "straight to Iran and JAM." He concluded that the CoR cannot fully play its role under Maliki, the "new Saddam," adding that the Kurds and Sunnis would suffer an even worse in the future. -------------- Minister Qader Responds -------------- ¶7. (S//REL UK, AUS) Abdul Qader forcefully responded to Mashhadani's harangue, arguing that the MOD works transparently through the Ministerial Council for National Security (MCNS). He said that he swore an oath on the Koran to serve all Iraqis, regardless of sect or party. He noted that he has pushed for legislation to severely punish sectarian activity. Abdul Qader bristled at Mashhadani's notion that he had not promoted Sunnis, noting that promotions and assignments are made by a joint Iraqi-Coalition review board which has rejected several of Maliki's candidates. ¶8. (S//REL UK, AUS) Abdul Qader emphasized his success in building an "Iraqi" army that the people trust more than any other government institution. He said that he ha presented a reform plan to the MCNS, adding that on February 9th he tried to brief the CoR but was removed from the agenda due to time constraints. He offered to brief Mashhadani within forty-eight hours, but Mashhadani did not respond. Discounting much of the information given to Tawafuq concerning the IA's involvement in sectarian violence, Abdul Qader suggested that the accusations were from "unqualified people with ulterior motives". He concluded that in reality the Iraqi Army is fighting all over the country without regard to sect, citing examples of the 8th IA's actions in Diwaniyah, the 10th's in Samawah, and the recent battle against Shia extremists near Najaf. -------------- - CG: Sunnis Must Renounce AQI and Join the Army -------------- - ¶9. (S//REL UK, AUS) Commanding General Petraeus stated that he held Minister Abdul Qader in high regard. At the same time, he bluntly told Mashhadani that to establish security, the Sunni leadership must renounce the insurgency and violence. He noted that the Iraqi Army in Al-Anbar is at less than fifty percent strength because young Sunni men were not joining. He said this needed to change. Petraeus pledged to work to improve security, adding that both Coalition and Iraqi forces have fought and died side-by-side in the effort to achieve it. Required by his schedule to leave, Petraeus pledged his support to Speaker Mashhadani, but emphasized that the Sunnis must make greater efforts in renouncing the insurgency and supporting the political process. -------------- Mashhadani Threatens, Spews Venom and Leaves -------------- ¶10. (S//REL UK, AUS) The conversation became progressively more heated, with Mashhadani threatening to bring Abdul Qader before the CoR. He warned Qader "we have a file," implying that Qader was corrupt. Abdul Qader visibly blanched at this and stated that "he would not be unhappy if he were removed" from his position. Abdul Qader then asked Mashhadani to clarify his apparently contradictory public positions on the Coalition, noting that while he often says that only the Coalition is able to protect Sunnis, at other times he praises the insurgency as the "honorable resistance." At this, Mashhadani exploded, shouting that he would never condemn "those who defend an occupied country" and that he would gladly "stand on the table and denounce Bush." He called Abdul Qader "filthy" and threatened to "smash" his head". He then stormed out, taking Degan with him. -------------- Reaction -------------- ¶11. (S//REL UK, AUS) The Speaker's outburst left the table incredulous. Abdul Qader referred to Degan as a "prince of terror" and suggested that Mashhadani was "deranged." Their "strange logic," he said, made it "impossible to know what BAGHDAD 00000501 003 OF 003 they want." He added that Mashhadani's irresponsible radicalism has divided the CoR. Ambassador Khalilzad lamented Mashhadani's behavior. He added that the Speaker must be under great pressure from all sides: the Sunni population, the insurgency, and Al Qaida in Iraq. He said that this evening underscored the need to improve security so that Sunni leaders might be better positioned to display greater pragmatism and flexibility. Citing Mashhadani as a prime example, the Ambassador lamented the lack of quality leaders among the Sunni. SPECKHARD