PM MALIKI VISIT TO ANBAR WELL RECEIVED BY LOCAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000910

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2017
TAGS: PGOV KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: PM MALIKI VISIT TO ANBAR WELL RECEIVED BY LOCAL
GOVERNMENT, TRIBES, ISF

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Daniel V. Speckhard for reasons 1.4 (b
) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: At the initiative of MNF-I Commanding
General, PM Maliki visited Anbar March 13, accompanied by MoD
Abdul Qader, MoI Bolani, and MinState for Foreign Affairs
Rafaa Essawi. In separate meetings with the Anbar provincial
council and the tribal sheikhs, he emphasized that all Iraqis
regardless of sect, tribal, or ethnic affiliation were one
people. He pointed to the Anbaris' efforts in fighting AQI
and the work of the Anbar Coordination Committee as a model
for the rest of Iraq, and called for all Anbaris - government
officials and tribal notables alike - to work in harmony for
the good of the province. Maliki deftly handled the tribes'
impassioned calls for immediate elections in Anbar by noting
that elections were shared concern throughout Iraq, and
calling for speedy CoR action on elections legislation. The
PM promoted the hydrocarbons law, highlighting the possible
benefits Anbar could reap from a flourishing oil industry in
Iraq. Maliki came prepared to respond to the grievances
expressed by PC members and tribal leaders; he made co
mmitments on a number of services projects and referred ISF
concerns to the security ministers for action. Despite some
sparring among tribal sheikhs, and between the sheikhs and
the governor and PC chair, the atmosphere was genuinely
cordial and Maliki's interventions were well-received. Most
meeting participants Emboffs spoke to afterwards called the
visit an important step. The PM continues to rally national
support for the hydrocarbons bill and other key priorities,
and plans to travel to Erbil in the near future. End Summary.

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IRAQIS SHOULD UNITE - AND SO SHOULD ANBARIS
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2. (C) Maliki, who was visiting Ramadi for the first time
since he lived there as a teacher in 1976, delivered a firm
message of national unity to the Anbar audience. He told 26
assembled PC members that the division of Iraq was
unacceptable. While Iraqis should be proud of their ethnic
and religious identities, their loyalty must be to Iraq.
Iraqis must stand together to face the challenges affecting
its provinces. To understand these challenges, Maliki said,
he called a meeting the previous day of all Iraq's governors
where they discussed the security and administrative hurdles
linked to spending their budget allocations, and ways to
overcome these obstacles. (Note: By highlighting the
difficulties in budget execution Iraq-wide, Maliki's
statement could serve to deflect corruption charges against
Governor Ma'moun from Anbari tribal leaders. End note.)


3. (C) On a security front, the "rule of law" plan was
showing early signs of success that were bringing increased
stability to Baghdad, and it was hoped its effects would
reverberate throughout Iraq. Maliki praised the bravery of
the "sons of Anbar" who were fighting AQI. The PM said that
true stability would only come from reconciliation and frank
dialogue, and in this regard he expressed appreciation for
the positive role of the Anbar coordination committee as a
mechanism for representing all points of view and advocating
for the interests of the province. He said that many Iraqis
sought to replicate the efforts of Anbar, noting that Diyala
locals were organizing to fight against AQI and there was
talk of forming a "Diyala Coordination Council."

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PM CAME PREPARED TO ADRRESS ANBAR'S CONCERNS
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4. (C) The PM appeared well-versed on the issues affecting
Anbar province; this became apparent as he fielded questions
and concerns from provincial council members and Directors
General. In the course of the meeting, he announced that a
400-bed hospital would be opening in Anbar, passport/identity
documents services would be offered on a more regular basis,
that he would ensure the re-opening of the glass and ceramic
factories of Anbar. In response to the numerous questions on
compensation for the families of martyrs and for those whose
property was destroyed, the PM recognized this was a
long-standing demand and promised he would act on this issue.
As a short term solution to the electricity shortage the PM
offered a number of mobile electricity plants for each city
of the province.


5. (C) In response to a complaint about weapons shortages
among ISF, Minister of Interior Bolani told the Anbaris that
a "weapons distribution committee" had been appointed that
was looking into this issue. (Note: This is an improvement
from Bolani's previous statement to Anbar local government
officials January 23 that distribution of extra weapons were
entirely "in the hands of the Americans." End note.) On the
understaffed 7th IA Brigade, a sore point with the Anbaris,

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MoD Abdul Qader repeated his assertion that if the men of
Anbar signed up, he would be happy to equip, train, and send
them into service.


6. (C) Maliki made a pitch for his legislative priorities,
calling the hydrocarbons law an important step forward for
Iraq. He said that this law would ensure that all of Iraq's
provinces received an equal share of Iraqi oil wealth, and
pointed out that Anbar-based transportation companies stood
to benefit from a flourishing oil industry in Iraq.

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CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE, PM AVOIDS TAKING SIDES
-------------- --


7. (C) It quickly became apparent during the meeting with the
Anbar Salvation Council that the tribal sheikhs sought the
opportunity to air their long-standing grievances with the
governor and PC Chair in front of the PM. They raised the
lack of tribal representation in the provincial council,
budget execution decisions, and in consultations on important
government appointments. One sheikh likened Governor
Ma'moun's decision making style to Saddam Hussein's, which
set off a heated debate that only stopped when the PM
intervened. The sheikhs raised the illegitimacy of the
elections that brought the current government to power, and
frustrations over delays in government and ISF salary
distribution. The sheikhs called for immediate elections,
arguing that they should occur in Anbar even before the rest
of Iraq in order to address the injustices perpetrated
against those who "had given the most" to Anbar.


8. (C) The PM diffused the situation by acknowledging the
bravery and the sacrifices of the tribes, and pointing out
that over the past six months he understood there had been a
re-balancing of political representation in Anbar to include
the input of the tribes. Minister of State Rafaa Essawi
played moderator, as he reviewed the state of play on many of
these grievances for the PM and pointed out and what action
if any the Anbar Coordination Committee had taken.


9. (C) The PM told the sheikhs that elections for Anbar ahead
of everyone else were not tenable; he pointed out that many
Iraqis shared the desire to hold elections soon. The PM
noted that elections commissioners were currently being
chosen, and that he expected an elections procedures law to
arrive to the CoR in the coming weeks. (Note: The Embassy
has not received any indication from CoR contacts that such a
law has been drafted yet. End note.) The PM encouraged the
Anbar tribal leaders to organize themselves into political
parties in preparation for the upcoming elections. He also
encouraged them to move on from past disagreements, and
emphasized the importance of harmony amongst Anbar's leaders.
Pointing to the CoR as an example, he said that public
fights between leaders often directly led to violence on the
street.

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ATMOSPHERICS
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10. (C) The PM's level of preparedness for the session, and
the warmth with which he was received in Anbar is in stark
contrast to the October 7, 2006 Anbar Tribes Conference held
at the Rasheed Hotel in Baghdad, which appeared to be more of
an encounter between strangers. The optic of PM Maliki and
MoI Bolani warmly greeting each tribal sheikh was a powerful
one; Maliki's willingness to hear out each and every
individual most likely won him credit among members of the
audience. The IA soldiers were also extremely welcoming; the
Iraqi Provincial Joint Command Center staff proudly briefed
the PM and even encouraged him to use their telephone system
to cold call another PJCC cell in Karbala. Everyone listened
intently and chimed in as the PM surprised the PJCC staff in
Karbala with greetings and encouragement to keep up the good
work, and to maintain good communication with their
colleagues in Anbar.


11. (C) While acknowledging the important contribution of the
tribes and the concerns they brought to bear, Maliki (who ran
both meetings flanked by the Governor and PC Chair) took a
supportive stance towards the local government and the work
of the Anbar Coordination Committee. This was an important
signal to the tribes that their concerns must be dealt with
through the established mediation channels. Most of the
meeting participants Emboffs and PRT Officials spoke to
agreed that this visit was a positive step. One sheikh noted
that Anbaris had heard many promises in the past, and would
be waiting to see what tangible improvements materialized on
the ground.
SPECKHARD