NAJAF GOVERNOR SKEPTICAL OF SADRIST COMPLIANCE WITH ISCI

C O N F I D E N T I A L HILLAH 000140 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/17/2017 TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON IZ SUBJECT: NAJAF GOVERNOR SKEPTICAL OF SADRIST COMPLIANCE WITH ISCI ACCORD REF: A) HILLAH 137; B) HILLAH 130 CLASSIFIED BY: Angus Simmons, Team Leader, PRT Najaf, DOS. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (U) This is a PRT Najaf cable. ¶2. (C) SUMMARY: During an October 16 meeting with 3ID Deputy Division Commander and PRT Najaf Team Leader, the Najaf Governor expressed skepticism that the followers of Muqtada al-Sadr would comply with the October 5, 2007 accord between al-Sadr and Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI) leader Abdul Azziz al-Hakim. Despite a recent decrease in the number of targeted killings, the Governor also voiced continued concern over assassinations in Najaf. The Governor thanked Commanding General David Patraeus for addressing the concerns of the marja'iyya that he had raised during his previous meeting with PRT Leader. Concerning the Najaf Airport Project (NAP),the Governor stressed urgency and importance of the project, noting that the completion of the NAP will be his personal legacy. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (C) During an October 16, 2007 meeting at the Regional Embassy Office in al-Hillah, Najaf Governor Assad Sultaan Abu Gelal al-Ta'ie (ISCI) told PRT Najaf Team Leader and 3ID Deputy Division Commander that he had sent a message to al-Hakim stating he didn't believe that al-Sadr loyalists would respect the October 5, 2007 accord between al-Hakim and al-Sadr. Al-Ta'ie noted that Sadrists had failed to adhere to previous agreements, and he saw no reason why this time should be any different. More important than political pacts of non-violence, he said, was thorough and fair implementation of the rule of law. Lawbreakers will be punished in Najaf, he said, regardless of their political affiliation, while those that respect the law will have no problems. The Governor also noted that increased employment opportunities would have a greater impact on the security situation in the province than would any political accords. Al-Ta'ie further stressed that a reduction in the interference of foreign forces, rather than political deals, would improve security in the province. He noted approvingly that Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani and the rest of the marja'iyya are firm in their opposition to Iranian interference in Najaf. ¶4. (C) Expanding on the theme of security, al-Ta'ie expressed continued concern over assassinations in Najaf, despite the decrease in the number of targeted killings since September 14, 2007 (ref A). He implied that that the threat remains undiminished, noting that a Baghdad official living in Najaf was killed in the province in an apparent assassination on October 15, 2007. The Governor stressed that the marja'iyya are very concerned about the threat of assassinations, and he emphasized that Najaf must put in operation a plan to curb the targeted killings. ¶5. (C) The Governor expressed appreciation over the responsiveness of General Patraeus to issues raised in a September 22, 2007 meeting in Najaf (ref B). In particular, he praised General Patraeus' sensitivity to the omission from the September Congressional testimony of the constructive role being played by the marja'iyya. Al-Ta'ie explained that he had conveyed General Patraeus' message (via Saadi) to the marja'iyya and that he was awaiting their response. The Governor also expressed gratitude for 3ID Deputy Division Commander and U.S. forces for their invaluable assistance during the security operations surrounding the October 5 anniversary of the death of Imam Ali. ¶6. (C) Turning to the Najaf Airport Project (NAP),the Governor stressed the urgency and importance of the project. Al-Ta'ie reiterated that Najaf officials will continue to collaborate with the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority as well as the Prime Minister's Advisor for Air and Seaports, but he emphasized that the project must move forward without delay. Al-Ta'ie noted that he considers that the completion of the NAP will be his legacy in Najaf. Comment: We expect that Governor al-Ta'ie may raise this issue vigorously, either in plenary sessions, or on the margins of the Southern Governor's conference on October 18 in Baghdad. End Comment. SIMMONS