Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BAGHDAD1080
2008-04-07 18:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

COR SPEAKER MAHMOUD MASHADANI DEEMS POLITICAL

Tags:  PREL PGOV IZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5489
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #1080/01 0981809
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 071809Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6725
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001080 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ
SUBJECT: COR SPEAKER MAHMOUD MASHADANI DEEMS POLITICAL
COUNCIL FOR NATIONAL SECURITY MEETING SUCCESSFUL

REF: BAGHDAD 1066

Classified By: Political Counselor Matt Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001080

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/07/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ
SUBJECT: COR SPEAKER MAHMOUD MASHADANI DEEMS POLITICAL
COUNCIL FOR NATIONAL SECURITY MEETING SUCCESSFUL

REF: BAGHDAD 1066

Classified By: Political Counselor Matt Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d)


1. (C) Summary. Council of Representatives (CoR) Speaker
Mahmoud Mashadani told us the Political Council for National
Security (PCNS) meeting (Saturday, April 5, 2008) was
successful in bridging the key differences between the
political blocs. He added the CoR will work to ban armed
militias from getting involved with the provincial elections.
He is also optimistic that parties outside the government
(i.e., Tawafuq, Iraqiyya, Fadila and Sadrists) will return to
the GOI. Mashadani encouraged PM Maliki to speak to the CoR
on April 8, and noted he would stop the session if the
Sadrists get out of line. Mashadani is concerned about the
overwhelming influence of the Iranians in Iraq and on the
Sadrists in particular and stressed "enough is enough." He
is supportive of PM Maliki spending a five billion dollar
surplus toward infrastructure projects and services to help
the Iraqi people. He is also interested in starting up a
"Youth Parliament" project to train the next generation of
Iraqi parliamentarians. End Summary.

PCNS MEETING SUCCESSFUL
--------------


2. (C) Mashadani told PolCouns and NSC Senior Director for
Iraq and Afghanistan McGurk on April 6, 2008, that the
Political Council for National Security (PCNS) meeting
(Saturday, 4/5/08) was the most successful and productive
meeting he has ever attended. He described the discussion as
free and open and supportive of provincial elections. "The
choice before us," said Mashadani, "is whether we are going
to build a strong national government or be continuously in
conflict." He said it was obvious to all those present at
the PCNS meeting that militias need to be eliminated. At the
same time, Mashadani noted almost every political bloc has
their own militias so this will be a challenge. "Any bloc
that does not dissolve its militias," said Mashadani, "does
not believe in a peaceful transfer of power." He added
militias cannot be part of provincial elections, targeted to
occur by October 1, 2008, and said this is a driving force
behind the political parties' willingness to disband them.

The CoR, he said will issue legislation toward this end.


3. (C) Mashadani said the parties agreed to strengthen the
GOI, and that he personally was optimistic the political
parties that previously withdrew from the GOI would return.
He said there is also a need to establish a policy against
Iranian interference. The way to achieve these objectives,
said Mashadani, is to create a vibrant legislative and
executive branch. Mashadani said there was complete
agreement from all the parties on these goals, but noted
Nasar Rubaie (Sadrist bloc leader) was the only person to
express reservations during the PCNS meeting about dissolving
militias.

PM MALIKI ADDRESSING THE COR
--------------


4. (C) Asked about the possibility of PM Maliki addressing
the CoR Tuesday, April 8, Mashadani said, "he is always
welcome." He said it is a good idea for the Prime Minister
to come to the CoR and explain the situation in Basrah
first-hand. Given the unanimous support of the GOI in the
PCNS meeting, Mashadani noted PM Maliki's attendance at the
Iraqi Parliament will be important. In response to McGurk's
question on whether there will be opposition from the
Sadrists regarding the PM's presence at the CoR, Mashadani
shrugged his shoulders and said he did not think any "red
lines" would be crossed. If so, he promised to close or stop
the session. However, he sees the willingness of the PM to
speak before the CoR as a healthy sign, adding: "If the Prime
Minister can charge into Basrah and fight militias, he should
have the courage to come to the Parliament."

IRANIAN INFLUENCE
--------------


5. (C) Mashadani is increasingly concerned about Iranian
influence in Iraq, and complained that the Sadrists seemed to
owe more loyalty to Tehran than to Baghdad. He said the
Sadrists are being used by the Iranians. Mashadani also
talked about a meeting that afternoon with Foreign Minister
Hoshyar Zebari where they both agreed to stand together
against Iranian influence. "Enough is enough," Mashadani
stressed. More education, he noted, is needed with the
Sadrists on this issue. Mashadani criticized the fact that
Moqtada al-Sadr (MaS) is currently in Iran rather than Iraq.
He also said President Talabani recently met with Iranian
Revolutionary Guard Corps Brigadier General Qasim Suleimani

BAGHDAD 00001080 002 OF 002


and asked (referring to Sadr),"Why do you keep him?"
Mashadani is interested in paying a visit to MaS and
expressed concern he may be "brainwashed" if he remains out
of the country much longer.

SPENDING THE IRAQI SURPLUS
--------------


6. (C) McGurk emphasized with Mashadani the importance of the
GOI using some its resources to invest in economic projects
that will improve infrastructure and security. Towards this
end, he said PM Maliki had dedicated a five billion surplus
to use towards infrastructure projects. McGurk emphasized it
is important the Iraqis step up and achieve their economic
objectives, given that they are making positive strides on
the political and security fronts. Mashadani agreed the
Iraqi people need assistance now and the country cannot
afford to wait eight or ten years to make these
infrastructure improvements. Mashadani proposed using twenty
percent of the oil revenue for services and infrastructure
during the next three years. He noted that, unfortunately,
the current Ministry of Oil (Husayn Shahristani-UIA)) and
Minister of Finance (Bayan Jabr-UIA/ISCI),are not supportive
of using oil revenues towards these efforts.

YOUTH PARLIAMENT: TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION
-------------- -


7. (SBU) Mashadani told PolCouns he would welcome USG
assistance in creating an NGO to foster national unity,
democracy, and political participation via a "Youth
Parliament," which will train the next generation. "We need
to create a new institute without any agendas, political
identity, or ethnic or religious affiliations," said
Mashadani. Training youth on the peaceful transfer of power,
he stressed, will be key to rebuilding Iraq's future.
Mashadani said there is hope that the younger generation will
not be tied to political agendas or sectarianism.
BUTENIS