PRT NAJAF: GOV'S OFFICE AWASH IN RUMORS OF ISCI

S E C R E T BAGHDAD 001927

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2018
TAGS: PGOV IZ
SUBJECT: PRT NAJAF: GOV'S OFFICE AWASH IN RUMORS OF ISCI
FEUD

Classified By: Deputy Political Counselor Greg D'Elia for reasons 1.4 (
b) and (d).


1. (U) This is a PRT Najaf reporting cable.


2. (C) SUMMARY: The relationship between Najaf Governor
Asaad Abu Gelal Al-Ta'ie and Deputy Governor Abdul Hussein
Abtan, both firmly entrenched members of ISCI's inner circle,
has long been characterized within the province as disruptive
and competitive. Recently, local contacts and PRT staff
resident in the Governor's Compound (GC) relayed anecdotes of
open power plays for ISCI control in Najaf to PRT Offs. With
Abu Gelal openly not running for reelection, and Abtan
clearly jockeying for his succession, the prospects are
growing for a preemptive move by Abtan to assume even greater
operational control of the province months in advance of the
actual elections. END SUMMARY.


3. (C) The friction between the Najaf Governor and Deputy
Governor is growing, according to an anecdote related by
three separate Najaf-based contacts. Abtan allegedly went
behind Abu Gelal's back to ISCI leader Abdel Aziz Al Hakim to
complain about Abu Gelal's interference with Abtan's
authority and ability to initiate large-scale construction
projects, lead security matters in the province, and operate,
despite his position as deputy governor, as the preeminent
ISCI leader in Najaf. Al Hakim reportedly summoned Abu Gelal
to Baghdad and openly sided with Abtan, telling the governor
his time at the helm was functionally at an end. Another
version of the rumor alleges Abu Gelal complained to Prime
Minister Maliki during his last trip to Najaf, with the same
result of Abu Gelal called to Baghdad and chastised by Al
Hakim for interfering with the active role of Abtan.


4. (C) Long acknowledged as the governor's heir apparent,
Abtan maintains a public presence as deputy governor and
actively liaises with the PRT as a main interlocutor. Abtan
also serves as the key provincial official for large-scale
projects like the Najaf International Airport, as well as the
point man to attract regional foreign direct investment in
Najaf. His most recent project, the reportedly multi-billion
dollar "Najaf Sea New City," aims to attract regional
investment, mostly from Iran and Syria, to build a
residential and business community on the lush northern shore
of the Najaf Sea ) a large lake located a few kilometers
from the center of Najaf.


5. (C) Previously, Abtan often took the place of the
governor as security coordinator for Najaf. This changed,
however, during the March-April increase in South-Central
violence. Abu Gelal reportedly asserted himself and
personally oversaw coordination of Iraqi Security Forces
(ISF) and orchestrated talks between local ISCI officials and
Office of the Martyr Sadr (OMS) and Jaysh al Mahdi (JAM)
representatives to prevent violence from breaking out in
Najaf specifically. With the PRT, the governor recently
increased his overall ) and historically positive and
informative ) relationship, including a warm welcome to the
Ambassador and the PRT to its new residence at FOB Endeavor.


6. (C) COMMENT: Numerous times over the past year contacts
briefed PRT Offs on the Abu Gelal ) Abtan feud. In private
meetings with Team Leader, Abu Gelal and Abtan went out of
their way to promote an image of harmony, often using
specific examples of information discussed with PRT Offs in
separate meetings to indicate real time coordination between
the governor and deputy governor. The recent anecdotes, if
true, indicate a widening fissure within Najaf's
ISCI-dominated provincial leadership. Increasingly open
challenges to Abu Gelal by his deputy will further threaten
his control over his own office, let alone the province.


7. (S/NF) Comment continued: Abtan, despite his connection
with a variety of high-profile reconstruction projects,
remains distrusted by many Najaf residents in the lead up to
elections. While Abu Gelal is generally spoken of as a
respected, senior statesman, contacts consistently mention
Abtan's alleged career prior to politics as a Badr commander.
Admirers refer to him as a CEO-minded task master focused on
the bottom line and concrete results, while detractors regard
his heavy-handed, blunt style and open disdain for unwelcome
information as personality traits of a militia commander. In
his previous capacity as a Badr partisan Abtan was likely
involved in Iranian-backed intelligence operations and he
likely maintains close relationships with Iranian
intelligence services. Abtan and ISCI are widely expected to
win the governorship in the upcoming provincial elections.
He is characteristically direct with PRT Offs, maintaining
strong working relationships focused on investment, project
completion, and additional financial resources for Najaf.
END COMMENT.
CROCKER