WASIT: SADRIST PC MEMBERS MEET PRT AND BRIGADE

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002231

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR IZ
SUBJECT: WASIT: SADRIST PC MEMBERS MEET PRT AND BRIGADE
COMMANDER, EMPHASIZE DISTANCE FROM JAM

Classified By: PRT Team Leader Robert Kagler for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
).

1.(S / / REL TO USA, ACGU) Summary: On July 12, in the most
recent engagement between the Sadrist Trend and
PRT Wasit, Sadrist Trend Provincial Council (PC) members
Ahmed Hasan Ebrah and Siraj Anwar Ali met with the PRT Team
Leader, Poloff, and the new Commander of the U.S. 41st Fires
Brigade. The focus of the meeting turned to a
discussion of security in Wasit, the decline of the JAM, and
a request for American assistance in obtaining the
release of four Wasit residents: two ISCI PC members and two
other citizens, all detained by American forces earlier
this year. This was Siraj Anwar Ali,s first meeting with
the PRT Political team and likely signals an expansion of
the number of Sadrist Trend leaders now willing to engage
with the PRT. End Summary.

Distancing OMS from JAM
--------------

2.(S / / REL TO USA, ACGU) The two Sadrist leaders were
clearly interested in explaining their views of the security
situation to the new American commander. Ebrah explained
that JAM was nearly gone and would cease to exist in the near
future. He also stated that the Sadrist Trend had rejected
violence. He further noted that even though only perhaps 10
percent of former JAM members continued to be violent, JAM
and Sadr continue to get blamed for this violence. Siraj
pointed out that there was a difference that he wished the
Americans to understand between the Sadrist Trend political
office and JAM. Ebrah added that they have had good meetings
and has established trust between the Americans and the
Sadrist Trend. He said he had received permission from the
new head of Sadr's office in Al Kut, Sheikh Sai,d, (Sai,d
arrived from Najaf in June 08) to continue his dialogue with
the Americans. Both Sadrists agreed that the border with
Iran was one of the chief security problems in the province
and asked that the Americans focus on securing the border.
Further, they requested that the security forces not use the
tribes to provide border security as they have long-standing
relationships with groups on the Iranian side of the border
and have long been involved in border smuggling operations.

Power Plant Needed
--------------


3. (S/ / REL TO USA, ACGU) Explaining that only employment
will bring true stability to the province, the two Sadrist
leaders asked for American help in pushing the Iraqi
government to move quickly to begin the construction of a 900
million USD Chinese-contracted electrical power plant. The
power station is planned for a location near the north Wasit
city of Zubadiyah. The construction and operation of this
huge plant and its support industries, including a possible
oil refinery, fuel pipelines and perhaps the development of
Wasit,s known but as yet untapped oil reserves, would
generate large numbers of jobs. It would also likely
eliminate the electrical power deficit in Wasit and thus help
stimulate economic growth.

Another Request to Release Detainees
--------------


4. (S/ / REL TO USA, ACGU) Finally, Ebrah asked for
information on and the release of four Wasit residents, two
Provincial Council members and two other citizens, detained
by American forces earlier this year. PC members Qassim
Mohammad Jalal Al A,riji and Fadil Jassim Mohammad Al
Zarkani, both of the ISCI party, were arrested in January
along with a Sadrist local council member from Suwayrah,
Jamal Hafdh. They also inquired about Ahmad Abd Al Ridha
Sadoon Al A,abidi, from the Al Zuwarijat district of Al Kut
and a cousin of Ebrah, who was arrested in early June.


5. (S/ / REL USA, ACGU) Comment: The request of Ebrah for
the release of detainees from Wasit is not new. However,
having two Sadrist Trend representatives at the meeting with
the PRT is a new and perhaps positive development. All
previous Sadr engagements were limited to just Ebrah. We
judge that Ebrah and Saraj are two of the top six leaders of
the Sadr office in Al Kut. It is also perhaps significant
that they wished to establish a positive relationship with
the new American military commander. This was perhaps
motivated by a sense of insecurity due to recent anti-Sadr
actions by the Iraqi government. Ebrah asked that the
Americans not believe everything they hear about him and to
not act on the word of just one source. The meeting was
positive in introducing a new Sadrist Trend leader to the PRT
but Ebrah offered no new information and excused himself by
saying that it had been a long meeting when asked about Sadr
intentions for the upcoming elections. End Comment.

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