MAYSANI SHEIKHS: EXPECT MORE ATTACKS

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002667

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/20/2018
TAGS: PGOV PTER MOPS PINS IR IZ
SUBJECT: MAYSANI SHEIKHS: EXPECT MORE ATTACKS

Classified By: PRT Maysan Leader Dan Foote for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (S/REL MCFI) Summary: In an August 19 meeting with U.S.
officials, Maysani sheikhs Ali Hasan Sajar Al-Fartusi and
Saha, Jabar Suhail Al-Buzaid warned of a "second phase" in
local reactions to the U.S. presence in the governorate,
predicting that released detainees and militants returning
from Iran would lead to more attacks on Coalition Forces
(CF). They disavowed any knowledge of the rocket attack
earlier in the day on the U.S. military base and warned that
Jaysh al-Mahdi (JAM) infiltration of Iraqi Security Forces
(ISF),particularly the Iraqi Police (IP),remained a
problem. The sheikhs complained about the dominance of
Sadrists in the provincial government and charged that local
authorities steer government contracts to companies
associated with JAM. They talked in great detail about the
organization of the Maysan Tribal Support Council but were
nebulous regarding the council,s actual work, and insisted
that the council was "independent from any party," although
all of its members supported Prime Minister Maliki. End
summary.

Rocket Attack at FOB Garry Owen, More to Come?
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2. (S/REL MCFI) The sheikhs expressed their condolences over
the August 19 attack on Forward Operating Base Garry Owen and
characterized the incident as part of a "second phase."
(Note: An early morning rocket attack on the FOB, the first
of its kind in Maysan, resulted in several American
casualties. End Note.) They explained that while Maysanis
did not initially react to the American presence, more
attacks would occur as militants returned from Iran and
suspects arrested in earlier ISF operations were released.
Although the rockets were launched from land supposedly under
their control, the sheikhs disavowed any knowledge of the
attack, saying, "we are not intelligence officers or security
experts, rather we just guide people." Instead, they
repeatedly emphasized the necessity of a "strong and
thorough" investigation into the attack and warned that the
Iraqi Army, and especially the IP, were infiltrated by Jaysh
al-Mahdi. They also speculated that IP Provincial Chief
Sa,ad was himself linked to JAM.
The sheikhs criticized local judges as being corrupt and
unwilling to issue warrants and criticized weapons buy-back
programs for offering sums below market value.

JAM Strong in Provincial Government
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3. (S/REL MCFI) Asked about the provincial government, the
sheikhs said "there are some good people, loyal to the
country...and then there are the Sadrists." They complained
that members of the Sadrist-affiliated Hussein Ideology Front
(HIF) used their voting majority in the Provincial Council
(PC) to hamper security investigations and steer contracts
toward JAM-affiliated contractors. They added that, contrary
to PC by-laws, several HIF PC members currently living in
Iran continued to receive their salaries despite their
absence from the PC sessions. As examples they named Ali
Hussein Al-Dhali and Ali Diwa, Lazar. The sheikhs reacted
with obvious dismay when the PRT received a cellular call
from Zaid al-Hoshi, a close aide of the Maysani governor,
during the meeting. They called Zaid "a thief and a
liar...he is 100 percent JAM," adding that Zaid controls a
network of companies that turn over ten percent of their
income to JAM. The sheikhs were reluctant to offer any
prediction on the Maysani
provincial elections. "In the past," said Sheikh Ali Hasan,
"the marja,iyya and Sistani told people how to vote. But I
visited Sistani and he said he will not intervene in the
election." They said the Sadrists would participate in the
elections through the National Reform Trend as well as
various fronts. "They all use names like the
independents, and the cultured," said Ali Sarhan.


Maysan Tribal Support Council: Affiliated with the Prime
Minister?
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4. (S/REL MCFI) The sheikhs described the Tribal Support
Council, or Maysan Awakening Council, as being composed of
340 members; 20 from each of Maysan,s 17 districts. A
supervisory committee oversees the overall work of the
council as well as its four functional components: the
security, services, reconciliation, and administration and
finance committees. Mohammed Sa,adoon of the Sudan tribe is
the chair of the supervisory committee and Ali Hasan Sajar
and Abdul Wa,ef are his two deputies. The sheikhs were
vague about the actual work of the council and only
identified specific responsibilities for the security
committee (charged with coordinating with ISF officials),

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although they admitted that "this hasn,t happened yet." The
sheikhs emphasized that the council was "independent from any
party," but added that all of its members supported Prime
Minister Maliki "because he is a nationalist." The sheikhs
closed the meeting with requests for PRT support for various
projects, including: marshland
restoration efforts; contracts to companies owned by the
sheikhs; an examination by a cardiologist (Sheikh Ali Hasan);
and treatment for a skin pigmentation disorder (Sheikh Saha,
Jabar).

Comment
--------------


5. (S/REL MCFI) As common in meetings with tribal leaders
throughout the south, the sheikhs were eager for U.S.
financial assistance and full of criticism for local
government. Also unsurprising was their lack of specific
project ideas (beyond contracts to their companies) and their
denial of any responsibility for or knowledge of attacks on
Coalition Forces. The most beneficial aspect of the meeting
may have been the unexpected attendance of PC member Ali
Sarhan, who expressed eagerness to work with U.S. officials
and claimed to possess information on militant groups within
the province. The PRT hopes to meet with Ali Sarhan in the
near future as part of an effort to broaden its engagement
with the Provincial Council. End comment.
CROCKER