MAYSAN SADRIST CHIEF: MUQTADA MISUNDERSTOOD

S E C R E T BAGHDAD 002806 NOFORN SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D COPY CAPTION E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2018 TAGS: PGOV IR IZ PINR SUBJECT: MAYSAN SADRIST CHIEF: MUQTADA MISUNDERSTOOD Classified By: PRT Team Leader Dan Foote for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). (U) This is a PRT Maysan reporting cable. ¶1. (S/NF) Summary and comment: The Sadr Trend is a peaceful movement committed to helping humanity and developing a strong Iraq free of foriegn influence, according to Mohammed Wahid, leader of the Sadrist-affiliated Hussein Ideology Front (HIF). Steadfastly denying that Muqtada al-Sadr (MAS) was under the direct influence of Iran, he claimed that Iranian intelligence was influencing MAS' inner circle and negatively affecting MAS' decisions and announcements. He denigrated other Shi'a parties for skewing MAS' messages for political gain and supporting politically-motivated arrests. Mohammed Wahid stated that the Sadrists are not against Coalition Forces (CF),but rather destructive foreign influence, and expressed his support for CF efforts to rebuild Iraq and strengthen the Iraqi Security Forces. His portrayal of the Sadrist position is difficult to reconcile with MAS' continuing calls against the "occupation." End summary and comment. HIF's message -------------- ¶2. (S/NF) In an August 30 meeting with team leader at Camp Garry Owen, HIF founder and Provincial Council (PC) member Mohammed Wahid delivered a zealous, occasionally rambling, and sometimes self-contradictory message. He related that he founded the party to spread the knowledge and spirituality associated with Prophet Hussein to the people of Maysan. He explained that HIF was founded in secret before the fall of Saddam's regime to focus on improving the lot of suffering Maysanis. Mohammed Wahid presented the three pillars of HIF's agenda as: improving infrastructure and security to enable better delivery of essential services, promoting human rights and education, and creating a democratic culture for all Iraqis. He added that many well-educated citizens and scholars had embraced HIF's agenda and joined the party, including politicians, physicians, and engineers. Muqtada learning from past mistakes -------------- ¶3. (S/NF) Mohammed Wahid stated that MAS had made many past decisions based upon false information distributed into his inner circle by Iranian intelligence elements. As a result, some of MAS' previous statements had been flawed, he offered. Mohammed Wahid called MAS' recent announcement of the �A;transformation of JAM a major change in message, adding that MAS has learned from past mistakes and understands that Iran had been pushing its agenda through the Sadrists and JAM. He also accused "divisive elements" within the GOI of spreading inaccurate readings of MAS communications and creating the widespread but inaccurate belief that the Sadrists do not accept the presence of CF in Iraq. "Those who fight and shoot CF do not represent the Sadrists." He offered that popular rejection of CF will dissipate when Iraqis realize that the CF is in Iraq to build, provide stability, and promote human rights within a sovereign Iraq. While Mohammed Wahid did not discuss JAM or other militia groups in any detail, he emphasized the distinction between Sadrists and JAM and implied that JAM is following other agendas and sending a false message to the GOI and CF. PC Chair's political arrest -------------- ¶4. (S/NF) Wahid said the eventual release of PC Chairman Abdul Jabar Wahid, arrested during Operation Good Tidings of Peace, confirmed that Abdul Jabar was initially targeted for political reasons. Mohammed Wahid called the PC Chair a nationalist who was arrested even as insurgents and criminals were allowed to disappear. He conveyed HIF's willingness to identify individuals opposed to the CF and provincial government, but would not elaborate. More infrastructure projects -------------- ¶5. (S/NF) The provincial Sadrist leader appealed to the U.S. to continue to fund large infrastructure projects, and dismissed most training programs and workshops held to date as unproductive. He dismissed NGOs in the province as ineffective, and advised that all work should be done through the provincial government. He touted the fact that the Governor and PC were publicly announcing U.S. projects in Maysan, "unlike other provinces," in an effort to show that the U.S. is in Maysan to help rebuild. "The hospital built by the U.S. in 1914 has gone through numerous name changes," Wahid said, "but it is still referred to by all as the American Hospital. British projects have had no long-term effect; the Americans must continue with lasting, influential infrastructure projects to develop popular support and a positive legacy." (Note: POLOFF lived in Amarah for almost one year and never once heard the hospital referred to as 'The American Hospital.' End Note.) Comment -------------- ¶6. (S/NF) Mohammed Wahid's desire to paint a positive image of the Sadrists, as opposed to JAM and Iran, may signal a shift in provincial Sadrist rhetoric. However, his contention that the Sadrists are not opposed to the presence of the Coalition is difficult to reconcile with Sadr's continuing calls against the "occupation," and Wahid may have been delivering the message he believed the U.S. wanted to hear. Further engagement will be vital to determining the true goals and future direction of the Sadrists in Maysan. End comment. BUTENIS