Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BAGHDAD3432
2008-10-28 07:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
WASIT PC CHAIR AND GOVERNOR TRADE SHOTS
how-toVZCZCXRO6249 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHGB #3432 3020706 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 280706Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0113 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003432
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR IZ
SUBJECT: WASIT PC CHAIR AND GOVERNOR TRADE SHOTS
REF: BAGHDAD 3295
Classified By: PRT Wasit Team leader Robert Kagler for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003432
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR IZ
SUBJECT: WASIT PC CHAIR AND GOVERNOR TRADE SHOTS
REF: BAGHDAD 3295
Classified By: PRT Wasit Team leader Robert Kagler for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
1. (C) Summary. Wasit Provincial Council (PC) Chair Mohammed
Hassan Jabber remains very much at odds with Governor Abd
al-Latif Hamad Tarfah over the allocation of the 2008 ARDP
budget. The battle has been joined and Jabber's grousing has
included PIC terms as a target of opportunity. In the last
week, the Governor's hand-picked candidate for PC Chair came
close to unseating Hassan Jabber but was defeated after three
rounds of voting. End summary.
Jabber's Complaints
--------------
2. (C) In meetings with the PRT on October 19 and 23, PC
Chair Mohammed Hassan Jabber raised concerns about the draft
agreement transferring security responsibilities in Wasit
Province. While neither the PC Chair nor the PRT is a party
to the Provincial Iraqi Control (PIC) negotiations, Hassan
Jabber called in PRT Team Leader (TL) and 41 FB JAG to
critique the document. He was particularly concerned over
provisions in the draft agreement that give Coalition
Forces (CF) what he believes to be excessively broad latitude
to conduct operations with minimal or no coordination with
the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF).
3. (C) An official letter sent by Jabber to the Governor, an
independent with Da'wa leanings, made similar points,
noting that CF "should be in areas far away from al-Kut" and
adding that "when movements are needed this should be
approved by the Governor." He also asked for the PC to have
veto power over all PRT projects. TL explained that
the PIC document is all but final, and along with 41 FB JAG
walked through its provisions spelling out where
coordination is required, but Hassan Jabber remained
skeptical.
Governor vs. PC Chairman
--------------
4. (C) Jabber's growing unease with PIC has become part of --
and perhaps amplified by -- a broader dispute with the
Governor that appears to have led the latter to attempt to
replace the PC Chairman with fellow "Independent List"
associate Mohammed Kazaal Shumber. On October 21, PC members
twice deadlocked at 18-18; Hassan Jabber won a subsequent
round on October 25 by 18-13 with three abstentions. In
recent weeks the PC chair and other PC members have
complained to the PRT that the Governor has hijacked the
process of planning of the 2008 ARDP supplemental budget
(reftel). The Governor has repeatedly made excuses to avoid
briefing the PC on his proposed projects, and has announced
projects that have not even been submitted to the PC,
according to one PC member, on the grounds that they had
previously been discussed with the chairman of the
reconstruction committee.
5. (C) Comment: The PC Chair was clearly worried about his
prospects before the vote; on October 23 he told the
PRT that he believed he had only a "50-50" chance of being
reelected. The Chair's precarious political situation may
have contributed to his impulse to take on the PIC draft.
End Comment.
CROCKER
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/31/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR IZ
SUBJECT: WASIT PC CHAIR AND GOVERNOR TRADE SHOTS
REF: BAGHDAD 3295
Classified By: PRT Wasit Team leader Robert Kagler for reasons 1.4 (b)
and (d).
1. (C) Summary. Wasit Provincial Council (PC) Chair Mohammed
Hassan Jabber remains very much at odds with Governor Abd
al-Latif Hamad Tarfah over the allocation of the 2008 ARDP
budget. The battle has been joined and Jabber's grousing has
included PIC terms as a target of opportunity. In the last
week, the Governor's hand-picked candidate for PC Chair came
close to unseating Hassan Jabber but was defeated after three
rounds of voting. End summary.
Jabber's Complaints
--------------
2. (C) In meetings with the PRT on October 19 and 23, PC
Chair Mohammed Hassan Jabber raised concerns about the draft
agreement transferring security responsibilities in Wasit
Province. While neither the PC Chair nor the PRT is a party
to the Provincial Iraqi Control (PIC) negotiations, Hassan
Jabber called in PRT Team Leader (TL) and 41 FB JAG to
critique the document. He was particularly concerned over
provisions in the draft agreement that give Coalition
Forces (CF) what he believes to be excessively broad latitude
to conduct operations with minimal or no coordination with
the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF).
3. (C) An official letter sent by Jabber to the Governor, an
independent with Da'wa leanings, made similar points,
noting that CF "should be in areas far away from al-Kut" and
adding that "when movements are needed this should be
approved by the Governor." He also asked for the PC to have
veto power over all PRT projects. TL explained that
the PIC document is all but final, and along with 41 FB JAG
walked through its provisions spelling out where
coordination is required, but Hassan Jabber remained
skeptical.
Governor vs. PC Chairman
--------------
4. (C) Jabber's growing unease with PIC has become part of --
and perhaps amplified by -- a broader dispute with the
Governor that appears to have led the latter to attempt to
replace the PC Chairman with fellow "Independent List"
associate Mohammed Kazaal Shumber. On October 21, PC members
twice deadlocked at 18-18; Hassan Jabber won a subsequent
round on October 25 by 18-13 with three abstentions. In
recent weeks the PC chair and other PC members have
complained to the PRT that the Governor has hijacked the
process of planning of the 2008 ARDP supplemental budget
(reftel). The Governor has repeatedly made excuses to avoid
briefing the PC on his proposed projects, and has announced
projects that have not even been submitted to the PC,
according to one PC member, on the grounds that they had
previously been discussed with the chairman of the
reconstruction committee.
5. (C) Comment: The PC Chair was clearly worried about his
prospects before the vote; on October 23 he told the
PRT that he believed he had only a "50-50" chance of being
reelected. The Chair's precarious political situation may
have contributed to his impulse to take on the PIC draft.
End Comment.
CROCKER