SHIA FADHILAH PARTY SUPPORTIVE OF SOFA, SEEKS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003631

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL KISL IZ
SUBJECT: SHIA FADHILAH PARTY SUPPORTIVE OF SOFA, SEEKS
BETTER TIES WITH U.S.

Classified By: Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Continuing his intensive diplomatic outreach
to gather support for the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA),
the Ambassador updated the Fadhilah party's
Secretary-General, Hashim al-Hashimi; Council of
Representatives (CoR) bloc leader Hassan al-Shimmari; and CoR
member Karim Yacoubi, on the current status of the agreement.
Noting that the U.S. had accepted approximately 80% of the
amendments presented by the Council of Ministers (CoM),the
Ambassador said that he expected the agreement to be passed
to the CoM in the ensuing days, and if passed, to the CoR for
ratification. Though the Fadhilah leaders indicated that
they support the agreement in principle, they said that they
have yet to reach a final decision. They agreed that time is
quickly ticking on the agreement and that a decision must be
made soon. Stressing the importance of a secret ballot, the
Fadhilah leaders said this would provide cover to those who
privately support the agreement but fear publicly voting in
favor. End Summary.

Congratulations for Obama


2. (C) In a November 13 meeting at the Fadhilah bloc offices
in the CoR, Fadhilah Secretary-General Hashim al-Hashimi, CoR
bloc leader Hassan al-Shimmari, and CoR member Karim Yacoubi
lauded President-elect Obama's recent victory, with
al-Hashimi stating that "the world was happy." Continuing,
al-Hashimi noted the historic nature of Obama's victory and
said that his victory will lead to a period of better
relations between the U.S. and the world. Referring to the
ongoing economic crisis in the U.S., al-Hashimi acknowledged
that much of Obama's attention would be focused on internal
matters, but added that he does not expect U.S. policy toward
Iraq to significantly change.

SOFA: Atmosphere Positive...


3. (C) Ambassador Crocker informed the assembled leaders that
the U.S. had responded to the recent SOFA amendments that
were presented by the CoM. Stating that the U.S. had
responded positively to approximately 80% of the CoM demands,
the Ambassador relayed that the PM indicated that he would
present the amended text to the CoM in the next few days. If
the CoM approves the text, the agreement would then be sent
to the CoR for ratification. Commenting on the ongoing SOFA
debate, the Ambassador noted that the atmosphere is "becoming
more positive than negative." Continuing, the Ambassador
observed that the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA) had become much
more supportive of the agreement, but cautioned that though
some among the Sunni community were supportive, there was
still some hesitancy from others.


4. (C) Al-Shimmari questioned whether the PM would reach out
to the various political blocs when forming the SOFA
implementation committees. The Ambassador responded that
this has been the subject of discussions with the PM, stating
that the PM has committed to consult with all blocs before
forming the committees and realizes that these committees
must be professional, not political. Al-Shimmari responded
that the appointment of professionals would be very important
and would go a long way towards resolving the continuing
fears that many have about the PM's intentions.


5. (C) Addressing Fadhilah's lingering fears that the PM and
his Dawa party would use the agreement to consolidate power,
the Ambassador stressed that the agreement is not just with
one party, but with all of Iraq. The Ambassador noted that
the results of next year's provincial and national elections
will lead to a new government, and that the agreement will be
valid for two additional years after that. Pointing to the
agreement itself, the Ambassador noted that it will give Iraq
three years of security, which will allow the political
process to develop and evolve in a secure environment.

But Time is of the Essence


6. (C) The Ambassador also reminded the Fadhilah leadership
that the current UNSCR would expire on December 31, leaving
only 6 weeks to conclude an agreement. Acknowledging the
Ambassador's point, al-Shimmari added that the CoR will
recess on November 25 for the Eid holiday and would not
return until December 14. Interjecting, al-Hashimi said that
there was national consensus on the agreement, and that the
time had come to "finish this matter." Al-Hashimi told the
Ambassador that though his party was supportive of the
agreement in principle, it was still consulting with other
blocs and hoped to reach a decision soon. The leaders also
questioned whether the Iraqi Islamic Party,s (IIP) recent
call for a referendum was feasible, to which the Ambassador
replied that it would be impossible to conduct a referendum
before the expiration of the current UNSCR. He added that

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the IIP's desire to hold the referendum with the provincial
elections was also not a viable option. Doing so would
require a renewal of the UNSCR, which the Ambassador
dismissed as unrealistic.

Secret Ballot Necessary


7. (C) Asked by the Ambassador whether Fadhilah would prefer
a secret or open ballot, Yacoubi quickly responded that with
a secret ballot, "we can get rid of the pressure."
Elaborating, Yacoubi said that a secret ballot will provide
individual CoR members the opportunity to vote their
conscience without the fear of repercussions from their bloc
leaders. Al-Shimmari also expressed his preference for a
secret ballot, stating that "it will lead to passage of the
agreement." Al-Shimmari said that though there is still
opposition to the agreement and the continued presence of the
U.S. in Iraq, even among politicians who have publicly
supported the agreement, most Iraqi politicians realize that
it is "a good agreement." Al-Shimmari added that though the
Kurds publicly support the agreement, other groups such as
the UIA, who he acknowledged privately support the agreement,
Iraqiyyah, and Fadhilah need the cover that a secret ballot
will provide. Yacoubi stressed that CoR Speaker Mashadani
would need to be pressured to do this, but al-Shimmari opined
that arrangements could be made to accomplish this.

Better U.S.-Fadhilah Relations Important for Both Parties


8. (C) Turning the conversation away from the SOFA,
al-Hashimi remarked that in the past, the U.S. had adapted a
policy of non-engagement with Fadhilah and had even sought to
remove Fadhilah from the political scene. Al-Hashimi
declared that Fadhilah enjoyed widespread support among the
Iraqi public and reminded the Ambassador that the members and
followers of Fadhilah had endured the bleakest period of
Iraqi history, unlike many of the exiles who returned to Iraq
after the 2003 invasion. Al-Hashimi cautioned that excluding
Fadhilah from the political process did not serve U.S.
interests. Continuing, al-Hashimi said Fadhilah wished to
establish dialogue with the U.S., believing that this will be
beneficial to both parties.


9. (C) Stressing that the U.S. had never sought to exclude
Fadhilah, Ambassador Crocker reminded al-Hashimi that during
their previous meeting on October 16, he had expressed his
respect for Fadhilah and its deep roots with Muhammed Sadiq
al-Sadr. In addition to his recent meetings with the
Fadhilah leadership, the Ambassador pointed out the recent
meeting in Basrah that he and Deputy Secretary of State
Negroponte had with Governor Wa'ili. Ambassador Crocker also
told the Fadhilah leaders that he would welcome the
opportunity to meet with the party's spiritual founder,
Sheikh Muhammed Yacoubi, and though the leaders demurred on
the offer, they did tell the Ambassador that he could deliver
messages to Yacoubi through them. Clarifying Hashimi's
earlier statement, Shimmari stated that he believed that a
U.S. policy of non-engagement existed prior to 2006, and may
have been driven by some of Fadhilah's opponents who wanted
to drive a wedge between the U.S. and Fadhilah. Ambassador
Crocker reiterated that this was never the case. Al-Shimmari
concluded by praising U.S. support for the democratic process
in Iraq and for its efforts in creating a more stable Iraq.

CROCKER