SADRIST MAYSAN PC CHAIR: WE WANT TO WORK WITH THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003861 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/11/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINS IZ SUBJECT: SADRIST MAYSAN PC CHAIR: WE WANT TO WORK WITH THE U.S. Classified By: PRT Maysan Team Leader Dan Foote for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) This is a Maysan PRT reporting cable. ¶2. (C/REL MCFI) Summary: Meeting with the PRT and Coalition Forces Commanders on December 4, Sadrist Maysan Provincial Council (PC) Chairman Abdul Jabbar Wahid Homaydi expressed the PC's appreciation for U.S. reconstruction assistance. He said the Sadrists whom he represented were pleased with the passage of the Security Agreement (SA) and committed to continued collaboration with the USG. He complained at length about the GOI's charges that the provincial government was reluctant to work with the U.S. The PC Chair was receptive to the Team Leader's request to hold a joint press conference to highlight USG assistance in Maysan. End Summary. PC Chair Pleased with USG Assistance -------------- ¶3. (C/REL MCFI) Team Leader (TL),accompanied by the 4th Brigade Combat Team/1st Cavalry (4/1 CAV) Commander and the 2nd Battalion/7th Cavalry (2/7 CAV) Commander, met with Sadrist Maysan Provincial Council Chairman Abdul Jabbar Wahid Homaydi at the Government Center in Amarah on December 4. TL briefed Homaydi on the status of USG-funded projects and PRT assistance to local NGOs working with the Governorate Electoral Office (GEO) to increase elections awareness and encourage Maysanis to vote in the upcoming provincial elections. Homaydi expressed the provincial government's appreciation for the assistance, and asked TL to convey his congratulations to Ambassador Crocker for the recent passage of the Security Agreement (SA). He assured TL that the provincial government would continue to work closely with the USG to promote development in Maysan. TL suggested a joint press conference to highlight U.S. partnership with the provincial government on reconstruction assistance. Homaydi responded positively, emphasizing that "although we hear a lot of reports criticizing us, we are here to work with the U.S. and help Maysanis." Security Agreement Brings Clarity -------------- ¶4. (C/REL MCFI) Homaydi said the "political" Sadrists with whom he was affiliated were pleased with the passage of the SA (also referred to as the SOFA) because it provided clarity on the U.S. departure. He stated, "It is no longer necessary to worry about the agreement; we need to instead focus on development." Please Ignore GOI Criticism -------------- ¶5. (C/REL MCFI) Throughout the meeting, Homaydi complained about GOI criticism of the provincial government as being uncooperative regarding reconstruction assistance. "Baghdad thinks the provincial government does not want to work with the PRT." In fact, he said, the provincial government appreciated the USG focus on Maysan and was willing to promote that message to Maysanis. He blamed the GOI's hostile stance toward the provincial government as partisan politics. Comment -------------- ¶6. (C/REL MCFI) Homaydi remains sensitive about his brief detention by the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) during ISF-led security operations in June. Although he claims he has resolved the issue with the Iraqi Police (IP) leadership, they have a chilly relationship, with little communication. Whether Homaydi remains a player in provincial politics is unclear, given his insistence that he will not seek re-election to the Provincial Council. End Comment. CROCKER