BABIL TRIBAL SUPPORT COUNCIL MOVING AHEAD

C O N F I D E N T I A L HILLAH 000081

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 9/22/2018
TAGS: PGOV PINR PINS IZ
SUBJECT: BABIL TRIBAL SUPPORT COUNCIL MOVING AHEAD

REF: HILLAH 79

CLASSIFIED BY: Kenneth M. hillas, PRT Leader, Babil PRT, Dept
of State.
REASON: 1.4 (b)


1. (C) On September 18, Sheikh Ali Shannan Sheik Salah Khashif
al-Gettah, who chaired the 11 September founding Congress of the
Babil Tribal Support Council (TSC),told the PRT that they are
pressing forward with the TSC initiative in Babil and would
focus on
political reconciliation, including with OMS. They expect PM
Al-Maliki to push ahead with the TSC initiative, despite ISCI
opposition.
In response, Governor Salim's brother, Sheik Na'ama al Muslimawi,
has been coopted to serve as acting TSC Deputy Chief of the
Kifl
Council, which is headed by Sheik Ali Shanan. Both Sheik Ali
Shanan and Sheik Salah kashif al-Gettah view the TSC as
providing
an opportunity for the tribes to resume a role in the province's
life after
the setbacks of the Ba'athist era.


2. (C) Issues of concern to these Sheikhs centered on a law
providing
a legal basis for the TSCs, on the composition of the councils
and on
the the role the TSCs are to play in each province in supporting
the
security forces. Shiekh Ali Shinan said that Babil Governor
Salim,
although publicly opposed to the TSC, had asked for the addition
of
35 tribal leaders to the council, of which 25 were already
members.
The TSC agreed to include an additional five from smaller tribes
to
"show respect for the Governor." According to Sheikh Ali,
Provincial Director of Police BG Fadhil Raddad has been
instructed
by the Ministry of Interior
(MOI) to cooperate with the TSC. The sheikhs have also met with
General Abd al-Ameer, Babil's Iraqi Army commander, who
welcomed the establishment of the TSC. Even the Provincial
Council
Chair, Mohammed al-Massoudi reportedly responded positively in a
recent meeting with the TSC leadership. The sheikh's said they
were cooperating with the ISF and would continue to do so.


3. (C) On the issue of reconciliation, Sheikh Ali ascribed ISCI
opposition to its belief that the TSC "are owned by the PM,"
because the idea came from al-Maliki. The sheikhs faulted
ISCI for its focus on building mosques when the public needs
essential services. Both sheikh's, however, were insistent that
they planned to remain politically independent of all political
parties.
(Comment: They are likely to follow the money.) They pointed
out that
ISCI members were a part of the TSC and that it would not become
partisan.


4. (C) Sheikh Ali Shanan said that when local councils (17) are
established, one of the tasks at the local level will be to
invite the
Sadrists to meet to develop ideas for reconciliation, consistent
with
the PM's efforts. He also stressed that Sunni tribes in North
Babil
are represented in the TSC provincial leadership.


5. (U) The Founding Congress reportedly has asked the PM's
office
that 17 local councils be expanded from 20 to 25 members on
each.
The provincial TSC has rented four houses in al-Hillah for the
its
headquarters. The election of TSC Chief is to be held soon, but
no
date was given. The permanent Chief of the Babil TSC is to be
chosen from among the heads of the 17 councils, giving Sheik Ali
Shanan a good chance of being elected.

HILLAS