Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09HILLAH28
2009-04-08 13:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
REO Hillah
Cable title:  

MODERATE BABIL SADRIST ON U.S. ROLE IN HELPING WEAKEN

Tags:  PGOV PINR IZ 
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VZCZCXRO2559
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK
DE RUEHIHL #0028 0981333
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P R 081333Z APR 09
FM REO HILLAH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1172
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHIHL/REO HILLAH 1245
C O N F I D E N T I A L HILLAH 000028 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/8/2019
TAGS: PGOV PINR IZ
SUBJECT: MODERATE BABIL SADRIST ON U.S. ROLE IN HELPING WEAKEN
EXTREMISTS

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L HILLAH 000028

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/8/2019
TAGS: PGOV PINR IZ
SUBJECT: MODERATE BABIL SADRIST ON U.S. ROLE IN HELPING WEAKEN
EXTREMISTS

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


1. (C) In an April 6 meeting with the PRT, outgoing moderate
Sadrist PC member Murtada Kamel gave unsolicited suggestions on
how the PRT could undermine Sadrist extremists and bolster
moderates. In what appeared to be a message from the incoming
Al-Ahrar PC member (Kadum Majid Tooman),who is slated to become
the new Provincial Council Chairman, Kamel said that Office of
the Martyr Sadr (OMS) restrictions on contacts with U.S.
officials had eased but not gone away. OMS, however, had become
a "hollow" organization and Al-Ahrar had become the more
important political vehicle for Sadrists. Kamel stressed that
engaging the new PCC on PRT projects and activities will boost
Majid Tooman's standing and reinforce the transition to normal
political activity through Al-Ahrar. He stressed in particular
that the PRT avoid engaging the new PCC on political issues in
public settings, as this may put the new PCC at risk, and
instead keep the focus on reconstruction.


2. (C) Majid Tooman reportedly deals directly with the Najaf OMS
leadership and does not work through the OMS representatives in
Al-Hillah. Kamel noted that Majid Tooman had opposed the OMS
decision to take up arms against the ISF in the spring of 2008,
and as punishment this fall was given eleventh place on the
Ahrar slate of PC candidates. A popular incumbent, Majid Tooman
was elected to the new PC anyway.

3. (C) In a surprising recommendations for a Sadrist, Kamel
suggested the USG and/or the GOI make public evidence that
demonstrates the ties of OMS hard-liners are in the pay of Iran.
He pointed at the so-called National Front as an example of OMS
members who are "agents of Iran." He argued that such a step
would weaken the hard-liners politically.


4. (C) Kamel also said that the CF needed to use upcoming
releases of detainees in a way to strengthen Sadrist
(Al-Ahrar)-CF relations. "Shrinking the gap" between Sadrists
and CF would not be easy, he said, but it could be done, in his
view. He made clear that only detainees without outstanding
arrest warrants should be released, and that the releases should
be given media coverage.


5. (C ) Kamel will begin studies for a master of law degree in
Cairo soon. He has been one of the PRT's best Sadrist contacts,
and was always exceptionally available to meet. He has no real
political ambitions. His comments on the weakening of the role
of the provincial OMS leadership and the apparent desire of
Sadrist moderates to exploit their expected political role in
the new provincial government are among the most candid in our
interaction with him.

HILLAS