VZCZCXRO2081
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHMOS
DE RUEHIHL #0010/01 0251907
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 251907Z JAN 06
FM REO HILLAH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0526
INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0511
RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RUEHIHL/REO HILLAH 0573

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HILLAH 000010 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  1/25/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: NAJAF'S ZURFI PLEADS FOR US AID 
 
HILLAH 00000010  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Alfred Fonteneau, RC, REO Al Hillah, Department 
of State. 
REASON: 1.4 (b) 
 
¶1. (U) This is a SET Najaf Cable. 
 
¶2. (C) SUMMARY.  On January 21, SET Najaf met with former Najaf 
Governor and head of the Loyalty to An Najaf party, Adnan Al 
Zurfi.  The meeting covered a wide range of subjects.   Zurfi 
expressed his view that the recent December 15 national 
election, while not perfect, was a step towards democracy.  He 
repeated his call for the United States to "choose sides" in the 
future of Iraq.  He said he is hopeful that the US will support 
its "friends" both financially and rhetorically, in the coming 
provincial elections and beyond.  END SUMMARY. 
 
------------------------------------ 
COMPLAINTS OF UIA/555 INTIMIDATION 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶3. (C) Zurfi criticized the security measures taken during the 
December 15 election.  He noted that a number of his election 
workers were prevented from reaching the polls.  Some, he 
asserted, were even detained.  Accompanying Zurfi to the January 
21 SET Najaf meeting was Ahmed Kadum, a Loyalty to An Najaf 
election worker.  Kadum explained that he was taken into custody 
on the day of the election.  He said that he and three other 
workers were accused of having counterfeit "election monitor" 
badges.  Kadum said he was in custody for 22 days.  Other 
detained election workers were released immediately.  He claims 
that during this time he was beaten and the police attempted to 
coerce him to make statements prejudicial to Adnan Zurfi. He 
refused, he said.   Kadum declined to specify who detained him 
for fear of reprisal. 
 
¶4. (C) The sheer number of United Iraqi Alliance workers at the 
polls influenced the voting in Najaf, according to Zurfi.  He 
asserted that having UIA workers in every polling place is 
tantamount to campaigning.  He noted that his workers were 
present in less than one quarter of the polls, thus giving UIA 
an unfair advantage.  Zurfi said that the UIA is a threat to 
national stability and their propaganda thwarts free and fair 
elections.  Foreign influence, specifically from Iran, has bored 
its way into the political process, Zurfi said.  The only way to 
stem this tide is for the US to support secular, proven parties, 
noted Zurfi. 
 
¶5. (C) Asked what impact he feels Ayatollah Al Sistani has in 
the political process, Zurfi said after meetings with Sistani 
and his office manager that he is convinced the Ayatollah does 
not intend to take part in politics.  In fact, Zurfi noted, "the 
Ayatollah is from the "quiet" Hawza and according to the former 
Governor,  will not issue any future Fatwas regarding elections. 
 Asked about a potential power vacuum caused by this withdrawal, 
Zurfi said that UIA would absolutely use this to their advantage 
by claiming to have a special relationship with the Ayatollah 
and knowledge of which party he supports; namely the UIA. 
 
--------------- 
THE ROAD AHEAD 
--------------- 
 
¶6. (C) Zurfi said that he wants only peace and stability for 
Najaf, "This election is over.  It's time to move on."  He 
offered that "it would be easy for the situation in Najaf to 
deteriorate into chaos".  He claimed to have the support of many 
tribal leaders and, if he chose to do so, could confront UIA, 
not just with his politics, but with force.  "This is not at 
all, what I want", he stated.  It is time, however for the US to 
make public statements in support of Loyalty to An Najaf and 
parties like his, according to Zurfi.  He asserted that the time 
of the US to be an impartial observer is over.  He also 
requested that the US government and Coalition Forces provide 
grants and award projects to himself and his allies so that he 
might be able to help Najafis.  He would also, he posits, be 
able to utilize these projects to win the favor of the citizenry 
and show them that good works can come from secular 
organizations.  This is necessary, according to Zurfi, because 
the present SCIRI controlled provincial government is attempting 
to use local projects to consolidate its hold on power. 
 
¶7. (C) There is, according to Zurfi, an active campaign to 
marginalize and eventually eliminate his political party.  The 
arrest of his security chief and office manager last fall, along 
with the abduction of his brother in December 2005, are clear 
indicators that the Provincial Government is leading a campaign 
to silence him and his popular party, according to Zurfi.  "With 
nothing, said Zurfi, "but our dreams and hard work, we were able 
to get five thousand votes".  He considered this as vindication 
for himself and his party and a sign that his campaign should 
continue.  He noted that the Iraqi National Congress received 
only 700 votes. 
 
HILLAH 00000010  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶8. (C) COMMENT.  Zurfi's call for the US to endorse his party is 
not new.  Each successive plea, however has carried greater 
urgency.  The last, best hope for a "true democracy" in Iraq is 
with the active support of the United States for secular 
parties, Zurfi stated.  It is also true that the local 
government would rather Zurfi withdraw into obscurity.  His 
tenacity in campaigning-even after consecutive defeats at the 
ballot box--ensures, however, that provincial elections will be 
contested.   For Zurfi and his secular brethren to return to 
political influence, coalitions and compromise will be 
necessary.  This is something that, to date, secular forces in 
Najaf have been unwilling or unable to do.  When offered this 
suggestion, Zurfi indicated that he agrees that it is time for 
just such a relationship.  It will not be a surprise to see 
Loyalty to An Najaf Party and the Iraqi National Accord form 
just such a coalition in attempt to gain even a modicum of power 
in Najaf.  END COMMENT. 
FONTENEAU