This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 004971 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2015 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM EFIN KDEM IZ XL
SUBJECT: FALLUJANS MOBILIZED FOR ELECTION AMID INCREASED 
TENSION IN CITY 
 
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT FORD, REASONS 1.4 
(B) AND (D). 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY:  Fallujans stand mobilized for the December 
15 election.  Momentum flowing from the October 15 
referendum - when an estimated 200,000 residents in the city 
and surrounding communities voted - should lead to repeat 
high turnout.  Campaign posters and fliers dot the city; 
Ahmed Chalabi-funded mobile phone text messages also fill 
the airwaves.  Fallujah leaders, most prominently imams, 
continue to urge citizens to participate in the election. 
The recent murder of Sheikh Hamza Abbas Al-Issawi, 
Fallujah's mufti, appears to have galvanized but also 
unnerved residents.  Overt intimidation directed toward 
clerics has led to more tension in the city.  Fallujah 
leaders believe the ITG will renege on its preliminary 
commitment to pay USD 75 million in compensation for damaged 
homes.  Non-payment might elicit demonstrations in the city 
and risk reversing hard-won momentum at a crucial time. 
Emboffs have met with ITG Finance Minister Allawi to urge 
movement on more compensation funds for Fallujah.  Allawi 
has indicated he is willing to provide more funds but not 
USD 75 million chunk all at once.  END SUMMARY. 
 
---------------------- 
CITY MOBILIZED TO VOTE; 
HIGH TURNOUT EXPECTED 
---------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) Fallujah leaders anticipate high turnout election 
day. Sheikh Kamal Shakir Al-Nazal, city council chairman, 
told Poloff and Marines December 6, 2005, that "everyone is 
ready; 100 percent will participate."  (Note:  turnout in 
the city for the October referendum was estimated to be 90 
percent. End Note).  The successful security arrangement for 
the referendum - referred to in IECI circles as the 
"Fallujah model" - will be repeated.  Iraqi police will 
serve as the inner cordon, with Marines and Iraqi Army in 
the outer rings.  Approximately the same number of polling 
sites - 62 for the greater Fallujah area - will be manned by 
IECI employees.  COMMENT:  Sheikh Kamal and Mayor Dhari 
expressed concern about Iraqi Islamic Party-affiliated 
workers, who dominated the IECI employee rosters for the 
October 15 vote.  They raised this matter with IECI 
Commissioner Izadin at a November 29 IECI outreach session 
in Fallujah.  END COMMENT. 
 
------------------------- 
CAMPAIGN SEASON: POSTERS, 
FLIERS AND TEXT MESSAGES 
------------------------- 
 
¶3. (C) Fallujah streets contain numerous election-related 
posters.  Fallujah Poloff and Marines have observed many 
while convoying throughout the city.  The most prominent 
include campaign material for Slate 667 (Iraq Front for 
National Dialogue), led by Salih Mutlak, and Slate 618 
(Iraqi Concord Front), a list that comprises the IIP, Iraqi 
National Dialogue Council and the Iraqi National Gathering. 
Local candidates - to include the city mayor, Sheikh Dhari, 
and city council chairman, Sheikh Kamal - have complained 
about the lack of funds to get their message out. 
 
¶4. (C) The local city paper, Al Bishara, has run full-page 
political ads.  One of its reporters told Fallujah Poloff 
that fliers supporting Ayad Allawi were present in the 
city.  Another Fallujah-based candidate, Engineer Farouk Abd 
Mohammed Al-Issawi, told Poloff and Marine FAO that he has 
been in effect stumping in nearby communities.  When asked 
about possible intimidation, Farouk replied that he felt 
safe because of his tribal affiliation, one of the area's 
largest.  (Note:  Engineer Farouk heads the Iraqi National 
Political Council - list number 833. End Note.) 
 
¶5. (C) Notably, mobile phone numbers in Fallujah also have 
received text messages on behalf of Ahmed Chalabi.  They 
read:  "If you are with us, nothing is difficult - Dr. Ahmed 
Chalabi, List 569." 
 
-------------------------- 
MUFTI'S MURDER GALVANIZES; 
WHILE MORE IMAMS TARGETED 
-------------------------- 
 
¶6. (C) The November 30, 2005, murder of Fallujah's revered 
mufti, Sheikh Hamza, shook the city.  Resident widely 
perceived the religious leader to be "above politics" - and 
thereby virtually untouchable.  One prominent imam and 
Fallujah City Council member, Sheikh Abdul Sittar, told 
Poloff and Marine FAO that the mufti's murder "has woken us 
all from a deep sleep."  He added that city imams would not 
tell residents how to vote, a position that the late mufti 
had made explicit - "we cannot pick favorites." 
 
¶7. (C) Other clerics reportedly have been targeted by 
insurgents, to include Sheikh Kamal, who claims he has 
received death threats by phone.  He sought a weapons permit 
so his teenage son could stand guard at his home during 
nighttime.  Mayor Dhari and Sheikh Kamal have requested that 
Marines allow selected imams to carry sidearms.  Marines are 
currently reviewing this proposal in coordination with city 
leaders. 
 
---------------------------- 
COMPENSATION: ITG WON'T PAY; 
DEMONSTRATTIONS MIGHT ENSUE 
---------------------------- 
 
¶8. (C) Fallujans regularly criticize the ITG's failure to 
pay any compensation for homes damaged during Operation Al 
Fajr.  (NOTE:  The IIG's PM Allawi provided approximately 
USD 100 million for initial "down payments" amounting to 40 
percent of estimated costs; these funds have since been 
depleted.  END NOTE.)  Follow-on ITG leaders initially 
committed to providing USD 75 million in funds for Fallujah, 
but the money has yet to be released.  Sheikh Kamal told 
Fallujah Poloff and Marine FAO December 8 that Fallujans 
widely believed the funds would not be paid - and that 
demonstrations might result.  Kamal frankly added that past 
demonstrations had led to violence.  Poloff agreed, and 
urged that he and other city leaders work to keep the people 
off the streets.  Kamal said he would try. 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶9. (C) Our engagement and rebuilding efforts in Fallujah 
have entered a crucial phase.  High turnout in the December 
15 election will be a testament to the Qncerted effort of 
city leaders to mobilize the populace, combined with 
effective security led by Iraqis and supported by Marines. 
They will have delivered a significant number of votes twice 
in two months and will subsequently seek more satisfaction, 
and accountability, from Baghdad.  Whether Mayor Dhari and 
Sheikh Kamal, Fallujah's favored sons, will secure enough 
votes to gain seats in the next government remains to be 
seen.  Both seem convinced lack of funds dramatically 
reduces their odds.  They have not indicated for which list 
they are candidates. 
 
¶10. (C) COMMENT CONTINUED:  Increased intimidation against 
city imams - the most important group in the city, alongside 
U.S. Marines - will need to be monitored closely.  So far, 
imams have helped blunt insurgent messages, particularly by 
encouraging political participation.  The now-deceased 
mufti, Sheikh Hamza, had implicitly blessed a cooperative 
tone with the coalition since Operation Al Fajr.  Should the 
ITG fail to deliver any compensation funds, the stage might 
be set for even more volatility in city streets - despite 
Fallujah's steady political gains.  Emboffs have met with 
ITG Finance Minister Allawi to urge forward movement on more 
compensation funds for Fallujah.  Allawi has indicated he is 
willing to provide more funds but not a USD 75 million chunk 
all at once. 
 
KHALILZAD