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 BAGHDAD 004979 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/13/2015 
TAGS: PNAT PGOV PTER KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: IECI STANDS UP TO DE-BA'ATHIFICATION  COMMISSION 
 
REF: A. BAGHDAD 4870 
     ¶B. BAGHDAD 4857 
     ¶C. BAGHDAD 4626 
 
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT FORD FOR REASON 
S 1.4 (B) AND (D). 
 
 ¶1. (C) Summary. In a press release distributed 
December 11, the IECI stated that it would not follow 
the recommendation of the National De-Ba'athification 
Commission (NDC) to disqualify any election 
candidates, citing the lack of evidence to 
substantiate the complaint being made.  On December 
12, Jwad al-Maliki, Deputy Chairman of the De- 
Ba'athification Commission and prominent member of the 
Da'wa Party visited the IECI Board of Directors with 
members of the De-Ba'athification Commission in tow to 
complain about this decision.  During this contentious 
meeting, the Commissioners held their ground and 
refused to change their decision. End Summary. 
 
¶2. (C) International Commissioner Craig Jenness 
explained to PolOff that al-Maliki came over to meet 
with the IECI Commissioners on December 12 noting that 
he was authorized by the De-Ba'athification Commission 
to speak out against the recent IECI statement. 
During this meeting, al-Maliki threatened the IECI 
Board of Directors by saying that he would go public 
to denounce the IECI for failing to comply with the 
applicable De-Ba'athification laws.  According to 
Jenness, the IECI Board did not respond favorably to 
this threat and held its ground.  (Comment:  on 
December 13 Jwad al-Maliki appeared prime time on pro- 
SCIRI al-Furat TV complaining of the IECI decision and 
warning viewers of the return of a "new Baath Party" 
in the elections.  End Comment.) 
 
¶3. (C) Jenness told PolOff that he found this type of 
meeting disturbing, taking into account that a major 
political party member called on the IECI as a ranking 
member of a NDC delegation for the purpose of 
challenging IECI policy.  Jenness also said he 
considered this visit ironic given Chalabi's stance on 
de-Ba'athification and his apparent agreement with the 
IECI's decision on this topic. 
 
¶4. (C) Later that day, IECI Chairman Izadin Al- 
Mohammady told PolOffs that the IECI Board strongly 
argued against NDC representatives by explaining that 
the IECI would not simply rely on a list of names on 
paper without any documentation.  The Chairman 
declared that it was against the law to simply take an 
accusation at face value without any evidence.  Al- 
Mohammady, who during the course of the discussion 
became visibly agitated, continued by saying that IECI 
Board members want to uphold a transparent process and 
not be associated with any political entity.  Although 
the NDC claims it is unbiased, al-Mohammady said, this 
is cannot be true given that its members are 
candidates themselves. 
 
¶5. (C) The IECI told the De-Ba'athification Commission 
that they could appeal the decision to the Supreme 
Court, if need be, and that any council member-elect 
later proven to be covered by the De-Ba'athification 
law could be disqualified at such time.  Al-Mohammady 
told PolOffs that the IECI would have to release 
another De-Ba'athification statement in preparation 
for the press conference that the Commission said it 
would hold on December 12 to complain about the IECI. 
 
¶6. (C) Comment. After much back and forth about a 
final course of action, the IECI has decided to take a 
strong stand towards the NDC.  This decision, which 
has taken weeks to reach, has strengthened the 
independent status of the IECI.  The IECI decision 
will strengthen the credibility of the election in the 
eyes of supporters of former PM Ayed Allawi, who had 
complained of the de-Baath commission's interference. 
It will also have some resonance among Sunni Arab 
areas, but it could also trigger greater support for 
the Shia Islamist list from alarmed voters in 
predominantly Shia regions.   End Comment. 
KHALILZAD