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 03 MOSUL 000018 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  2/19/2016 
TAGS: PREL PINS PGOV PHUM IZ PINT
SUBJECT: HOW JA'AFARI PLAYS IN THE PROVINCES: NINEWA REACTIONS TO 
SHIA COALITION NOMINATION OF JA'AFARI AS PRIME MINISTER 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Cameron  Munter, PRT Leader, Provincial 
Reconstruction Team Ninewa, State. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
 
 
------- 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1.  (C).  PRT Ninewa spoke to several political party leaders 
from across the province to elicit reactions to the Shia 
coalition's re-nomination of current Prime Minister Ibrahim Al 
Ja'afari to a second term.  The overwhelming majority of 
political parties appear to be disappointed by the selection. 
Although seemingly split along religious and ethnic lines, many 
accuse the prime minister of serving the interests of Shias to 
the detriment of the country as a whole.  Many more parties 
accuse him of not working hard enough to improve security and 
provide basic services.  However, the majority of party 
officials, whether for or against Al Ja'afari, said they 
supported the selection process as "fair" and "democratic."  End 
Summary. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) PRT Poloff assembled political party reactions on 
February 14, 15, and 16 to the United Iraqi Coalition's (#555) 
nomination of Prime Minister Ibrahim Al Ja'afari. 
 
----------------------------------- 
REACTIONS TO JA'AFARI'S NOMINATION 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (C) Here are reactions from Ninewa political parties on the 
Shia Coalition's re-nomination of current Prime Minister Al 
Ja'afari [NOTE: Some parties, such as the Kurdistan Democratic 
Party, refused to comment on the issue]: 
 
-- Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU): Public Relations Officer 
Shawkat Jameel Al-Sharafani said KIU "respects" the democratic 
process and the Shia coalition's right to re-nominate Al 
Ja'afari as Prime Minister.  However, Al-Sharafani said KIU 
believes he would "not be a good choice" for the new government. 
 He said Al Ja'afari's prior tenure as prime minister 
demonstrated his inability to control or improve the security 
situation, infrastructure, or health and education. 
Al-Sharafani called Al Ja'afari a "sectarian" who "favors 
Shias," and whose presence resulted in "widening friction" 
between Sunnis and Shias.  "We believe, unless he changes his 
attitude drastically, [Al Ja'afari] will not be able to act as 
an effective prime minister in the new Iraqi government," 
claimed Al-Sharafani. 
 
-- Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK): Deputy Director for 
Ninewa Abdelbari Al Zebari claimed the selection of Al Ja'afari 
was "not a wise choice" and that a "new face," such as Dr. Adel 
Abdul Al Mahdi, would have been better.  "Although he has a 
strong personality for leadership, and is honest to some extent, 
his experience proved that he is not cooperative," exclaimed Al 
Zebari.  Al Zebari said the PUK's biggest gripe with Al Ja'afari 
was that he did not help solve the issue of displaced persons in 
Article 58 of the TAL (136 in the new constitution).  However, 
Al Zebari said he hoped Al Ja'afari might have more success with 
the new government since it has a "broader base."  Overall, he 
said he believed the selection would have a "negative impact" on 
the new government. 
 
-- Independent Syriac Assembly Group: Public Relations Director 
Saad Tanyous said the selection of Al Ja'afari was a bad 
decision, but that since he was chosen in a democratic way the 
process must be respected.  Tanyous said he believes Al Ja'afari 
is "biased towards Shia," and "cannot work as a nationalist" for 
the betterment of the country.  "We believe he will have a 
negative role in the new government if his policies remain the 
same," claimed Tanyous.  He said he believed "nothing changed" 
in Chaldo/Assyrian villages regarding public services and 
unemployment during Al Ja'afari's first term. 
 
-- Assyrian Patriotic Party (APP): Ninewa Director Sargon Saleem 
said APP regards Al Ja'afari as "very sectarian" and "[someone 
who] favors Shias."  Saleem referred to him as "dogmatic" and 
not a forward thinker.  He claimed the selection of Al Ja'afari 
might lead to the creation of a "dictatorship" and have a 
negative impact on the new government.  He said APP would rather 
have "[Iyad] Allawi" as prime minister instead. 
 
-- Shabek Democratic Assembly: Spokesman Saeed Agha said they 
support Al Ja'afari's selection and regard him as an "educated 
and intelligent leader."  Agha claimed the selection was 
democratic and should be respected.  He said he believes Al 
Ja'afari is not a sectarian and will create a balance between 
sectarian and secular groups. 
 
-- Chaldean National Congress (CNC): Alqosh Branch Director Oda 
Younan said CNC believes Al Ja'afari is an unpopular leader and 
a sectarian.  Younan claimed Al Ja'afari did not do enough to 
improve basic services and the economy, and that the choice for 
prime minister should be "[Iyad] Allawi."  He said the selection 
was democratic and should be respected, however, but that the 
choice of Al Ja'afari was "negative" overall. 
-- Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution of Iraq (SCIRI): 
Spokesman Yahya Al-Haydari said local SCIRI members are happy 
with the nomination of Al Ja'afari.  He said the prime minister 
was successful during his first term.  Al-Haydari claimed that 
working on issues in the new government would be more difficult, 
but that Al Ja'afari's selection should have a positive 
influence. 
 
-- Iraqi Islamic Party (IIP): Spokesman Younis Hashim said IIP 
is not happy with the selection of Al Ja'afari.  "He proved he 
was a failed leader during his first term," said Hashim.  He 
called Al Ja'afari a "sectarian" who caused problems between 
"north and south," "Sunni and Shia."  He claimed Al Ja'afari 
"ruled Sunnis with an iron fist," and considered them "all 
terrorists."  Hashim said IIP is hoping that the nomination 
would be defeated in the new national assembly by smaller groups 
of parties, such as the Kurd and Tawafoq (IIP) coalitions. 
 
-- Iraqi National Dialogue Council (INDC): Spokesman Musadeq Al 
Chalabi said INDC is happy with the selection and supports Al 
Ja'afari for prime minister.  He called the nomination 
"democratic" and that the impact of a second term would be "very 
positive."  Al Chalabi said he hopes Al Ja'afari would create a 
balance among political groups and ministry selections, however. 
 
-- Iraqi Communist Party: Ninewa Regional Committee Secretary 
Muthana Lateef said the Communist Party does not support the 
nomination of Al Ja'afari, even though they enjoy a good working 
relationship with the Shia coalition.  Lateef called Al Ja'afari 
a "failed leader" who could not provide basic services for the 
country.  Referring to him as "impulsive" and "opinionated," 
Lateef believes Al Ja'afari is the reason why "Multi-National 
Forces are still in the country."  Latefsidte Commuist 
artybelieve anoher term with Al Ja'afari will spell further 
divisions in Iraq since he is "not able" to bring all sides 
together.  He also claimed a second Al Ja'afari term might lead 
to "dictatorship." 
 
-- Assyrian Democratic Movement (ADM): Ninewa Board Member Edmon 
Youkhana said ADM does not approve of the selection of Al 
Ja'afari because he is an "Islamist" and was a "failure" during 
his first term.  He said ADM is concerned the new government 
would be "Islamic" and have a negative impact on the Iraqi 
Christian community. 
 
-- Kurdistan Democratic Solution Party (KDSP): Party 
Councilmember Ibrahim Ismael Ahmed said KDSP respects the 
democratic pocss of he slection.  However, they are 
concerned by Al Ja'afari's "poor performance" to provide public 
services and improve security.  Ahmed claimed Al Ja'afari 
"favors Shias" and is "greatly influenced by Iran."  He said the 
party does not anticipate an easier time for Al Ja'afari this go 
round since the new government is broader based.  Ahmed said he 
hopes the Kurds and Sunni Arab coalitions will play a stronger 
role to help Al Ja'afari's government function better.  Ahmed 
said, however, such an outcome would be "unlikely." 
 
-- Iraqi Turkmen Tribes and Society: Secretary General 
Abdul-Hameed Al-Bayati said his party strongly supports the 
selection of Al Ja'afari and believes he will be a positive 
force in the new government.  Al-Bayati claimed Al Ja'afari 
accomplished many good deeds during his first term.  He 
cautioned non-Shia coalition parties, however, by saying they 
should follow the "democratic example" set by the Shias when 
selecting their own leaders. 
 
-- Mayor of Tal Afar Najim Al Juburi said he does not believe 
that Al Ja'afari's nomination by the Shia coalition would ensure 
his position as prime minister for a second term. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
COMMENT -- DIVISIONS ALONG ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS LINES 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶4.  (C) The divisions along religious and ethnic lines to Al 
Ja'afari's nomination by the Shia coalition are quite clear. 
The only exception: Comments made by provincial spokesman for 
the Sunni-Arab dominated Iraqi National Dialogue Council, 
Musadeq Al Chalabi.  He did mention, however, that INDC would 
"support anyone" as long as they practiced an equitable 
distribution of the coveted ministry posts, something several 
political parties complained was done unfairly during the first 
Al Ja'afari term.  Whether Al Ja'afari serves as prime minister 
again remains to be seen.  What seems clear, however, is that, 
based on the comments we received, he has a great deal of 
convincing to do among the provincial leaders of Ninewa. 
MUNTER