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PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK
DE RUEHIHL #0095 1521045
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 011045Z JUN 06
FM REO HILLAH
TO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0628
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0642
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RUEHIHL/REO HILLAH 0693

C O N F I D E N T I A L HILLAH 000095 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  6/1/2016 
TAGS: PGOV KISL KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: DURING FRIDAY PRAYERS IN KUFA, MUQTADA AL-SADR APPEARS TO 
MODERATE STAND ON WITHDRAWAL OF COALITION FORCES 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Douglas Meurs, DRC, REO Al Hillah, Department of 
State. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
 
 
¶1.  (U) This is a SET Najaf cable. 
 
¶2.  (C) Summary:  On Friday, May 26, Muqtada Al-Sadr made an 
appearance during the midday prayers at the Kufa mosque in Najaf 
province.  Sadr last spoke in Kufa mosque on April 7.  Sadr 
called on "true believers" to begin to strictly follow Islamic 
teachings.  He also called for a timetable for withdrawal of 
Coalition Forces (CF), but appeared to modify his long-standing 
position that CF must completely withdraw from Iraq quickly.  He 
continued his demands that the newly formed Council of 
Representatives (CoR) take charge of all of the country's 
affairs, including exclusive responsibility for security.  End 
Summary. 
 
¶3.  (C) The appearance of Muqtada Al-Sadr at Kufa mosque on May 
27 for the Friday sermon appeared to be a surprise to all 
assembled.  Sheik Ali Al-Nouamini began the sermon to a crowd of 
approximately one thousand.  Sadr arrived shortly after Nouamini 
began.  He took the floor and went directly to the meat of his 
message -- "The era of Imam Al Mahdi is near," Sadr told his 
flock.  (Note:  Al Mahdi is the 12th Imam of the Shi'a faith. 
His reappearance, according to Shi'a teaching, will begin the 
Rapture.  End Note.)  Shi'a must prepare by devoting their lives 
to Islamic teachings, according to Sadr. 
 
¶4.  (C) Sadr had a number of demands for Coalition Forces -- The 
CoR must create a timetable for withdrawal of CF and they must 
abide by the Iraqi government timeline.  However, he noted that 
CF should stay and defend Baghdad and Sammara.   Tempering his 
calls for the withdrawal of the Coalition, he said that CF "must 
help lead Iraq to peace."  If they could not, however, Sadr 
asserted that they "should leave the job to the Hawza and 
clerics."  Before completing his sermon, he returned to the fire 
and brimstone style that characterized the bulk of his message 
-- He accused CF of supporting sectarianism in order to divide 
Iraq and said, "President Bush should provide compensation for 
the families hurt by American troops." 
 
¶5.  (C) Sadr also had words of advice and an admonition for the 
Iraqi Government --  "The Government should help those who have 
been displaced," he said (in reference to internally displaced 
persons fleeing sectarian violence or threats).  The Government 
must also undertake, as part of its duties, talks with all of 
the governments currently interfering in Iraq.  They should, 
Sadr feels, use their power to convince the countries to "leave 
Iraq to Iraqis."  Finally, he noted that, ultimately, "all 
Iraqis should take responsibility to unify Iraq." 
 
¶6.  (C) Comment:  Sadr's message was disjointed.  His call for 
the withdrawal of CF was not new.  However, Sadr's concession 
that CF should remain in Baghdad and Samarra was unprecedented. 
He appears to be attempting to moderate his public stance.  For 
a long time, Sadr has called for nothing less than the total 
withdrawal of Coalition Forces from Iraq.  He may be hoping that 
his call to allow CF troops to remain in Baghdad and Samarra 
will seem more thoughtful and less single-minded.  It is 
possible that he hopes, by making small changes to his message, 
that those who have dismissed his repeated demands in the past 
will now take note.  End comment. 
 
MEURS