VZCZCXRO3095
PP RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHBC #0142/01 2441509
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 011509Z SEP 06
FM REO BASRAH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0444
INFO RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RUEHBC/REO BASRAH 0463

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BASRAH 000142 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  9/1/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: PRINCE OF THE MARSHES ON MAYSAN'S NOBLE COUNCIL AND SECURITY 
SITUATION 
 
REF: A) BASRAH 136 B) BASRAH 131 C) BASRAH 114 D) BASRAH 47 E) 05 BASRAH 05 
 
BASRAH 00000142  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Ken Gross, Regional Coordinator, REO Basrah, 
Department of State. 
REASON: 1.4 (b) 
 
¶1.  (C) Summary:  On August 31, the Regional Coordinator (RC), 
Deputy RC and poloff met with Abu Hatem and discussed Maysan's 
Noble Council and the current security situation.  Abu Hatem 
said he established the Maysan Noble Council (MNC) in April to 
ensure that all segments of the community were represented.  The 
council consists of 141 members representing all sects and 
groups and is avowedly independent.  The MNC acts as an 
unofficial "advisory" body to the local government.  Abu Hatem 
plans to link up with the Gathering to Save Basrah (see Ref A) 
and eventually establish an overarching entity for the southern 
region.  On the current security situation in Maysan, Abu Hatem 
said pointedly that the province was "not ready for transition" 
to Provincial Iraqi Control (PIC) due to the poor ability of the 
Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) to exercise control.  End summary. 
 
¶2.  (C) Abdul Kareem Mahod (Abu Hatem) discussed the Maysan 
Noble Council (MNC) and the security situation in the province 
at the REO on August 31 with the RC, DRC and poloff.  Abu Hatem, 
also known as the "Prince of the Marshes" for his leadership in 
the struggle against Saddam, was an unsuccessful candidate on 
the 169 List for the national assembly in January 2006 (see Refs 
D and E for more information). 
 
MAYSAN'S NOBLE COUNCIL 
 
¶3.  (C) Abu Hatem said he created the MNC as an "alternative" to 
the Maysan Provincial Council after the December 2005 election 
because the Council did not adequately represent the people and 
was controlled by religious parties and other political parties 
that had their own agendas.  Abu Hatem added that religious 
figures have too much influence with the political parties on 
the Council.  One of the goals of the MNC is to reduce the 
'interference" of clerics in politics. 
 
¶4.  (C) The MNC consists of 141 official members, including 
representatives from the 14 largest tribes in Maysan.  Ten of 
the members are women, all of whom hold professional positions, 
and Abu Hatem stressed the importance of having independent 
moderates on the MNC.  It is funded by monthly contributions 
from members of 10,000 Iraqi dinars and donations from members 
and interested citizens.  The MNC has district level offices to 
ensure it reaches all elements of the community. 
 
¶5.  (C) Abu Hatem said that the MNC performs an advisory role to 
the local government, ensuring that all the voices of Maysan are 
heard and represented.  However, he explained that the local 
government - and the political parties - views the MNC as a 
political adversary.  For this reason, some members of the 
Maysan Provincial Council are afraid to speak with members of 
the MNC.  To overcome the lack of engagement with the local 
government, the MNC's public affairs committee is attempting to 
increase cooperation by explaining its goals and agenda. 
Unfortunately, Abu Hatem related, leadership in the MNC brings 
with it considerable risk; four members have been assassinated 
and members must travel with two or three bodyguards. 
 
¶6.  (C) Abu Hatem said that MNC members would look to support 
independent candidates not associated with any of the religious 
parties.  He disclaimed any personal aspirations to run for 
office.  Abu Hatem hopes to expand the MNC throughout southern 
Iraq and is working closely with members of the Gathering to 
Save Basrah (Ref A).  His plans, however, are to move slowly and 
establish the MNC on a secure footing before developing a 
regional entity. 
 
SECURITY IN MAYSAN - NOT READY FOR PIC 
 
¶7.  (C) According to Abu Hatem, continued assassinations, 
coupled with a police service infiltrated by militias and weak, 
ineffective Iraqi Army units, are the root causes for the poor 
security situation in Maysan.  He stated unequivocally that he 
does not believe that the province is ready to transition to PIC 
in the near future.  He emphasized that until there is a new 
chief of police and army commander, both of who should be 
independent and from a different province, the situation would 
not improve.  Officers in both services also should be replaced 
by those without any ideological or religious bias.  Abu Hatem 
cited the recent looting of Camp Abu Naji by local residents as 
an example of the weakness of the security forces (Note: 
Coalition Forces vacated Camp Abu Naji on August 24 and the camp 
was subsequently looted after the Iraqi Army failed to establish 
its authority.  End note.).  Abu Hatem opined that if the 
security forces could not control one small camp, how could they 
control an entire province.  (For recent reports on security in 
Maysan see Refs B and C) 
 
BASRAH 00000142  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
 
COMMENT 
 
¶8.  (C) Comment:  With a reputation for power and influence, Abu 
Hatem was cordial, open and eager to share his thoughts.  He 
stressed the importance of a good relationship with Coalition 
Forces and said that he is working for the good of the Iraqis as 
opposed to personal or political gain.  He admitted that his 
current struggle is different than his years spent fighting 
Saddam's regime.  "Before I was fighting an enemy that I knew 
but who did not know me.  Now I do not know the enemy but they 
know me very well."  The MNC is exerting its influence in 
Maysan, though it is unclear if this will translate into real 
political power following provincial elections.  But Abu Hatem's 
Noble Council could become a viable alternative to the 
entrenched political parties (and militias) in Maysan.  And if 
it and the Gathering to Save Basrah are able to establish 
themselves on the political scene as important players, the 
average citizen in Maysan and Basrah provinces may find his 
voice.  End comment. 
GROSS