VZCZCXRO7227
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #4791/01 3650908
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 310908Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8869
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC//NSC//
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 004791 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2016 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS PINR IZ
SUBJECT: DHI QAR POLITICAL LANDSCAPE PART II: FADILA PARTY; 
C-IA6-01667 
 
REF: A. BAGHDAD 4650 
 
     ¶B. STATE 171583 
 
Classified By: Dhi Qar PRT Deputy Team Leader Richard Riley for reasons 
 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (U) This is a PRT Dhi Qar cable, the second in a series 
of six cables covering the political landscape of Dhi Qar 
Province and responding to the information request in ref 
¶B.  This cable focuses on the Fadila party. 
 
¶2. (C) Summary:  Fadhila was founded and is led today by 
Ayatollah Mohammed Al-Yaqubi, a follower of the late 
Ayatollah Mohammed Sadiq al-Sadr (Sadr II; also Muqtada's 
father).  In Dhi Qar, Fadhila's appeal stems less from 
its Islamist ideology than from its grip on sources of 
patronage.  Fadhila leaders in Dhi Qar seem primarily 
concerned with their economic and political gain, and 
they use their affiliation with Fadhila in part as a 
means to that end.  Fadhila does not have a significant 
militia presence in Dhi Qar, but its association with the 
Sadrists, who boycotted the provincial elections, gives 
Fadhila political power greater than its numbers would 
otherwise suggest.  The Chairman of the Provincial 
Council is from Fadhila, as is the Chairman of the 
Provincial Reconstruction Development Committee.  End 
summary. 
 
¶3. (C) Fadila and SCIRI hold 11 seats each on the Dhi Qar 
Provincial Council (PC), out of a total of 41 seats. 
Under a power-sharing agreement brokered by SCIRI leader 
Abdulaziz al-Hakim, the Dhi Qar governor is from SCIRI, 
the Provincial Council Chairman is from Fadhila, and the 
vice-Chairman is from Dawa (which secured 10 seats). 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
Sources of Strength:  Patronage and the Sadrists 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶4. (S) The Fadila Party, like most political parties in 
Dhi Qar, has its provincial headquarters in the city of 
Nasiriyah.  In addition, it has offices in each district 
and sub-district.  Fadhila leaders use these offices to 
hold political meetings and for business purposes.  They 
also use the offices as employment and recruitment 
centers.  Like most political parties except perhaps 
Da'wa, Fadila tries to employ only Fadila members in 
offices which it controls.  In addition, where the Fadila 
party controls a contract, it will use a Fadila-approved 
contractor where possible, and reportedly expects 
consideration in the form of a kickback from the 
contractor for awarding a contract. 
 
¶5. (C) Though Fadila members consider themselves more 
educated and refined than the Sadrists, there is 
nevertheless crossover between the two groups in Dhi Qar. 
Both groups share the vision and heritage of Sadr II and 
draw their support mostly from the ranks of poorer and 
less educated Iraqis.  In Dhi Qar Province, there are 
several mosques that can be identified as having a strong 
Fadila presence.  It is not uncommon for Sadrists to 
attend these mosques and pray with Fadila members in 
solidarity.  Fadila uses the occasion of Friday prayers 
at these mosques to conduct party business and to recruit 
members.  Fadhila does not have a significant militia 
presence in Dhi Qar, but this association with the 
Sadrists gives Fadhila greater political power than its 
numbers or lack of a militia might suggest. 
 
-------------------------- 
Fadhila Leaders in Dhi Qar 
-------------------------- 
 
¶6. (C) Ihsan Talib al-Ta'ee is the most senior Fadila 
Party member in Dhi Qar and is Chairman of the Provincial 
Council (PC).  He is in his mid-30's and was a high 
school teacher and follower of Sadr II before joining the 
Fadhila movement in about 2001.  He studied at the 
University of Basrah, and his parents both belonged to 
the Ba'ath Party under the previous regime.  The fact 
that both his parents were Ba'athists means that some 
inside and outside of Fadhila view him with suspicion. 
His main political rival is Governor Alwan (ref A).  He 
has done a good job as chairman, focusing on 
reconstruction and working with Coalition Forces (CFs). 
He has been to two training courses in Italy sponsored by 
MNF-I.  He appears to follow the guidance of al-Yacoubi 
closely. 
 
¶7. (C) Hassan Wirawish is the Chairman of the Provincial 
 
BAGHDAD 00004791  002 OF 002 
 
 
Reconstruction Development Committee (PRDC).  (Note:  The 
PRDC is the council set up with representatives from the 
Governor's office and the PC to work with the CFs on 
reconstruction.  The PRDC has direct oversight on 
reconstruction, and reports to both the Governor's office 
and the PC.  End note.)  In his late 30's, he is from 
Chabaish, which is west of Suq Ash Shukuyah in Dhi Qar 
Province.  He is a civil engineer, has a technical grasp of 
the reconstruction issues facing the province, and appears 
very focused on winning reconstruction projects for his own 
Al-Kabaish District.  He remained in Iraq during the Iran- 
Iraq War and joined Fadhila in 2003.  Although he is not 
staunchly pro-American, he has cooperated well with the 
coalition on reconstruction projects. 
SCOBEY