VZCZCXRO0543
RR RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHBC #0090 2710739
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 280739Z SEP 07
FM REO BASRAH
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 0001
RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RUEHBC/REO BASRAH 0641

C O N F I D E N T I A L BASRAH 000090 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  9/28/2017 
TAGS: KDEM KLSO SOCI SCUL PHUM IZ
SUBJECT: AMIDEAST CONTINUES DESPITE BASRAH'S DANGERS 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Howell Howard, A/Director, Regional Embassy 
Office - Basrah, Department of State. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) The Basrah representative for the NGO AMIDEAST, Nezar 
Abbas (please protect), described the extremely difficult 
conditions of implementing Department-funded cultural exchange 
programs to REO IPAO on September 25.  Nezar told us that 
AMIDEAST was currently promoting the Iraqi Young Leaders 
Exchange Program (IYLEP) and the Youth Exchange and Study 
Program (YES).  Both programs fund respective scholarships for 
high-school aged Iraqis to attend a month-long leadership 
seminar and a yearlong study abroad.  Last year, one student 
participated in YES and four students participated in IYLEP; one 
of the IYLEP students overstayed his visa. 
 
¶2. (U) Nezar also said that there were lots of students 
interested in AMIDEAST's programs as indicated by the number of 
English language TOEFL exams he administered.  Last month, there 
were 50 examinees for TOEFL, and some months he administered 
three exams of 25 students each.  Exams were given in a small 
room with 25 seats provided in cooperation with the NGO Safe 
Children and the University of Basrah.  Last year, there were 50 
applicants for IYLEP, but only five had English scores high 
enough to qualify.  English language programs were sorely 
deficient in Basrah, he said.  Instructors may understand 
grammar, but lacked methodology, conversational skills, 
textbooks, and labs. 
 
¶3. (C) Nezar, a former REO political assistant/translator, left 
our employment in December 2006 following the assassination of 
another REO translator.  Things continue to be dangerous for him 
given his association with a USG sponsored program. Some schools 
with administrations or teachers associated with Jaysh al-Mahdi 
do not permit him to promote AMIDEAST programs and he is 
routinely threatened.  As a precaution, AMIDEAST removes State 
Department's logo from program advertisements; students apply 
online and drop off applications at a secure box at the 
university; and he has taken to wearing a beard to avoid 
suspicion from Islamic radicals. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Comment: Nezar clearly is committed to improving Basrah 
by promoting cultural understanding between Iraqis and Americans 
despite great personal danger.  He has our utmost admiration and 
support.  We hope to build upon his efforts by developing a 
Quick Reaction Funds Project for an English language lab at 
Basrah University.  End comment. 
 
HOWARD