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Viewing cable 07BAGHDAD3277, PRT NINEWA: IIP READY TO WORK WITH THE KURDS - AT
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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
07BAGHDAD3277 | 2007-10-01 03:05 | 2011-08-30 01:44 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Baghdad |
VZCZCXRO2766
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #3277/01 2740305
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 010305Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3645
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003277
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SECSTATE PASS TO AID
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/30/2017
TAGS: PGOV PBTS KDEM PINR IZ
SUBJECT: PRT NINEWA: IIP READY TO WORK WITH THE KURDS - AT
LEAST IN NINEWA
REF: A. 06BAGHDAD 04017
¶B. BAGHDAD 00559
¶C. BAGHDAD 1849
Classified By: Ninewa PRT Deputy Leader Jerome Sebastyn: 1.4 (B) and (
D)
This is a Ninewa Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) message.
-------
SUMMARY
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¶1. (C) September 26, Dr. Mohammad Shakir, head of the Ninewa
branch of the Iraqi Islamic Party (IIP) and politburo member
hosted PRT and 4-1 Brigade Combat Team members for an iftar
at his party's provincial headquarters, during which the
security situation of Ninewa, including a potential tribal
awakening, and relations between the IIP and the Kurdish
political parties were discussed. Dr. Mohammad reiterated
his party's willingness to work with the Kurds as long as
they were "reasonable." He said the September 15 meeting in
Erbil between the IIP's and Kurdish Democratic Party's (KDP)
politburos went well, though some of the Kurds' demands took
advantage of the Sunni Arabs while they were weak.
Ex-generals, not Sheiks - Ninewa is not Anbar
---------------------------------------------
¶2. (C) In the course of discussing specific security
concerns, 4-1 DCO broached the subject of a tribal
"awakening" a la Anbar in Ninewa. Dr. Mohammad repeatedly
stressed that Ninewa is not Anbar, that the tribes have much
less influence here and that if the awakening is not well
coordinated it could end up being controlled by the
terrorists (Septel). Most tellingly, in the "awakening"
context, he offered to mediate a meeting between the
Coalition and the former regime military officers (the "Free
Officers"), which he implied were more important, especially
in Mosul, than tribal figures. We agreed to take his offer
under consideration but made clear the Coalition had not
endorsed it.
Sunnis need Americans - Iraq not yet "modern"
---------------------------------------------
¶3. (C) Dr. Mohammad said, "whenever I meet someone like
former officers, I tell them we need the Americans because it
is a modern country and Iraq is not yet modern." Dr.
Mohammad was discussing ethnically based politics,
contrasting them with the IIP's "nationalist program." He
dismissed AQI as thugs without a political program.
Kurds and Sunnis - Working on Working Together
--------------------------------------------- -
¶4. (C) As a member of the IIP's politburo, Dr. Mohammad has
been present at several of the meetings between the IIP and
KDP. He characterized the August meeting in Erbil as good,
with a productive exchange of ideas. Disputing media reports
of the meeting, he said the IIP is not opposed to the Article
140 process in principle, only that it needs to be delayed
until provincial elections and security conditions permitted
a fair referendum.
¶5. (C) Dr. Mohammad proposed that if there were security and
stability, most of Ninewa would vote to stay with the central
government. He said the KDP is currently debating the 12
steps the IIP proposed to rejoin the national government.
The August meeting also resulted in a 15 September meeting in
Erbil between the IIP and KDP to specifically discuss
reducing inter-party tensions in Ninewa. Dr. Mohammad said
the KDP was reasonable and a potential partner, though he
complained the Kurds want to hit the Arabs when they are weak.
¶6. (C) During the 15 September meeting, the IIP gave the KDP
about 14 points or suggestions for action to improve
relations between the parties. These points are currently
being debated within the KDP and a follow-on meeting is to
occur in the immediate future:
- Transfer of Ninewa prisoners back to the province from KRG
detention facilities.
- Formation of joint IIP-KDP committees to meet regularly at
the provincial level.
BAGHDAD 00003277 002 OF 002
- Returning government records for Ninewa districts back to
the province from the KRG.
- Using the constitution to settle land disputes.
- Reducing the media rhetoric coming out of the KRG.
- Eliminating Assayish activity in Ninewa.
- Halting new political organizations (i.e. the opening of
new KDP offices across the province).
- Moderating provocative activities in the disputed
territories.
Bio note
--------
¶7. (C) Dr. Mohammad had been fasting throughout the day. As
noted previously, he is extremely pious and has gone on the
Hajj several times. On a personal level, he is comfortable
with people of all faiths, specifically inviting the 4-1
chaplain to the iftar. After the meal, he became more
animated and the conversation ranged into national and
international politics. Due to specific threats against him,
he often sleeps at the party headquarters and clearly missed
spending time with his family. End bio note.
COMMENT
-------
¶8. (C) The primary political forces in Ninewa are the IIP
and KDP. If reasonably free and fair provincial elections
were held tomorrow, the two parties would dominate the new
provincial council with the IIP having a clear majority. The
continued dialogue Qween the parties' leadership is
essential to political progress at the provincial level. The
PRT will continue to facilitate and encourage frank and open
discussions of the pressing provincial issues.
CROCKER