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DE RUEHGB #2806/01 2451510
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FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
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INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE

S E C R E T BAGHDAD 002806 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
C O R R E C T E D COPY CAPTION 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2018 
TAGS: PGOV IR IZ PINR
SUBJECT: MAYSAN SADRIST CHIEF: MUQTADA MISUNDERSTOOD 
 
Classified By: PRT Team Leader Dan Foote for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
(U)  This is a PRT Maysan reporting cable. 
 
¶1.  (S/NF) Summary and comment: The Sadr Trend is a peaceful 
movement committed to helping humanity and developing a 
strong Iraq free of foriegn influence, according to Mohammed 
Wahid, leader of the Sadrist-affiliated Hussein Ideology 
Front (HIF).  Steadfastly denying that Muqtada al-Sadr (MAS) 
was under the direct influence of Iran, he claimed that 
Iranian intelligence was influencing MAS' inner circle and 
negatively affecting MAS' decisions and announcements.  He 
denigrated other Shi'a parties for skewing MAS' messages for 
political gain and supporting politically-motivated arrests. 
Mohammed Wahid stated that the Sadrists are not against 
Coalition Forces (CF), but rather destructive foreign 
influence, and expressed his support for CF efforts to 
rebuild Iraq and strengthen the Iraqi Security Forces.  His 
portrayal of the Sadrist position is difficult to reconcile 
with MAS' continuing calls against the "occupation."  End 
summary and comment. 
 
HIF's message 
------------- 
 
¶2.  (S/NF) In an August 30 meeting with team leader at Camp 
Garry Owen, HIF founder and Provincial Council (PC) member 
Mohammed Wahid delivered a zealous, occasionally rambling, 
and sometimes self-contradictory message.  He related that he 
founded the party to spread the knowledge and spirituality 
associated with Prophet Hussein to the people of Maysan.  He 
explained that HIF was founded in secret before the fall of 
Saddam's regime to focus on improving the lot of suffering 
Maysanis.  Mohammed Wahid presented the three pillars of 
HIF's agenda as: improving infrastructure and security to 
enable better delivery of essential services, promoting human 
rights and education, and creating a democratic culture for 
all Iraqis.  He added that many well-educated citizens and 
scholars had embraced HIF's agenda and joined the party, 
including politicians, physicians, and engineers. 
 
Muqtada learning from past mistakes 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (S/NF) Mohammed Wahid stated that MAS had made many past 
decisions based upon false information distributed into his 
inner circle by Iranian intelligence elements.  As a result, 
some of MAS' previous statements had been flawed, he offered. 
 Mohammed Wahid called MAS' recent announcement of the 
transformation of JAM a major change in message, adding that 
MAS has learned from past mistakes and understands that Iran 
had been pushing its agenda through the Sadrists and JAM.  He 
also accused "divisive elements" within the GOI of spreading 
inaccurate readings of MAS communications and creating the 
widespread but inaccurate belief that the Sadrists do not 
accept the presence of CF in Iraq.  "Those who fight and 
shoot CF do not represent the Sadrists."  He offered that 
popular rejection of CF will dissipate when Iraqis realize 
that the CF is in Iraq to build, provide stability, and 
promote human rights within a sovereign Iraq.  While Mohammed 
Wahid did not discuss JAM or other militia groups in any 
detail, he emphasized the distinction between Sadrists and 
JAM and implied that JAM is following other agendas and 
sending a false message to the GOI and CF. 
 
PC Chair's political arrest 
--------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (S/NF) Wahid said the eventual release of PC Chairman 
Abdul Jabar Wahid, arrested during Operation Good Tidings of 
Peace, confirmed that Abdul Jabar was initially targeted for 
political reasons.  Mohammed Wahid called the PC Chair a 
nationalist who was arrested even as insurgents and criminals 
were allowed to disappear.  He conveyed HIF's willingness to 
identify individuals opposed to the CF and provincial 
government, but would not elaborate. 
 
More infrastructure projects 
---------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (S/NF) The provincial Sadrist leader appealed to the U.S. 
to continue to fund large infrastructure projects, and 
dismissed most training programs and workshops held to date 
as unproductive.  He dismissed NGOs in the province as 
ineffective, and advised that all work should be done through 
the provincial government.  He touted the fact that the 
Governor and PC were publicly announcing U.S. projects in 
Maysan, "unlike other provinces," in an effort to show that 
the U.S. is in Maysan to help rebuild.  "The hospital built 
by the U.S. in 1914 has gone through numerous name changes," 
Wahid said, "but it is still referred to by all as the 
American Hospital.  British projects have had no long-term 
effect; the Americans must continue with lasting, influential 
infrastructure projects to develop popular support and a 
positive legacy."  (Note: Poloff lived in Amarah for almost 
one year and never once heard the hospital referred to as 
'The American Hospital.'  End Note.) 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶6.  (S/NF) Mohammed Wahid's desire to paint a positive image 
of the Sadrists, as opposed to JAM and Iran, may signal a 
shift in provincial Sadrist rhetoric.  However, his 
contention that the Sadrists are not opposed to the presence 
of the Coalition is difficult to reconcile with Sadr's 
continuing calls against the "occupation," and Wahid may have 
been delivering the message he believed the U.S. wanted to 
hear.  Further engagement will be vital to determining the 
true goals and future direction of the Sadrists in Maysan. 
End comment. 
BUTENIS