INFO  LOG-00   EEB-00   AF-00    AID-00   AMAD-00  CIAE-00  INL-00   
      DNI-00   DODE-00  DOTE-00  DS-00    FAAE-00  FBIE-00  VCI-00   
      H-00     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    LAB-01   L-00     CAC-00   
      MOFM-00  MOF-00   M-00     VCIE-00  NSAE-00  ISN-00   NIMA-00  
      CAEX-00  GIWI-00  ISNE-00  FMPC-00  SP-00    IRM-00   SSO-00   
      SS-00    NCTC-00  CRYE-00  DSCC-00  PRM-00   DRL-00   SAS-00   
      FA-00    SWCI-00  PESU-00  SANA-00    /001W

R 191432Z AUG 09
FM REO HILLAH
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1209
INFO IRAQ COLLECTIVE
REO HILLAH 1282

C O N F I D E N T I A L HILLAH 000048 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  8/19/2019 
TAGS: PGOV PINR SOCI IZ
SUBJECT: SUNNI IMAM'S FORAY INTO NON-SECTARIAN POLITICS 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Rick Roberts, PRT Babil Team Leader, PRT Babil, 
DOS. REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
 
¶1.       (U) This is a PRT Babil cable. 
 
 
Summary and Comment 
------------------- 
 
¶2.      (C) Summary and Comment:  On August 19, PRT Babil met with 
Sheikh Fadel al-Janaby to follow up on Embassy's request to find 
out more about the reported announcement of a new political 
entity in Babil on August 13.  The PRT had not previously met 
Sheikh Fadel; biographic details gathered in the meeting are 
included in para 8.  The new political entity, the Iraqi 
National Unified Front, allegedly has the support of 700 
"leaders" from all over Iraq and purports to have a populist 
non-religious and non-sectarian agenda to appeal to the 50 
percent of the Iraqi population that didn't vote in the last 
national elections.  Sheikh Fadel asked the USG to fund the 
registration fee for the Iraqi National Unified Front and 
suggested releasing detainees with large followings so they 
could bring their groups into the political process.  He also 
made allegations that the Governor of Babil is a secret Sadrist, 
which we have not been able t o confirm independently, and that 
the Babil Police Chief "works for Badr," which is consistent 
with what other sources have told us about sectarian bias in the 
IP.  We have so far been unable to confirm whether 700 "leaders" 
attended the launch event, but it seems likely to us that the 
figure is an exaggeration.  Although Sheikh Fadel made a lot of 
remarks which appeared sincere in support of non-sectarian 
principles including the separation of church and state, he 
clearly has a strong Sunni bias which calls into question his 
ability to serve as an honest power broker.  Overall, we are not 
convinced that the front has the support Sheikh Fadel claims and 
have serious doubts that the new political entity could achieve 
the sort of political following it would need to be a 
significant player in the upcoming elections.  End Summary and 
Comment. 
 
The Iraqi National Unified Front 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶3.      (SBU) Sheikh Fadel said he and his cousin Sheikh Saadoun 
al-Janaby had launched the new political entity, the Iraqi 
National Unified Front, at a meeting at his house in Hamiya in 
North Babil on August 13.  He asserted that 700 "leaders" from 
all over Iraq attended the meeting, but when asked did not name 
any of the other participants.  The Iraqi National Unified Front 
is reportedly intended to address the concerns of the 50 percent 
of Iraqis that he alleges did not vote in the last national 
elections by offering a non-sectarian alternative to the current 
parties. Sheikh Fadel believes the new front could win a 
majority of the seats in the COR and replace the Da'wa 
coalition.  He blamed Iraq's problems on the sectarian and 
religious nature of the majority of the existing Iraqi political 
parties, and indicated the new front wanted to move away form 
sectarian politics and towards "a good government, a 
non-sectarian government, a non-religious government."  He also 
asserted that the current Iraqi political system is controlled 
by an elite class, much as it was under Saddam Hussein:  "In 
every village, we have /a/ Saddam."  The new front reportedly 
has a populist approach and its plan to develop its as-yet- 
unspecified program is to "go to the 50 percent who did not 
vote, ask them what they want from their parliament, and put 
that together in one program."  Sheikh Fadel claimed he has been 
traveling all over Iraq talking to local tribal and religious 
"leaders" to discuss this idea with them. The Iraqi National 
Unified Front has not yet developed a slate of candidates. 
 
 
Requests for the USG: Fund the Iraqi National Unified Front; 
Release Detainees 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
 
¶4.      (SBU) Sheikh Fadel said he needed USD 30,000 to pay the 
registration fees for the Iraqi national Unified front so it 
could compete in the upcoming national elections, and asked that 
the US pay these fees.  He said he could get the much money and 
more by calling any number of neighboring Arab countries, but he 
did not want to ask them for money because they would put 
conditions on their funding.  When asked by PRT leader why he 
didn't ask the 700 "leaders" who reportedly participated in the 
launch of the front for small contributions to fund the fees, he 
wasn't able to provide an answer.  If the US was unable to 
provide a cash contribution, he suggested the US could "give us 
some contracts to support us; this will be in a legal way." 
Sheikh Fadel commented that CF detention of individuals who are 
later released is unhelpful because "they are angry no matter 
what you say."  He supported release of detainees "who have 
control of a lot of people, so they can bring people into the 
political process." 
 
Allegations CF killed a civilian 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶5.      (U) Sheikh Fadel claimed to have proof of CF's "wanton 
killing" of a civilian about three months ago.  PRT Leader 
advised him that the US takes these allegations very seriously, 
and requested that he provide us with what he has on the 
incident so that we can investigate the allegations that a crime 
was committed.  We have not yet received anything from Sheikh 
Fadel. 
 
Claims Provincial Government is Sectarian 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶6.      (SBU) Sheikh Fadel asserted that Governor Zargany, who 
claims to be an independent, is actually a Sadrist.  He also 
cited problems with the Sons of Iraq program, saying that he put 
70 people into that program and now more than half of them have 
been fired and the others have been transferred outside the 
province "just because they are Sunnis."  Sheikh Fadel alleged 
that Babil Police Chief General Fadil Raddad "works for Badr" 
and is "the most sectarian guy in the province."  He further 
claimed that General Raddad served as Saddam's Chief of 
Intelligence in An Najaf, "but he is Badr, so they leave him in 
place." 
 
Tribal Support Council is a Da'wa Group 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶7.      (SBU) According to Sheikh Fadel, the Tribal Support group 
is a holdover from Saddam and is a tool of Da'wa.  He said that 
he turned down an opportunity to participate in the council, 
because it exists for the purpose of co-opting tribal leaders by 
paying them off. 
 
Bio note 
-------- 
 
¶8.      (SUB) Bio note:  This was the first time the PRT met with 
him, although he claims to have met with Embassy Baghdad 
officials in the past.  Sunni.  From North Babil.  Member of the 
prominent al-Janaby tribe and a significant individual in North 
Babil.  Trained as an electrical engineer.  Religious Sheikh, 
chief of the Al Amr clan of a sub tribe under Sheikh Adnan 
al-Janaby.  Brother of Sheikh Abdulnasr al- Janaby; Sheikh 
Abdulnasr is a former COR member who was accused of working with 
AQI.  Sheikh Fadel acknowledged that his brother "works in the 
resistance."  Wore Western dress, shook hands with female IPAO. 
Was able to conduct the meeting largely in English; we 
understood his remarks, but a translator was sometimes required 
to explain our questions to him. 
 
 
ROBERTS