US embassy cable - 05VATICAN446

C O N F I D E N T I A L  VATICAN 000446 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/WE LEVIN; NEA/RA; NEA/NGA; DRL/IRF ABRAMSON, DEATHERAGE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  2/24/2015 
TAGS: IZ, KIRF, PHUM, PREL, SOCI, VT 
SUBJECT: CHALDEAN PATRIARCH: INCREASED SECURITY, RELIABLE ELECTRICITY 
NEEDED IN IRAQ 
 
REF: A) 03 VATICAN 5521; B) VATICAN 380 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Peter Martin, POL, Vatican, State. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
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Summary 
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1.  (C) Iraqi Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Emmanuel III Delly 
told Charge February 17 that the coalition's failure to date to 
provide reasonable security and reliable electricity were the 
biggest obstacles to acceptance of U.S. efforts by the Iraqi 
people.  The lack of security led many to conclude they were 
safer under the old regime, while the lack of progress in 
improving basic services confirmed for many suspicions that U.S. 
motives were not about improving the life of Iraqis but 
controlling Iraq's oil.  Despite widespread popular frustration 
over what the Patriarch inadvertently termed "the U.S. 
occupation," he insisted that U.S. troops must remain in Iraq to 
prevent internecine chaos that he believes would certainly 
result from a premature U.S. pullout.  He urged greater 
attention to protect Iraq's borders and prevent foreign 
mercenaries and jihadists from create further unrest.  Delly 
conveyed his appreciation for Embassy Baghdad's attention to 
Christian concerns, and urged continued efforts to ensure the 
new constitution protects the rights of religious minorities. 
End Summary. 
 
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Security, Electricity Key Obstacles to Success 
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2. (C) While welcoming the possibilities for democratic change 
opened up by January's elections, Iraqi Chaldean Catholic 
Patriarch Emmanuel III Delly told the Charge at a February 17 
lunch that the coalition's failure to improve security and 
provide basic services -- particularly electricity -- would 
continue to thwart U.S. efforts to gain the trust and support of 
the Iraqi people.  In Rome for consultations at the Vatican, 
including a meeting with the Pope, the Patriarch lamented the 
deterioration in the security situation.  Few Iraqis, he said, 
felt they could walk out their doors and feel safe.  This 
persistent sense of fear and insecurity led many Iraqis to 
conclude that life in Iraq was worse now than it had been under 
Saddam.  The Patriarch added that he personally did not feel he 
could safely leave his house, and told us he had received 
several death threats. 
 
3. (C) While Delly acknowledged coalition efforts to improve 
security, he urged -- as he has in the past -- greater attention 
to Iraq's porous borders, claiming that foreigners are still 
entering Iraq with little difficulty.  He believed that these 
young jihadists, often paid and abetted by deep-pocketed Iraqi 
Baathists, were a primary source of the daily terror that rocked 
Baghdad and other cities.  He noted that many of the foreigners 
were enticed to Iraq with promises of money and glory, and then 
were left in desperate situations that made suicide bombings 
seem the only way out.  Delly also maintained that persistent 
high unemployment among young Iraqi men took away their sense of 
dignity and hope, and led many of them to undertake suicide or 
other dangerous actions against coalition forces. 
 
4. (C) Beyond security, the Patriarch repeatedly emphasized how 
much continuing problems in providing electricity and other 
basic services were damaging the U.S. cause.  He maintained that 
most Baghdad residents, himself included, received only three 
hours of electricity a day.  In the face of popular perceptions 
of the U.S. as the omnipotent superpower, Delly explained, 
Iraqis have a hard time understanding how nearly two years after 
the invasion, no progress has been made.  This incomprehension 
leads them to question both U.S. competency and motives.  "Few 
believe that if the U.S. really wanted to, it couldn't provide 
more than three hours of electricity a day," the Patriarch 
observed, adding "this is when they start thinking that you came 
for the oil."  While making clear he did not share this view, he 
emphasized that there are few things the U.S. could do that 
would have more impact on Iraqi perceptions.  With even twelve 
hours of electricity a day, the Patriarch exclaimed, "people 
would be out in the streets chanting 'USA.'" 
 
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U.S. Troops Must Stay 
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5. (C) Although he first inadvertently referred to the presence 
of coalition troops as an "occupation" before quickly correcting 
himself, the Patriarch insisted that coalition troops remained 
indispensable to stability in Iraq.  He rejected the notion that 
 
 
withdrawal of U.S. forces would lessen tensions, arguing instead 
that this would lead to social and political chaos and increased 
internecine fighting.  "Iraq is simply not ready to stand on its 
own," he concluded.  At the same time, the Patriarch believed 
that U.S. forces could do more to boost their standing with 
Iraqis and ensure their security.  Citing a number of cases 
where U.S. soldiers had refused to respond to requests for help 
-- in one case simply watching a bank being robbed (which the 
Patriarch personally witnessed) or refusing to respond to 
requests for help with wounded family members -- the Patriarch 
said these situations conveyed an impression to the Iraqi people 
of a lack of U.S. respect for the dignity of the Iraqi people. 
The Patriarch fully appreciated that soldiers had specific 
orders and could not take on the role of policemen or provide 
first aid, but he believed that greater flexibility and 
sensitivity would go a long way to improving the U.S. image. 
Delly also claimed that U.S. forces made themselves more 
vulnerable to insurgents' attacks by always following the same 
routes on patrol at the same times.  "The British and Italians 
always mix up their routes," he stated, "but the Americans 
always pass by at the same time." 
 
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Elections:  A Mixed Assessment 
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6.  (C) In assessing the Iraqi political scene following 
January's elections, the Patriarch evinced an odd mix of 
skepticism and enthusiasm.  At first pessimistic, Delly 
suggested that the January elections had been far from a success 
given that so many Sunnis had not turned out to vote.  However, 
as the Charge engaged him on the importance of the signal 
conveyed by millions of Iraqis turning out to vote despite 
direct threats against them, the Patriarch began to warm to the 
subject, noting with pride the large number of women elected as 
representatives.  He went on to describe the historic 
opportunity the Iraqis had to develop a constitution that would 
safeguard religious liberty and other human rights.  Delly said 
he did not believe most Shi'a representatives wanted to create a 
constitution based on the Koran, but he added that he would feel 
much safer if the constitution made specific mention of 
Christianity when laying out the rights of minorities.  He 
shared the U.S. view that, if the international community can 
help Iraq follow through on these elections, the Iraqi example 
could have a positive influence on the entire Middle East. 
 
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Vatican Supports International Efforts 
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7. (C) The Vatican signaled its continuing keen interest in Iraq 
by granting Patriarch Delly an audience with the Pope February 
19 -- the first formal audience the Pope has held since his 
recent hospitalization.  Delly told us he was not sure if the 
Pope would be able to meet with him during his stay, but John 
Paul II clearly wanted to demonstrate his personal attention to 
Iraq through the meeting.  In a meeting with Holy See Foreign 
Minister-equivalent Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo just prior to our 
lunch, the Patriarch said the Vatican affirmed its concern for 
the status of Christians in Iraq, and its desire for a continued 
international presence to promote the development of a 
democratic Iraq that respected religious freedom for all its 
citizens. 
 
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Comment 
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8. (C) The Patriarch conveyed his appreciation for the close 
relationship he has had with Ambassador Negroponte and other 
members of Embassy Baghdad, and for the Embassy's attention to 
the concerns of Iraq's Christian community.  He welcomed 
continued close consultation, though he added that he has to be 
careful in contacts with the Embassy so as not to make himself 
even more of a target.  He pointed out that if some in Iraq knew 
he was dining at the U.S. Ambassador's residence, they would be 
outraged, and he asked that we keep the contact private.  The 
Patriarch remains a valuable ally for the U.S., who will 
continue to build bridges with the other religious leaders and 
communities and advocate religious tolerance.  He reiterated his 
previously stated (ref a) thanks for the U.S. removal of Saddam, 
which he believes has given Iraq new hope.  But he also 
continues to believe that the U.S. could do itself and Iraq much 
good by stepping up efforts to achieve security and provide 
basic services.  He, and the Holy See, remain deeply troubled by 
the continuing flight of Christians from Iraq. 
 
9.  (U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
 
HARDT 
 
 
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 2005VATICA00446 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL