US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD2379

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002379 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, KDEM, IZ 
SUBJECT: IIP EXPRESSES OPTIMISM ON PARTICIPATION IN THE 
CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESS 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires David Satterfield for Reasons 1.4 (b) 
and (d). 
 
1. (C) Summary.  The Charge met with Tariq al Hashimi, 
Secretary General of the Iraqi Islamic Party to continue our 
 
SIPDIS 
engagement with leading Sunni groups to encourage their 
participation in the constitutional process.  The Charge 
expressed regret for the recent detention of party leader, 
Mohsin abd Hamid.  Hashimi requested a written apology.  He 
explained his party's approach to the on-going efforts to 
include Sunnis in the drafting of the constitution and 
appeared optimistic.  He also described the decentralized 
structure of the IIP, which is the most prominent Sunni 
political party in Iraq.  End Summary. 
 
2. (C) The Charge opened by expressing regret for the 
detention of Muhsin abd al Hamid, leader of the Iraqi Islamic 
Party (IIP) on May 30.  He noted the USG had acted 
immediately to release abd al Hamid, a former Governing 
Council member and well-known member of the anti-Saddam 
resistance.  Tariq al Hashimi, General Secretary of IIP, 
accompanied by Nasir al Ani, said the USG cannot guarantee 
that such incidents will not be repeated.  He continued to 
demand a written letter of apology, stating that the rate and 
breadth of detentions are "overwhelming" the Sunni.  Hashimi 
claimed Sunnis interpret detentions, whether by Coalition or 
Iraqi Forces as a message that "the U.S. is looking to get 
the Sunni." 
 
3. (C) Hashimi reaffirmed the Iraqi Islamic Party's 
commitment to friendship with the U.S.  He said that some in 
the party believe the Americans see the party as connected to 
the insurgency.  Hashimi asked the USG to present any such 
evidence, so that the IIP would have a chance to refute it. 
He denied the existence of any element in the party abetting 
the armed Iraqi resistance.  Hashimi admitted that the 
current situation is extremely tense for Sunnis.  He 
emphasized the "insurgents are killing us before they kill 
you." 
 
4. (C) Hashimi appeared optimistic about the June 2 joint 
meeting of various Sunni political groups and the 
Transitional National Assembly's Constitutional Drafting 
committee.  While he postulated that the process of 
recruiting professional and representative Sunnis could be 
best expedited by allowing IIP to represent the entire 
community, Hashimi said the IIP had prepared a list for 
submission.  On a more realistic note, the General Secretary 
recognized that the IIP may not see all its candidates 
selected for the expanded Drafting Committee.  More important 
to his constituents, Hashimi claimed, was how the committee's 
input would be incorporated into the process.  He warned that 
the TNA must not simply treat the newly created body as 
consultants, but the appointed members' contributions should 
be weighed equally with the legally elected TNA 
representatives.  The Charge agreed that the process needed 
to be inclusive of credible, moderate Sunni representatives 
and that they should be chosen as soon as possible 
. 
 
5. (C) Yet Hashimi noted the IIP was "willing to sacrifice 
itself" to hold to the deadline of August 15 for drafting the 
constitution.  He gave a brief overview of his party's 
organization, noting policy was set in Baghdad, but regional 
offices were allowed a fair amount of freedom, which he 
described as "decentralization." 
 
6. (C) Comment.  Considering the flap over Mohsin abd Hamid's 
detainment, Hashimi was very engaging and optimistic about 
the effort to include the Sunnis into the next stage of the 
political process.  It was interesting to hear him describe 
the structure of the most prominent Sunni political party as 
decentralized, which was evidenced by the January 30 
elections.  Diyala provincial IIP leadership petitioned the 
IIP for exemption to the national IIP's declared boycott of 
the January 30 elections, and received permission.  Anbar's 
IIP also participated, as did Ninewa's and all three seated 
IIP members in their respective Provincial Councils. 
 
7. (U) REO HILLA, REO BASRA, RE MSUL and REO KIRKUK, 
minimize considered. 
Satterfield