US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD2394

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002394 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2025 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PTER, IZ 
SUBJECT: AL-ANBAR GOVERNOR KILLED; PROVINCIAL COUNCIL 
ELECTS REPLACEMENT 
 
Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Henry S. Ensher. 
Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY:  Joint Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces 
discovered the body of  Al-Anbar Governor, Raja Nawaf 
Farhan May 29.  The Anbar Provincial Council met June 1 in 
a special session and selected current PC Chairman, 
Engineer Ma'moun Sami Rasheed, as the new governor.  Former 
Governor Fassal Nejris Al-Ghaoud claimed he remains 
Governor of Anbar.  END SUMMARY. 
 
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BACKGROUND 
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2. (C) The Al Anbar Provincial Council (PC) selected Raja 
Nawaf Farhan as the Governor of Anbar Province on May 5. 
Within days, insurgents/terrorists revealed they had 
kidnapped him en route to the provincial capital Ramadi. 
(NOTE:  The governor served as mayor of Al-Qa'im, a city 
located on the western-most part of the province, 
approximately 20 km from the Syrian border.  He had taken 
an active role against insurgent elements in the area.  END 
NOTE.) 
 
3. (C) Joint Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces conducted 
cordon and search operations against a suspected terrorist 
safe house in the Rawah area on May 29.  Iraqi soldiers 
fought side-by-side with U.S. forces in the operation.  The 
Governor was found dead inside the destroyed building, 
where he had been chained to a propane tank.  Four foreign 
fighters were killed in the operation:  three Saudis and 
one Moroccan; two Syrians, an Algerian and a Jordanian were 
detained. 
 
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COUNCIL SELECTS NEW GOVERNOR 
---------------------------- 
 
4. (C) The PC met June 1 in a special session to discuss 
next steps; twenty-seven members attended the meeting. 
They unanimously agreed to move ahead with the selection of 
a new governor, electing current PC Chairman, Ma'moun Sami 
Rasheed (biographic information -- para 8).  He was the 
only candidate considered for the job; a replacement PC 
Chairman has not yet been identified by council members. 
 Current Deputy Governor Taleb Ibrahim will continue in 
that role. 
 
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FORMER GOVERNOR CLAIMS TITLE 
---------------------------- 
 
5. (C) In Baghdad, ex-governor Fassal al-Ghaoud, attended a 
May 31 meeting hosted by Minister for Provincial Affairs, 
Sa'ad Naif Hardan, according to Anbar Provincial Council 
Secretary Sheikh Hussein Zubaer Thelej who also attended. 
 
SIPDIS 
He reported that Fassal (once again) declared himself to be 
the legitimate Governor of Anbar Province, and he intended 
to establish a provincial administrative office in the 
Babil Hotel in Baghdad.  Fassal added that he would not 
return to Ramadi until the Marines left the city; he 
"ordered" Deputy Governor Taleb Ibrahim barred from 
entering Ramadi or its Government Center.  According to 
Sheikh Hussein, the Minister of State and several others in 
attendance welcomed Fassal's statement and plans, while 
others expressed puzzlement and disbelief.  Sheikh Hussein 
told Marine officers in Fallujah that he had asked Fassal 
if he wanted to settle this dispute with "fists" or by the 
"law."  Fassal chose "law".  The Sheikh said he then began 
to read from the TAL and CPA 71 to make the point that the 
PC's election of a new Governor had been in accordance with 
the law.   After the meeting, said Hussein, several Iraqi 
military officers in attendance (apparently at Fassal and 
Minister's invitation) thanked him for citing the law, of 
which they were not aware. 
 
6. (C) Comment.  The quick election of Ma'moun as the new 
governor represents a positive step; any gap in continuity 
in provincial leadership would add to Anbar's ongoing 
governance challenges.  Ma'moun has already established a 
credible and effective working relationship with the 
Coalition in his capacity as PC Chairman.  He proved to be 
an adept facilitator at the PRDC's first meeting May 29. 
(septel). 
 
7. (C) Fassal Al-Ghaoud's positioning and antics in Baghdad 
are not surprising, but could lead to more substantive 
problems if left unaddressed by the ITG.  (NOTE: Fassal 
claims the January 30 the Provincial Council elections were 
invalid and has contested since then the PC's legal 
standing.  End Note.)  High-level ITG engagement regarding 
Fassal's claims would help reaffirm the legitimacy of new 
Governor Ma'moun's status as the troubled province's new 
leader. 
 
8. (C) Biographic information on Ma'moun Sami Rasheed: 
Civil Engineer, leader of the Iraqi Islamic Party in Al- 
Anbar; is a devout Muslim.  Served on the Provincial 
Council since 2004 (including during the CPA-era) and has 
been acting President of the PC since March 2005.  Ma'moun 
is charismatic, intelligent and well spoken; he has 
developed an effective working relationship with coalition 
representatives in the province. 
 
9. (U) REO HILLA, REO BASRA, REO MOSUL, and REO KIRKUK, 
minimize considered. 
 
 
Satterfield