US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD2911

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BAGHDAD 002911 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
CENTCOM FOR POLAD - AMB HOLZMAN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/11/2025 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PTER, IZ, Terrorism 
SUBJECT: THE PRESIDENT'S 28 JUNE SPEECH PROVOKES BOTH 
APPLAUSE AND COMPLAINTS FROM IRAQI POLITICIANS 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Robert Ford. 
Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY.  The President's 28 June speech 
provoked both positive and negative reactions from the 
Iraqi political class in Baghdad.  We heard 
appreciation for the President's continuing commitment 
to fighting terrorism, keeping troops in Iraq, and 
supporting Iraq's political process.  On the other 
hand, the President's stated commitment to keeping 
troops in Iraq gave some politicos an opportunity to 
tell us they believe the Coalition Forces' continued 
presence is a problem.  One contact complained the 
President's message that the US will fight terrorists 
in Iraq rather than at home left some Iraqis with the 
sense that Americans did not value Iraqi lives.  The 
President's support for reconstruction efforts met 
with universal skepticism.  Indeed, many of our 
contacts say reconstruction promises jeopardize 
American credibility because Iraqis continue to "hear 
talk but see no action".  The President's speech 
served as a valuable reminder of the USG's need to 
accurately communicate and convey our goals and 
actions.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (C/NF) PolOff discussed President Bush's speech 29 
and 30 June with various Transitional National 
Assembly (TNA) members.  The members, to whom PolOff 
distributed a copy of the speech in Arabic, had 
substantive comments on the range of issues presented 
in the speech.  The individuals interviewed were TNA 
constitutional committee member and Sistani 
representative in Karbala Ahmed al Safi, SCIRI member 
and constitution committee member Jalaldin al-Saghir, 
independent Shia Islamist 'Abd al Hadi al-Hakim, and 
'Adil Nasir Haji, a Yezidi Kurd from the KDP.  They 
focused on the messages the President delivered on 
fighting terrorism, no troop withdrawal, 
reconstruction, and the political process.  Of note, 
our contacts also complained the Arabic translation we 
distributed of the speech provided by Washington was 
abysmal; the wording did not make sense, was out of 
order and there were letters missing. 
 
----------------------------------- 
Mixed Reviews on Fighting Terrorism 
----------------------------------- 
 
3.  (C/NF) SCIRI member Jalalaldin al-Saghir applauded 
the speech's clear message that it would fight 
terrorists and "would not stop until it finishes 
them."  Unfortunately, Saghir said the US's commitment 
to and reasons for fighting terrorism did not get 
reported to Iraqis in the media in a positive way. 
PUK's 'Adil Nasr was pleased THE PRESIDENT highlighted 
the odious actions terrorists undertake, such as 
killing women and children--a reminder for Muslims to 
view terrorists in their true extremist light. 
Likewise, the message that the US would "take the war 
to the terrorists' house" would cause people to 
realize destruction will occur in the country in which 
those terrorists are operating and/or supported. 
 
4.  (C/NF) By contrast, Sistani representative Ahmed 
al Safi was offended by the statement that the US 
would fight terrorism outside the US so we would not 
have to fight it at home, which he said makes Iraqis 
feel the US only values American life.  Safi also said 
the President admitted that working in Iraq is 
difficult and dangerous, which he believes 
acknowledges the power of the terrorists and will only 
serve to embolden them.  Safi pointed out that the 
reason the terrorists failed to provoke a civil war is 
because the Shia marja'iya and Sunni religious leaders 
continue to call for calm and self-restraint. 
 
5.  (C/NF) 'Abd al Hadi al-Hakim said the President's 
message about fighting terrorists rings false since 
the US is "negotiating with terrorists" and will make 
Iraqis turn against the political process.  (Note: 
Hakim is referring to recent press articles alleging 
US negotiations with insurgents.  End Note.) 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
Troop Withdrawal Remains a Bone of Contention 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
6.  (C/NF) Nasir was relieved the President made no 
mention of a timetable or force withdrawal, which 
implied the USG's continuing commitment to Iraq.  By 
contrast, Sunni leaders denounced this aspect of the 
speech.  Iraqi Islamic Party Secretary general Tarek 
al-Hashimi and Constitutional Monarchist advisor 
Faisal Kharagoli told us they were disappointed that 
once again, the US failed to nod in the slightest to a 
timetable and claimed the speech gave the impression 
US troops would be in Iraq for a long time to come. 
Undersecretary for Bilateral Affairs and SCIRI member 
Hamid al-Bayati separately told PolOff Bush did the 
right thing by not saying he was going to send more US 
troops to Iraq, because such an action would 
contravene the stated USG commitment to stand up ISF. 
 
------------------------------------- 
Reconstruction?  What Reconstruction? 
---------------------------------- 
 
7.  (C/NF) Al-Safi said the President's pledge to 
rebuild the country is "a joke for the Iraqis" since 
they have since no improvements in over two years. 
Safi commented that, rather than make empty pledges, 
the US emphasis should be to correct the President and 
tell him the truth of what is happening on the ground 
so that when he speaks he does not do such damage to 
his reputation.  Nasir and al-Hakim had similar 
reactions.  Nasir noted that there is no ground truth 
to the reconstruction talk and the slow improvements 
are trying the Iraqi people's patience as well as the 
USG's honesty.  Iraqis are fed up with US promises to 
rebuild Iraq because still they have seen no action to 
date, said Hakim separately.  Hakim suggested the 
President should be honest with his promises or should 
refrain from making them; the "Iraqi people are fed up 
with talking."  (Comment:  As the Embassy has 
reported, there is progress on problems like 
electricity and water.  However, many - if not most - 
Iraqis expected the U.S. to fix all of Iraq's enormous 
infrastructure problems and to fix them fast.  End 
Comment.) 
 
------------------------------------------ 
Some Welcome Support for Political Process 
------------------------------------------ 
 
8.  (C/NF) Some of our contacts appreciated the 
President's declaration of support for the political 
process.  However, Nasir wished the President had 
placed more emphasis on the importance of the 
constitution and had expressed his support for 
minority rights and opposition to a religious 
government--values many Iraqis share.  Sistani's aide 
Al-Safi, for his part, wanted to clarify to the 
President that the reason some "Sunnis opposed the 
January elections" was because they opposed elections 
taking place under occupation.  Shia cleric As-Saghir 
did not trust U.S. intentions with the political 
process.  He said the Shia are enraged with US efforts 
to include Sunnis; such efforts are getting translated 
as bringing Ba'thists into positions of influence. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
Others Complain Speech Defends Presence of "Occupation 
Forces" 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
9.  (C/NF) The TNA members who had only heard excerpts 
from the speech from the Arab media complained that 
Bush used his remarks to prolong and defend the 
presence of US troops in Iraq; they used the 
opportunity to complain about continued injustices to 
Iraqi's dignity foreign troops present. 
 
10.  (C/NF) Secular Shia TNA member Ali al-Yousha said 
that while he appreciated the mission the US 
originally came here for; he believes the Coalition 
Forces inflict insults to Iraqis' dignity too great to 
bear.  Yousha recounted that US troops were welcomed 
when they first came when they liberated the country. 
Indeed, he himself guided them through parts of the 
South and negotiated their safe passage with local 
leaders.  At the time, the military mingled with the 
people and were accepted.  However, Yousha complained 
that the military soon afterward began changing its 
posture and became more aggressive and insulting. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
Speech Discussion is Catalyst to Litany of Complaints 
about US Military and PSD Behavior 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
11.  (C/NF) Yousha said the issue of the US presence 
should not be "black and white".  By this he meant 
that many Iraqis would like Coalition troops to stay 
as long as they change their posture and tactics. 
However, if their staying continues to mean daily 
insults to their dignity then they must leave.  (Note: 
Yousha described US "insults" as the manner in which 
the military and private security details harass 
average Iraqis with their manner of driving, 
checkpoints, and aggressive weapons posture.  Two 
other Assembly members joined the conversation, noting 
that in the past two days; they both had their cars 
smashed by USG vehicles (it is unclear whether 
privately-contracted PSD or Coalition military) for 
failing to move aside quickly enough.  The TNA members 
complained that the narrow street had rendered it 
impossible for them to move out of the convoy's way. 
End Note.) 
 
12.  (C/NF) Al Iraqiya list Christian TNA member 
Wijdan Salim said she also had heard excerpts of the 
President' speech, and proceeded to tell PolOff that 
Iraqis, even educated ones such as herself, find it 
too difficult to bear seeing foreign troops drive 
through their streets.  Salim acknowledged Iraq's need 
for Coalition presence while Iraq builds its nascent 
security forces, however she hoped the troops could 
move to bases outside the cities. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
13.  (C/NF) Discussing the President's speech with 
Iraqi politicians provided a unique insight into the 
situation in Iraq from their ground perspective, such 
as the realities of the painfully slow pace of 
reconstruction.  Not surprisingly, the Arab media's 
focus on the President's lack of withdrawal timeline 
gave Iraqis an opportunity to reiterate their 
complaints about Coalition troop presence.  We often 
hear such complaints, frequently from Assembly 
members.  However, we find very few Assembly members, 
even among the loudest complainers, who would go so 
far as to recommend prompt withdrawal of all Coalition 
Forces.  We found that those who actually read the 
speech were much more favorable about the President's 
remarks than those who depended solely on Arab media 
reporting.  This is a reminder that we need put out a 
clear message about Iraq policy regularly for Iraqis. 
 
14.  (U) REO HILLA, REO BASRA, REO MOSUL, and REO 
KIRKUK, minimize considered. 
 
 
Satterfield