US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD3080

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003080 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2025 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, KDEM, IZ, Reconstruction 
SUBJECT: VICE PRESIDENT GHAZI URGES STRONG AMERICAN ROLE IN 
IRAQ AS HE PREPARES TO JET OFF 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Robert S. Ford. 
Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) 
 
1.  (C) Summary.  Vice President Ghazi al Yawar 
advocated that the newly arrived Ambassador establish 
a strong presence at this critical time in Iraq's 
history.  Yawar pledged to address economic 
development initiatives, promote public outreach on 
the constitutional referendum and noted the need to 
address allegations of human rights abuses by the ISF. 
He spoke briefly on his approach toward the Syrian 
leadership.   End Summary. 
 
2.  (C) Ambassador paid his first courtesy call on 
Deputy President Ghazi al-Yawar on July 24.  Yawar 
raised the necessity to provide adequate security for 
the Sunni members of the constitution committee in the 
wake of the assassination of two of their colleagues. 
Assuring the Ambassador that the Sunnis would continue 
to participate in the constitution process, he 
dismissed the possibility of a "Hariri type" 
investigation of the murders of Mujbil Shaykh al-Issa 
and expert committee member Dhamin Hussein Aleiwi al 
Obeidi.  Instead he said -- based on discussions in 
the Cabinet -- that the judicial branch would take the 
lead on the investigation, perhaps including onto the 
investigatory commission some relatives of the slain 
men.  He criticized public statements by Sunni 
politicos that "high ranking members of the government 
with connections to militias" were behind the 
assassinations.  He stressed that the Badr Corps had 
nothing to do with the murders.  "Not even the Kurds" 
were involved, he stated flatly. 
 
-------------------------------- 
Preparing for Referendum; 
Need for Secularists to Coalesce 
-------------------------------- 
 
3.  (C) Yawar urged the Ambassador to make a strong 
presence felt at this critical juncture, observing 
that only the political pressure applied by Paul 
Bremer assured the Transitional Administrative Law's 
successful and timely completion.  He noted the need 
for a greater public outreach campaign on constitution 
issues.  In particular, it would be important to 
dissuade the Sunni Arabs that federalism equated 
Iraq's "dismemberment".  Describing his fellow 
moderates (Adnan Pachachi, Ayad Allawi, and Nasir 
Chardachi) as "heads without roots", he observed that 
their (and his) failure to form a coalition of 
secularists was a loss for all.  He noted he was 
maintaining a low profile in the constitutional 
drafting process.  He said this was in response to 
criticism from his fellow Sunni Arabs  who said he had 
chosen "his own cabinet".  Yawar strongly endorsed the 
proposed summit of political party leaders to iron out 
the last obstacles to a final draft of the 
constitution. 
 
--------------------------- 
Tough Words for the Syrians 
--------------------------- 
 
4.  (C) Yawar claimed he "had a word with Bashar" al- 
Assad regarding the support ex-Ba'athists enjoy in 
Syria.  He said insurgents and their financiers openly 
boast about their ability to operate from Syria and 
that he warned Bashar "these are the same Saddamists 
who were trying to assassinate your father".  He 
reportedly told the leader that he had the opportunity 
to be the "Anwar Sadat" of Syria should he end his 
support for terrorism.  The Ambassador cautioned about 
advocating a regime change, since the next most power 
political force in Syria is the Muslim Brotherhood. 
Yawar endorsed the Ambassador's suggestion of a 
proposed inter-Arab anti-terrorism summit, noting he 
had warned the Saudis and Kuwaitis that terrorism 
would not stop at Iraq's borders.  Yawar praised the 
bravery of the recently assassinated Egyptian Charge 
d'Affaires and the "very helpful" Bahraini charge 
d'Affaires, who was also injured in a terrorist 
attack. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
Addressing Allegations of Human Rights Violations 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
5.  (C) The Vice President derided official denials of 
involvement of Iraqi Security Forces in the series of 
kidnappings, apparent torture and murder of Sunnis in 
outlying areas of Baghdad province.  He said Ministry 
of Interior claims that six to seven car motorcades 
that allegedly conducted the raid were organized and 
carried out by "phoney cops".  Yawar observed, "When 
police do it, it is far worse" than violence 
perpetuated by the insurgents.  He likened it to the 
government taking one side in a conflict.  The 
Emergency Law aside, he proposed requiring all arrests 
be legitimized within 24 hours by order of a judge 
(Note:  This is already a right embodied in the TAL 
End Note.). 
 
----------------------------- 
Security Role for the Tribes? 
----------------------------- 
 
6.  (C) Yawar debunked a recent (alleged) proposal by 
Prime Minister Jafari to allow local militias assume 
responsibility for security in their areas.  He 
claimed Jafari was also pushing to reinstate tribal 
involvement in security affairs.  The Vice President 
ridiculed such an initiative, observing, "If you give 
shaykhs money and power, you will get Lebanon".  On 
the other hand, earlier in the meeting he praised his 
own tribe's ability to maintain peace in his native 
region northeast of Mosul.  He attributed the 
allegedly lack of attacks on Coalition Forces in "his 
lands" to his success in convincing his fellow Shammar 
that economic development could only proceed after the 
area was secure.  He termed the economic battle as 
critical, and advocated employment for the "angry, 
young men" who now sit around listening to hateful 
speeches of their local imams. 
 
7.  (C) Comment.  Yawar is as Yawar was:  positioned 
to play a positive role in resolving issues that most 
concern the Sunnis but quite unreliable.  He could 
press the Iraqi administration from the inside to 
review human rights abuse allegations and shape the 
type of investigation in ways that would ease the 
fears of the broader Sunni Arab community and 
facilitate the political process.  Educated and 
worldly, he could shape the debate in the nervous 
Sunni Arab community about the positives of a 
federalist vision for Iraq and how it would help, not 
hurt, the minority Sunni Arabs.  However, he is not 
someone upon whom we can count.  Indeed, just as 
constitutional debates really heats up in Baghdad, 
Ghazi is about to fly off to Bahrain for at least five 
days where he likely will relax and try to raise money 
for his own political aspirations.  Post will continue 
to push this well-placed Sunni leader to exert his 
influence on behalf of Sunni Arab outreach, but it is 
important to remember the limitations of the man. 
End Comment. 
 
8.  (U) REO HILLA, REO BASRA, REO MOSUL, and REO 
KIRKUK, minimize considered. 
 
 
 
Khalilzad