US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD3135

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 BAGHDAD 003135 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2025 
TAGS: PREL, KDEM, IZ, XL, Sunni Arab 
SUBJECT: FALLUJAH/RAMADI:  VOCAL SUNNI MOBILIZATION 
CONTINUES IN ANBAR PROVINCE PRE-REFERENDUM 
 
REF: BAGHDAD 3042 
 
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT FORD. 
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D). 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY:  Fallujah city groups continue to 
echo intentions to participate in the upcoming 
constitution referendum and follow-on December 
election.  Religious, tribal and political leaders 
have emphasized to Fallujah Poloff that they intend to 
educate Fallujah/Ramadi and neighboring area residents 
in coming weeks.  Fallujah imams have begun to 
advocate national political issues during Friday 
prayers, following an oral fatwa on participation 
initially broadcast at all city mosques July 15, 
2005.  Tribal leaders have stated that they are open 
to receiving additional training and neutral 
information on the constitution from the coalition or 
other sources.  The Fallujah city council agreed at 
its July 26, 2005, session to put political engagement 
issues on its weekly agenda.  Recent discussions in Al 
Anbar's provincial capital, Ramadi, also point to 
broad Sunni mobilization efforts pre-referendum vote. 
Anbar leaders urged voting opportunity be made 
available to detainees; they have requested greater 
coalition attention regarding their longstanding 
concern that innocent individuals had been targeted 
and moved to detention facilities without sufficient 
explanation or transparent procedures.  END SUMMARY. 
 
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IMAMS:  WE'LL EDUCATE WEEKLY; 
PREFER QUIET APPROACH 
---------------------------- 
 
2.  (C) Fallujah imams issued an oral fatwa at all 
city mosques July 15, calling on residents to 
participate in the constitutional referendum and 
election (reftel).  (NOTE:  the fatwa was based on 
conclusions reached at a July 14, 2005, national 
gathering of Muslim Scholars in Baghdad -- full text 
of the meeting's "final report" at para 13).  Leading 
Fallujah imam and city council member, Sheikh Abdul 
Hady, announced at the weekly council session July 26, 
2005, that city imams would echo their earlier fatwa 
during Friday prayers.  They had already urged all in 
positions of responsibility to educate their people. 
Abdul Hady added that engagement would be pressed in 
all small meetings as well, whether "two or three or 
four come to see us" at the mosques. 
 
3.  (C) In a meeting held July 23, 2005, two junior 
Fallujah imams said that religious leaders at all 48 
city mosques had issued the oral fatwa July 15 and 
would continue their outreach.  They asked that local 
ISF and Marine forces be notified that planned 
political gatherings at mosques -- which could number 
around 250 at smaller sites and up to 1,000 at larger 
mosques -- would be peaceful.  Constitution 
"specialists" from Baghdad intended to travel to 
Fallujah to help educate residents; a list of these 
individuals would be provided later.  They welcomed 
media involvement, both western and Arab.  One argued 
that the Fallujah people "will come when we ask them 
to come and listen, but we will not ask for their 
names."  Some fliers had been distributed in Fallujah 
urging people not to vote, but without attribution. 
 
4.  (C) The imams cautioned Poloff to allow city 
religious leaders to pursue a "quiet" approach for 
now; one stated flatly that Marines should not handout 
any election material.  The Iraqi people needed to see 
fewer American uniforms and more civilians. 
(COMMENT:  Both junior imams said that many Iraqis 
"hated" the military, both Iraqi and U.S., because of 
the military's longstanding affiliation with war in 
Iraq.  Perceptions of Americans had been restricted 
mainly to occupation, not liberation.  Iraqi people 
wanted and needed to see more Americans without 
uniforms, they opined.  END COMMENT.) 
 
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HELP US GET CONNECTED 
--------------------- 
 
5.  (C) Both imams said the U.S. should help build 
free internet cafes in Fallujah (and across Anbar) as 
a larger engagement strategy -- young military-aged 
males could not afford to pay for internet service 
(three internet caf7 sites are presently in the city; 
there had been six pre-Al Fajr).  Connecting Fallujans 
to the wider world would help beat back insurgent 
messages.  One Fallujah imam said he had friends in 
the UK, Europe and U.S. but could not be in touch with 
them because his mobile phone internet card had long 
expired and was expensive.  When allowed to access his 
Yahoo account at a CMOC internet terminal, he found 
out the account had been canceled because it had been 
inactive for over 30 days.  U.S. investment in 
computers would, he argued, be money better spent than 
funds directed to big projects -- largely disconnected 
from the everyday lives of the Iraqi people.  Some 
Fallujah tribal leaders also stressed this point. 
They, as a group, have already established a Yahoo 
account, including having their email address 
(Fallujah SheikhsATyahoo.com) printed on envelopes. 
(Comment:  Present projects in Fallujah are meant to 
address this need, to include refurbishing 
two internet cafes in the city by the end of August 
2005.  USAID also plans to provide computers and 
furniture for the local government center.   END 
COMMENT.) 
 
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TRIBES:  WE'LL BE READY 
----------------------- 
 
6.  (C) During weekly meetings held at the Fallujah 
Civil-Military Operations Center (CMOC), area tribal 
leaders have reinforced their desire to help residents 
participate in the election.  They largely lack 
detailed information, however.  One tribal leader, 
Sheikh Mohammed Saleh Fiadh Al-Bijari, stated flatly 
at a July 23, meeting that Sunnis were now ready to 
return to power -- as Sh'ia rule the past year "had 
proven to be a failure."  The sheikhs said that they 
would turn out "and win" -- Iraqi people wanted a 
return to strong leadership.  Iraq, he added, had a 
6,000 year history and would be able to come back and 
rebuild.  Sunnis had a better ability to provide 
justice, and could beat back "outside forces." 
 
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COUNCIL:  POLITICS ON THE AGENDA 
-------------------------------- 
 
7.  (C) Fallujah city council leaders agreed July 26 
to place political engagement subjects on its weekly 
meeting agenda.  Vice-Chairman Qassim stressed the 
importance of the referendum and election, noting that 
this "new project" would be closely tied to overall 
success in the city.  He reminded all present that 
city imams had issued a fatwa, calling on residents to 
support the referendum and election.  Qassim said the 
council would accept any questions from residents 
about the constitution and would relay them to 
appropriate officials in Baghdad.  He asked coalition 
officials to consider allowing detainees to 
participate in the referendum, adding that unfair 
detainment constituted a top Sunni concern. 
 
8.  (C) In follow-on remarks, council member and 
senior city imam, Sheikh Abdul Hady, said the fatwa 
had been intended to ensure political involvement. 
Every Friday, city imams "will explain and stress this 
point."  The same message would be conveyed in 
individual meetings with Fallujans.  In connection 
with this education initiative, Abdul Hady also asked 
coalition officials to reexamine its detainee review 
policy. 
 
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RAMADI MOBILIZING, TOO 
---------------------- 
 
9.  (C) Sunni leaders convened an Al-Anbar 
Constitutional Conference July 25, 2005, which brought 
together around 50 participants, according to U.S. 
Marine contacts.  Most remarks were positive and 
supportive of the need for Sunnis to participate in 
the upcoming referendum and election.  Other key 
points echoed by attendees included: 
 
-- Iraq was a Muslim Nation and part of the greater 
Islamic Nation. 
-- Islam should serve as the primary source of law, 
not the only source, however.  (Many speakers stressed 
the need to ensure minority rights -- but that no laws 
should be passed that went against Sharia law.) 
-- Arabic as the official language throughout Iraq, 
although Kurdish regions should be free to use and 
teach Kurdish. 
-- Iraq was part of the Arab Community; many non-Arab 
groups within its borders should be considered equal. 
-- The need to guarantee religious freedom to all 
citizens. 
-- Rights of women should remain an issue open to 
discussion. 
-- Militias had no place in a modern state and 
challenged the authority of the central government. 
-- Federalism and the status of Kirkuk comprised the 
two most contentious issues to be settled in the 
constitution. 
 
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COMMENT 
------- 
 
10.  (C) Sunni mobilization in both Fallujah and 
Ramadi -- the principal population centers in Al-Anbar 
Province -- thus far bodes well for high turnout on 
referendum day.  The imams' preference for a quiet 
political outreach approach is understandable -- and 
needs to be respected.  Their willingness to wrap 
political engagement issues into their weekly prayer 
sessions will help keep residents focused on the 
referendum, even while most local Sunnis remain more 
concerned about infrastructure issues (power, water, 
etc.).  Calls for voting opportunity for detainees 
reflect ongoing concern that too many Sunnis have been 
unfairly targeted by coalition forces and the ITG -- a 
growing point of friction, particularly with respect 
to uneven Sh'ia-dominated Iraqi Security Force 
performance.  Given the large ISF role in polling site 
protection, this dynamic will require continued 
scrutiny.  In the January 30, 2005, election, some 
area Sunnis complained about unprofessional ISF 
behavior and harassment at polling sites. 
 
11.  (C) USAID- affiliated NGOs are considering holding 
a formal outreach event in Fallujah (tentatively 
scheduled for August 2, 2005).  Area leaders will be 
invited to the session.  A possible follow-on session 
in Ramadi, with Governor Ma'moon and other provincial 
leaders , might also be held. 
 
12.  (U) TEXT OF SUMMARY DOCUMENT, IRAQI SCHOLARS 
EMERGENCY MEETING, AS ISSUED IN BAGHDAD 14 JULY 2005 
(TRANSLATION FROM ARABIC). 
 
BEGIN TEXT: 
 
In the name of God the gracious and merciful 
 
The final report for emergency meeting of Iraqi 
Scholars 
 
Since the occupation forces occupied our country, the 
situation is getting worse day after day, and it's 
unreal when some people believed that the situation 
will improve when the new government takes over, but 
the real situation is totally different; they raid 
houses, mosques, and detained the speakers in the 
mosques, clergymen, and the people who were praying, 
and the assassinations expanded, including the 
teachers, thinkers and the scientists.  The 
unemployment spread everywhere, the security, medical, 
politics and the economy worsened. 
 
For this reason, the meeting took place on Thursday 14 
July 2005, at the banquet hall of Al Nidaa mosque in 
Baghdad / Rusafa, to study the situation and take the 
appropriate action that leads to unify the people. 
For Iraq to rise and fulfill the security and national 
reconciliation, move away from the differences in 
beliefs, and do its share, representatives reached the 
following recommendations: 
 
1- The unity of the Iraqi people and land, to ensure 
the Islamic identity. 
 
2- Letting the constitution go in effect, in such a 
way that does not accord with the laws and the 
patriotism of the Iraqi people, is refused. 
3- We see that, for the sake of all, we should prepare 
to contribute in the election, and urge all the 
Iraqis, to register their names at the election polls. 
 
4- We refuse the occupiers, and demand a schedule for 
their departure. 
 
5- We ask the government to stop the arrests and 
raids, and to release all the innocent people, and to 
form a legal independent judicial committee to 
investigate the cause of killing and torture of the 
clergymen and the people who were praying and others. 
 
6- We demand the high authority for the election to be 
independent, decent and non-aligned, and to propagate 
its action clearly through various media. 
 
7- We call for unity and agreement, and to establish 
bridges between all Iraqis. 
 
The emergency conference of the Iraqi scholars. 
 
END TEXT. 
 
14.  (U) Reo Basrah, Reo Hillah, REO Kirkuk, and REO 
Mosul minimize considered. 
 
 
Khalilzad