US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD3419

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003419 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/19/2025 
TAGS: PGOV, PINS, IZ, Parliament, Shia Coalition 
SUBJECT: CADRES IN MAJOR SHIA PARTY IN GOVERNMENT PONDER 
DISSOLVING NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IF NO CONSTITUTION DEAL 
 
 
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT FORD FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND 
(D). 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY.  A member of one of the Shia Coalition's 
member parties told PolOff August 18 that he and many of his 
party were in favor of dissolving the TNA if no constitution 
is agreed to by August 22.  Our contact from the Fadhila 
Party said the party itself currently has no official 
position on the matter, and party leadership is presently 
working with other parties to complete a draft constitution. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (C) On August 18 PolOff met with Mohammed Ishmael al 
Khuzae, the Fadhila Party,s head of executive management, 
head of recruitment, and member of the party,s political 
bureau.  According to Mohammed, he and many members of the 
Fadhila Party are in favor of dissolving the TNA and holding 
new elections should there be no agreement on the 
constitution by August 22.  When PolOff told Mohammed USG is 
opposed to dissolving the TNA, Mohammed replied that he 
appreciates U.S. efforts to help Iraq, but the TAL must be 
respected. 
 
3.  (C) Mohammed added there is no official Fadhila Party 
position yet, as the party leadership is now actively engaged 
in the constitution negotiations.  He estimates that 90 
percent of the constitution has been agreed upon.  The 
party,s energy is now focused on completing the draft. 
 
4.  (C) Mohammed went on to say that many TNA members would 
like to see the TNA dissolved because of their dislike for 
the Jafari government.  He said the same people who were 
opposed to the Jafari government taking office are now the 
biggest supporters of dissolving the TNA. 
 
5.  (C) COMMENT:  Mohammed is a trusted contact of the 
Embassy, and we have heard others in the Shia Coalition start 
to muse about having early elections if a constitutional deal 
is not reached by August 22.  Many Kurdish parliamentarians 
also speak not too privately about moving to dissolve the 
current National Assembly and going to elections if a draft 
constitution is not finished by August 22.  The Fadhila Party 
is on the rise in Iraq and party leadership feels that it 
would do well in elections.  END COMMENT 
 
 
 
Khalilzad