US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD3754

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 003754 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, KDEM, IZ, XL, Reconstruction, Terrorism 
SUBJECT: FALLUJAH:  WORD ON THE STREET REGARDING 
CONSTITUTION AND COALITION PRESENCE 
 
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT FORD, 
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY:  Two Fallujah residents, an 
engineer and a lawyer told us that Anbar 
residents remain mobilized for the upcoming 
referendum, heeding calls by religious and 
tribal leaders to register and participate. 
Both men expressed opposition in principle to 
the Coalition presence in Iraq, along with 
acknowledgement that an immediate departure 
would not be in the best interests of the Iraqi 
people.  The engineer added that as long as 
Americans remained in Iraq, "Zarqawi terrorists 
will be here."  END SUMMARY. 
 
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CONSTITUTION: WE ARE REALISTIC, 
BUT DO NOT FORCE IT ON US 
------------------------------- 
 
2. (C) Engineer Abd Farouk -- an unsuccessful 
candidate for Fallujah mayor -- told Fallujah 
Poloff and Marine Foreign Area Officer August 
31 that Fallujans will vote in large numbers in 
the upcoming referendum.  Residents had 
followed calls by religious and other leaders 
to register.  He acknowledged that Sunni 
refusal to participate in the January 30 
election had been a mistake and would not be 
repeated.  Farouk claimed Sunni Arabs were 
pragmatic about changes they wanted in the 
constitution, stating "we cannot get all of our 
demands . . . we are working for the good of 
the whole country, not just part of it." 
Farouk added, however, that if the constitution 
were "forced" on Sunni Arabs, there would be 
increased tension and problems.  In his words, 
"We do not want civil war.  Only a small group 
wants that, but you must see that there is a 
balance of good and evil.  If things are not 
done correctly in the constitution, more people 
will be attracted to the evil." 
 
3. (C) Farouk would not specifically address 
whether Sunnis considered their current 
political hand to be strong or weak.  He did, 
however, point out that eyes were looking 
beyond October, to the December election, 
stating:  "we know that we can recoup our 
rights in December."  The constitution, he 
added, represented the future; Sunnis must 
enter into the political realm; "we will join 
the police, the army."  Farouk underscored the 
rule of law that a more balanced constitution 
would guarantee.  He concluded, "we must be 
part of this rule; we must defend our 
interests.  We are pragmatic now." 
 
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U.S. FORCES:  LEAVE, BUT NOT YET; 
DON'T TELL US HOW TO RUN IRAQ 
--------------------------------- 
 
4. (C) Muslih offered largely critical comments 
about the ongoing U.S. military presence in 
Iraq.  "You detain us, you kill us, you destroy 
our cities . . . is this democracy?  I am not 
saying I would go back, but if you want a 
comparison, there it is."  Muslih stressed that 
dialogue between the U.S. and Iraqis offered a 
lot more than the use of the military.  He 
would not ask Americans to leave now -- but 
added "we need more discussion."  Farouk, 
similarly, conceded that Sunnis did not want 
Americans to leave suddenly. 
 
5. (C) Farouk expressed disappointment over 
what he perceived to be failed U.S. promises, 
particularly in governance areas.  He stated 
flatly that "we did not need your ideas about 
governing; yes, we want your technology and 
science, but not ideas how to run this 
country." 
 
6. (C) Poloff countered by reminding both 
Fallujans that other Iraqis might have a 
different view about who was better or worse 
off before, under Saddam -- and that governance 
should reflect the interests of all people, not 
just some. 
 
------------------------------------ 
ZARQAWI:  WEAKENED WITHOUT STANDING; 
REJECT FOREIGNERS, INCLUDING "YOU" 
------------------------------------ 
 
7. (C) Engineer Farouk stated that Zarqawi and 
his followers had been weakened.  However, he 
said the continued U.S. presence provided a 
"pretext" for terrorist activities.  Farouk 
said Fallujah residents had not seen foreign 
fighters in the city "with our own eyes, but 
their thoughts are present and we hear them." 
He added, pointedly, that as long as Americans 
remained in Iraq, "Zarqawi terrorists will be 
here.  We are the victims between the two of 
you.  We do not accept foreign fighters, and 
that includes you all." 
 
8. (C) Poloff and Marine FAO replied that a 
major part of Iraq's insurgent problem is home- 
grown, not directed by foreign terrorists. 
Moving fellow Iraqi Sunnis away from terrorist 
activities would do a great deal to improve 
Iraq's security. 
 
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ITG:  DISCONNECTED FROM THE PEOPLE; 
FALLUJAH AS IRAQ'S GORDIAN KNOT 
---------------------------------- 
 
9. (C) Muslih criticized Baghdad officials for 
being unwilling/unable to leave the Green Zone 
to meet people, adding "we want rulers who can 
walk the streets and meet us."  Muslih added 
that Fallujah represented a key challenge -- 
"the hardest Gordian knot to solve" -- a view, 
he said, that was shared by many in Iraq. 
 
10. (C) COMMENT:  Engineer Farouk and Lawyer 
Muslih reinforced in these conversations that 
Sunni Arabs in Fallujah, for now, have 
prioritized the political track.  While they do 
not welcome the ongoing coalition presence, 
both acknowledged that a sudden departure would 
lead to greater instability. 
Satterfield