US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD3997

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003997 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/25/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, IZ, Shia Islamists, Sunni Arab 
SUBJECT: SHIA LEADER AGREES SMALL CHANGES TO DRAFT 
CONSTITUTION POSSIBLE IF SUNNI ARABS AGREE TO SUPPORT IT 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR KHALILZAD, REASON 1.5 (B) AND 
(D). 
 
1.  (C)  Shia Islamist Coalition leader Abdel Aziz al-Hakim 
told the Ambassador 9/24 evening that, in principle, he 
would accept small changes to the draft constitution's 
language if it would gain Sunni Arab support at the 
referendum.  The Ambassador referred to earlier discussions 
with Sunni Arabs and said it would be helpful to remain 
open-minded about changes to the draft text on three 
issues: 
 
--  maintaining Iraq's unity; 
--  Iraq's Arab identity and use of the Arabic language in 
Kurdistan; 
--  the language on how to amend the constitution. 
 
The Ambassador underlined that the goal of any such 
exercise was to secure the widest support possible for the 
draft constitution at the October 15 referendum. 
 
2.  (C)  Al-Hakim said the Shia, including Muqtada Sadr, 
would solidly support the constitution.  He cautioned that 
the changes should not go so far that they would force 
Kurdish leader Barzani to reject the draft text.  That 
said, the Shia Coalition would not object to language that 
strengthened the commitment to Iraq's unity or Iraq's Arab 
identity.  He would be willing to study proposals. 
 
3.  (C)  Hakim was concerned about the security problems in 
Anbar and Diyala provinces.  He said many voters, including 
Sunni Arabs, would be too intimidated to vote.  He wondered 
whether it would not be best to scrap Transition 
Administration Law (TAL) Article 61 (c) that stipulates 
that a 2/3 vote in three provinces means the draft 
constitution fails at the referendum.  The Ambassador urged 
caution.  It would be better to reach out and build support 
for the draft than change the TAL, he urged. 
 
4.  (C)  Hakim then urged the Americans to be tough on 
Sunni terrorists and to help those Sunni Arabs willing to 
fight them.  He told the Ambassador he would accept arming 
Sunni tribes that will combat the terrorists.  (Hakim 
anticipated they would stop fighting once the terrorists 
quit the tribes' territories.) 
 
5.  (C) Hakim pointed to Basra and said that the British 
had erred in their operations in Basra.  Sending undercover 
soldiers in black clothing like sayyids (descendents of the 
Prophet Mohammed) aroused religious sensitivities. 
Shooting Iraqi police, and then fleeing, was bound to raise 
local ire even more.  The Ambassador cautioned that the 
British had faced a potential hostage situation and had to 
respond.  He urged that Hakim support a joint investigation 
that would identify the policy implications of the critical 
events.  Hakim accepted that this would be useful. 
 
6.  (C)  Comment:  Hakim's suggestion that article 61(c) be 
set aside suggests he is not sure the draft constitution 
will pass. 
Khalilzad