US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD4149

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 004149 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, PINR, IZ, Sunni Arab 
SUBJECT: EMBOFFS TO BADR CORPS HEAD:  DO NOT CONDUCT ARMED 
OPERATIONS 
 
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT FORD FOR REASONS 
1.4 (B) AND (D). 
 
1. (C) In an October 4 meeting to discuss Sunni allegations 
of persecution by Badr Corps militia members, MOI Senior 
Advisor James Yellin warned Badr Organization leader and 
SCIRI TNA member Hadi al-Amari that militias must not 
conduct operations during the run-up to the referendum on 
the constitution or any subsequent time.  Yellin added that 
militias should instead cooperate with IP, ISF, and MNF-I 
forces to help protect all Iraqis, including the Shia.  Any 
information Badr Organization could provide on militia 
activities would be appreciated.  PolOff added that militia 
operations risked destabilizing all of Iraq. 
 
2. (C) Hadi al-Amari insisted that Badr Organization was 
not engaging in illegal militia operations.  He said that 
he was a politician, and therefore desired law and order. 
He added that he wanted militias to be joined with IP and 
ISF, but MNF-I was opposed.  To highlight his frustration, 
Hadi rhetorically offered to turn command of Badr Corps 
over to Yellin so that Yellin could integrate it into ISF 
and IP.  Yellin declined this offer, saying that current 
USG policy is to oppose the integration of militias into 
the IP and ISF as units.  Rather, militia members must join 
as individuals.  Amari stated that Badr Corps desires only 
peace and does not wish to fight with other militias nor 
with MNF-I. 
 
3. (C) COMMENT:  Despite Amari's assurances, the Badr 
Organization remains actively engaged in violent 
operations.  Badr Corps's August 24 clash with Jaysh al- 
Mahdi demonstrated their continued ability and willingness 
to resort to violence. END COMMENT. 
Khalilzad