US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD4329

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 004329 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/18/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PINR, IZ, Elections, Fadhila party 
SUBJECT: FADHILA PARTY OFFICIAL LOOKS TO THE FUTURE 
 
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT FORD FOR REASONS 
1.4 (B) AND (D). 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY:  Mohammed Ismael, generally regarded as a 
top-ranking member of the Fadhila Party, told PolOff in an 
October 18 meeting that the Fadhila Party is ready to run 
its own list in the December 2005 elections, but is also 
considering forming coalitions with various parties. 
Fadhila is open to the idea of forming a cross-sectarian 
coalition, and even participated in Ayad Allawi's 
Conference of Centrists and Moderation.  He also reiterated 
Fadhila's commitment to working with Coalition Forces, 
despite the recent violence stemming from the arrest of 
British soldiers in Basrah.  End Summary. 
 
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Quo Vadis, Fadhila? 
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2. (C) Mohammed Ismael returned to Baghdad on October 17 
after traveling through southern Iraq.  He told PolOff he 
had been collecting names of candidates who will appear on 
the Fadhila Party's electoral list in the December 2005 
elections.  He reported that Fadhila is prepared to run an 
independent list, but is considering forming coalitions 
with parties such as SCIRI, Dawa, the Sadrist Movement, and 
Ahmed Chalabi.  Poloff replied that cross-sectarian, 
moderate coalitions would be in the best interests of Iraq. 
 
3. (C) Ismael said the Fadhila Party is also willing to 
cooperate with other ethnic groups.  He said that the 
Fadhila Party electoral lists in Ninawa, Salah ad Din, At 
Tamim, and Diyala include Sunni Arabs, Kurds, Shebak, Faili 
Kurds, and other ethnic groups.  The Fadhila Party is also 
trying to bring in Sunni Arabs from the Muslim Ulema 
Council (MUC).  According to Ismael, many Sunni Arabs are 
intimidated into joining MUC, and the Fadhila Party would 
like to bring them into the political process.  Poloff 
welcomed Ismael's expression of readiness to work with 
Sunni Arabs. 
 
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Ayad Allawi:  Man Of The People 
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4. (C) Ismael cites the Fadhila Party's appearance at Ayad 
Allawi's Conference of Centrists and Moderation as evidence 
of the Fadhila Party's commitment to coalition building. 
Ismael said that the Fadhila Party would prefer to be part 
of a national, rather than sectarian, governing coalition. 
The Fadhila Party wants to see a governing coalition that 
brings in Shia, Sunni Arabs, Kurds, and secular Iraqis. 
While no final decision has been made, the Fadhila Party is 
actively exploring the Allawi option. 
 
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Downplaying Basrah Clash With UK Forces 
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5. (C) Mohammed Ismael insisted that the recent violence 
related to the arrest of two British soldiers in Basrah is 
no indicator of the Fadhila Party's attitudes toward 
Coalition Forces.  The Governor of Basrah, while a Fadhila 
Party member, leads a coalition with other political 
parties.  The decision to cease cooperation with UK forces 
was made by the Basrah Provincial Council as a whole; it 
was not a unilateral decision by the Governor.  The people 
of Basrah reacted to what they viewed as an affront to 
their sovereignty.  Fadhila Party head Nadeem Jabiri worked 
very hard to promote a peaceful solution to the crisis, and 
even traveled to Basrah to work with the governor.  The 
Fadhila Party, Ismael said, is cooperating with Coalition 
Forces, and would continue to do so as part of a post- 
election government. 
Satterfield