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R 091931Z MAR 04
FM CPA BAGHDAD
TO SECDEF WASHDC 0067
SECSTATE WASHDC 0075
WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC 0060
US DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF.02 BAGHDAD 000042
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, IZ
SUBJECT: CABLE 0685: IRAQI NATIONAL GATHERING PARTY KICKS
OFF PUBLIC CAMPAIGN ADVOCATING STRONG TIES WITH U.S.,
VIBRANT PRIVATE SECTOR
SUMMARY
1. (U) DR. HUSSEIN AL-JIBBOURI, CHAIRMAN OF THE IRAQI
NATIONAL GATHERING PARTY TOLD AN AUDIENCE OF 500 FROM HIS
HOME TOWN OF AL-ALAM THAT HIS PARTY WELCOMED IRAQIS FROM
ALL ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES, FAVORED THE PRIVATE
SECTOR AS THE BASIS FOR THE IRAQI ECONOMY AND WOULD PURSUE
A FOREIGN POLICY FOCUSED ON STRENGTHENING TIES WITH THE
ADVANCED COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD SUCH AS THE UNITED STATES
AND THE UK. HE CALLED FOR THE RECONSTITUTION OF THB IRAQI
ARMY I A RE-EXAMINATION OF THE DE-BAQATHIFICATION PROCESS I
ELECTIONS UNDER INTERNATIONAL SUPERVISION AND EXPANDED
CONTACTS BETWEEN CPA AND PARTIES NOT REPRESENTED ON THE
IRAQ GOVERNING COUNCIL ( IGC) . HE AVOIDED DIRECTLY
ANSWERING QUESTIONS CONCERNING HIS EVALUATION OF THE IGC,
THE KURDISH ATTITUDE TOWARD KIRKUK AND HIS PARTYQS ROLE IN
OBTAINING THE RELEASE OF IRAQIS DETAINED BY THE U.S.
MILITARY, BUT HE EXPRESSED CLEAR SUPPORT FOR THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF U.S. MILITARY BASES IN IRAQ AND SAID THE
U.S. POSITION ON THE UNITY OF IRAQ HAS BEEN CONSISTENT AND
CLEAR SINCE THE FIRST GULF WAR. END SUMMARY.

POLITICS BEGINS AT HOME
2. (U) DR. HUSSEIN AL-JIBBOURI, CHAXRMAN OF THE IRAQI
NATIONAL GATHERING (ING) PARTY KICKED OFF THE FIRST IN A
SERIES OF PUBLIC MEETINGS TO PROMOTE HIS PARTY ON FEBRUARY
26, IN HIS HOME VILLAGE OF AL-ALAM, JUST ACROSS THE TIGRIS
RIVER FROM TH:&: CITY OF TIKRIT. HE TOLD IRAQI GOVERNING
COUNCIL (IGC) BEFORE THE SESSION THAT HE INTENDED TO HOLD
SIMILAR MEETINGS IN THE NEAR FUTURE IN MOSUL, KIRKUK,
DIYALA, BAGHDAD, 'RAMADI AND OTHER CITIES WHERE HIS PARTY
HAS, OR WILL SOON ESTABLISH, OFFICES. OVER 500 SHEIKHS AND
OTHER LOCAL LEADERS, AND ORDINARY CITIZENS, INCLUDING A
LARGE NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE -- AND EVEN A FEW WOMEN --
CROWDED THE AL-ALAM YOUTH CENTER TO HEAR THE INGQS MESSAGE.
3. (U) DR. HUSSEIN REVIEWED THE BIRTH OF HIS PARTY IN 1991
AND HIS FLIGHT TO NORTHERN IRAQ FOLLOWING THE FAILED COUP
CARRIED OUT BY SEVERAL OF HIS RELATIVES IN THE REPUBLICAN
PALACE FOLLOWING THE FIRST GULF WAR. HE SAID HIS CONTACTS
WITH KURDISH PARTIES HAD TAUGHT HIM MOCH ABOUT POLITICAL
LIFE, BUT THAT HE HAD DECIDED TO BUILD HIS PARTY ON AN
INCLUSIVE PLATFORM. NOTING THAT MANY IRAQI PARTIES HAD
FO!UtiED ON ETHNIC I RELIGIOUS I OR SECTARIAN BASES I HE
STRESSED THAT HE WANTED TO ATTRACT ALL IRAQIS -- SUNNI,
SHIQA 1 CHRISTIAN, SUFI, ARAB, KURD, TURI<MAN -- TO WORK
TOGETHER ON THE BASIS OF BUILDING THE IRAQI NATION. HE
CALLED THE ING A BIG TENT WHERE THERE WOULD BE ROOM FOR
ALL.
THE ING PLATFORM
4. (U) FOLLOWING DR. HUSSEINQS SPEECH, HI.S POLITICAL
ADVISOR, RAQAD KHATAB 1 OUTLINED THE INGQS POLITICAL
PLATFORM. HE LISTED SIX GOALS:
ESTABLISHMENT OF A BROAD-BASED. DEMOCRACY OF THE PEOPLE;
ENSURING THE UNITY OF IRAQQS LAND AND PEOPLE;
BUILDING THE. ECONOMY ON THE BASIS OF THE PRIMACY OF THE
PRIVATE SECTOR;
ESTABLISHING STRONG 1 BALANCED RELATIONS WITH ALL
NATIONS , WITH PRIMACY GIVEN TO THE ADVANCED COUNTRIES OF
THE. WORLD LIKE THE UNITED STATES AND THE UK;
-- BUILDING A NEW INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FREE FROM

TERRORISM; AND
--.BROAD PARTICIPATION IN THE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY.
KHATAB ALSO SET FORTH EIGHT PROPOSALS:
-- EXPAND THE BASE OF POPULAR PARTICIPATION IN POLITfCAL
PARTIES;
-- CONDUCT GREATER DIALOGUE BETWEEN CPA AND PARTIES NOT
REPRESENTED ON THE IGC;
-- HOLD COMING ELECTIONS ON THE BASIS OF A NATIONAL CENSUS
UNDER INTERNATIONAL SUPERVISION;
-- ACCELERATE T~ REBUILDING OF IRAQ IN ORDER TO PROVIDE
BAGHDAD 00000042 001.2 OF .002
(U) DR. HUSSEIN AL-JIBBOURI, CHAIRMAN OF THE IRAQI
NATIONAL GATHERING PARTY TOLD AN AUDIENCE OF 500 FROM HIS
HOME TOWN OF .AL-ALAM THAT HIS PARTY WELCOMED IRAQIS FROM
ALL ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES, FAVORED THE PRIVATE
SECTOR AS THE BASIS FOR THE IRAQI ECONOMY AND WOULD PURSUE
A FOREIGN POLICY FOCUSED ON STRENGTHENING TIES WITH THE
ADVANCED COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD SUCH AS THE UNITED STATES
AND THE UK. HE CALLED FOR T.HE RECONSTITUTION OF THE IRAQI
ARMY, A RE-EXAMINATION OF THE DE-BAQATHIFICATION PROCESS,
ELECTIONS UNDER INTERNATIONAL SUPERVISION AND EXPANDED
CONTACTS BETWEEN CPA AND PARTIES NOT REPRESENTED ON THE
IRAQ GOVERNING COUNCIL ( IGC) . HE AVOIDED DIRECTLY
ANSWERING QUESTIONS CONCERNING HIS EVALUATION OF THE IGC,
THE KURDISH ATTITUDE TOWARD KIRKUK AND HIS PARTYQS ROLE IN
OBTAINrNG THE RELEASE OF IRAQIS DETAINED BY THE U.S.
MILITARY, BUT HE EXPRESSED CLEAR SUPPORT FOR THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF U.S. MILITARY BASES IN IRAQ AND SAID THE
U.S. POSITION ON THE UNITY OF IRAQ HAS BEEN CONSISTENT AND
CLEAR SINCE THE FIRST GULF WAR. END SUMMARY. ·
POLITICS BEGINS AT HOME
2. (U) DR. HUSSEIN AL-JIBBOURI, CHAIRMAN OF THE IRAQI
NATIONAL GATHERING (ING) PARTY KICKED OFF THE FIRST IN A
SERIES OF PUBLIC MEETINGS TO PROMOTE HIS PARTY·ON FEBRUARY
26, IN HIS HOME VILLAGE OF AL-ALAM, JUST ACROSS THE TIGRIS
RIVER FROM THE CITY OF TIKRIT. HE TOLD IRAQI GOVERNING
COUNCIL (IGC) BEFORE THE SESSION THAT HE INTENDED TO HOLD
SIMILAR MEETINGS IN THE NEAR FUTURE IN MOSUL, KIRKUK,

OilALA, BAGHDAD, RAMADI AND OTHER CITIES WHERE HIS PARTY
HAS, OR WILL SOON ESTABLISH, OFFICES. OVER 500 SHEIKHS AND
OTHER LOCAL LEADERS, AND ORDINARY CITIZENS, INCLUDING A
LARGE NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE --- AND EVEN A. FEW WOMEN --
CROWDED THE AL-ALAM YOUTH CENTER TO HEAR THE INGQS MESSAGE.
3. (U) DR·: -HUSSEIN REVIEWED THE BIRTH ·oF HIS PARTY tN'-1~991
AND HIS FLIGHT TO NORTHE:Em IRAQ FOLLOWING THE FAILED COUP
CARRIED OUT BY SEVERAL OF HIS RELATIVES IN THE REPUBLICAN
PALACE FOLLOWING THE FIRST GULF WAR. HE SAID HIS CONTACTS
WITH KURDISH PARTIES HAD ~AUGHT HIM MUCH ABOUT POLITICAL
LIFE, BUT THAT HE HAD DECIDED TO BUILD HIS PARTY ON AN
INCLUSIVE PLATFO~. NOTING THAT MANY IRAQI PARTIES HAD
FORMED ON ETHNIC, RELIGIOUS, OR SECTARIAN BASES 1 HE
STRESSED THAT HE WANTED TO ATTRACT ALL IRAQIS -- SUNNI 1
SHIQA, CHRISTIAN, SUFI, ARAB, KURD, TURKMAN -- TO WORK
TOGETHER ON THE BASIS OF BUILDING THE IRAQI NATION. HE
CALLED THE lNG A BIG TENT WHERE THERE WOULD BE ROOM FOR
ALL.
THE ING PLATFORM
4. (U) FOLLOWING DR. HUSSEINQS SPEECH, HIS POLITICAL
ADVISOR, RAQAD KHATAB, OUTLINED THE INGQS POLITICAL
PLATFORM. HE LISTED SIX GOALS:
ESTABLISHMENT OF A BROAD-BASED DEMOCRACY OF THE PEOPLE;
ENSURING THE UNITY OF IRAQQS LAND AND PEOPLE;
BUILDING THE ECONOMY ON THE BASIS OF THE PRIMACY OF THE
PRIVATE SECTOR;
ESTABLISHING STRONG, BALANCED RELATIONS WITH ALL
NATIONS, WITH PRIMACY GIVEN TO THE ADVANCED COUNTRIES OF
THE WORLD LIKE THE UNITED STATES AND THE UK;
-- BUILDING A NEW INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FREE FROM
TERRORISM; AND
-- BROAD PARTICIPATION IN THE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY.
KHATAB ALSO SET FORTH EIGHT PROPOSALS:
-- EXPAND THE BASE OF POPULAR PARTICIPATION IN POLITICAL
PARTIES;
-- CONDUCT GREATER DIALOGUE BETWEEN CPA AND PARTIES NOT
REPRESENTED ON THE IGC;

HOLD COMING ELECTIONS ON THE BASIS OF A NATIONAL CENSUS
UNDER INTERNATIONAL SUPERVISION;
-- ACCELERATE THE REBUILDING OF IRAQ IN ORDER TO PROVIDE
BAGHDAD 00000042 .. 002 .1 OF 002 .
RECONSTITUTE THE IRAQI ARMY;
-- RE-EXAMINE THE DE-BAQATHIFICATION PROCESS;
REDUCE THE NUMBER OF NIGHT TIME RAIDS IN DIYALA, SALAH
AD-DIN, KIRKUK, MOSUL, ANBAR AND BAGHDAD, AND USE THE
POLICE TO ROUND UP WANTED PERSONS; AND
-- PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE ING ON AN EQUAL BASIS WITH OTHER
PARTIES.
DODGING SOME QUESTIONS, FACING SOME HARD ISSUES
5. (U) FOLLOWING KHATABQS PRESENTATION, DR.. HUSSEIN TOOK
QUESTIONS FOR NEARLY ONE HOUR. HE DODGED SOME ISSUES, BUT
WAS FORTHRIGHT IN THE FACE OF OTHERS. ASKED ABOUT THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE IGC, HE TOLD THE CROWD HE HAD ECNOWN
MANY OF ITS MEMBERS FOR YEARS, HAVING LIVED AMONG THEM IN
SAUDI ARABIA AND SYRIA. IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION ABOUT
HIS PARTYQS ROLE IN OBTAINING THE RELEASE OF DE~AINEES, HE
REPLIED THAT THE U.S. MILITARY HAD RELEASED ~y DETAINEES
PRIOR TO THE EID. ASKED FOR HIS EVALUATION OF JALAL
TALABANIQS POSITION REGARDING KIRKUK, HE ONLY REPLIED,
QKI:RKUK IS A CITY FOR ALL, A CITY OF PEACE. Q HOWEVER, WHEN
SOMEONE ASKED WHETHER THE U.S. SUPPORTED TALABANIQS KURDISH
NATIONALISM, HE POINTED OUT THAT .THE U.S. HAD FORCEFULLY
AND CONSISTENTLY SUPPORTED THE UNITY AND TERRITORIAL
INTEGRITY OF IRAQ, AND HAD OFTEN REPEATED ITS STANCE SINCE
1991. ON THE ISSUE OF U.S. MILITARY BASES, HE SAID HE
UNDERSTOOD SOME BASES WOULD BE BUILT IN THE SOUTH. HE
ADDED THAT HE STRONGLY SUPPORTED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF U.S.
BASES SINCE THE U.S. HAD BASES IN SEVERAL ADVANCED
COUNTRIES LIKE THE UK, JAPAN AND KOREA. HE ADDED THAT HE
DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE SHOULD REGARD THE ISSUE AS A
SENSITIVE ONE.
6. (U) REGARDING THE COMING TRANSITION TO IRAQI
SOVEREIGNTY, HUSSEIN REVIEWED THE PROPOSAL TO USE CAUCUSES
TO ELECT A TRANSITIONAL NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, NOTING THAT THE·
PROPOSAL HAD NOT RECEIVED SUFFICIENT SUPPORT AND THEREFORE

THE WAY AHEAD WAS UNCLEAR. IN RESPONSE TO A QUERY ABOUT
THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF REFERENCES TO I SLAM IN THE
TRANSITIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE LAW (TAL), HE SAID CPA
ADMINISTRATOR .BREMER HAD SAID THE TAL WOULD BE BASED ON
ISLAM. HE SAID HE WAS OPTIMISTIC THAT IRAQIS WERE PREPARED
FOR DEMOCRACY AND BELIEVED THAT THE ECONOMY WOULD IMPROVE
.. fN THE COMiNG-YltAR AS OfL REVENUES ''c6NTI1WBD TO RE·cowR::
HE ADVOCATED A STRONG ROLE FOR WOMEN IN A NEW IRAQ, NOTING
THAT WOMEN WERE WORKING IN EVERY ING OFFICE •
COMMENT
7. -t&BU) THE ING RALLY HAD MUCH THE SAME FEEL OF SIMILAR
MEETINGS IN MANY DEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES, THOUGH IT LACKED THE
PIZAZZ THAT ACCOMPANIES MOST SUCH GATHERINGS IN THE U.S.
EXPRESSIONS OF SUPPORT FOR HIS MOVEMENT WERE FEW, BUT SO
WERE CRITICISMS .·OF HIS PLATFORM. THE QUESTIONS POSED TO
DR. HUSSEIN REFLECTED THE PRIME CONCERNS OF THE LOCAL
POPULATIONS AND ARE MUCH THE SAME AS WE HEAR IN OUR
MEETINGS. THE UNITY OF IRAQ, AND ESPECIALLY SUSPICION OF
THE KURDS, DOMINATES THE POLITICS OF THIS AREA, AS DOES
DISTRUST OF THE IGC (DUE TO THE LACK OF A SALAH AD-DIN
REPRESENTATIVE, AMONG OTHER THINGS) AND CONCERN OVER
DETAINEES • MANY OF OUR CONTACTS ALSO BELIEVE DISBANDING
THE IRAQI ARMY WAS A MISTAKE AND MOST TELL US THEY BELIEVE
DE-BAQATHIFICATION HAS GONE TOO FAR.
BREMER
BAGHDAD 00000042 002.2 OF 002
RECONSTITUTE THE IRAQI ARMY;
-- RE-EXAMINE THE DE-BAQATHIFICATION PROCESS;
REDUCE THE NUMBER OF NIGHT TIME RAIDS IN DIYALA, SALAH
AD-DIN, KIRKUK, MOSUL, ANBAR AND BAGHDAD, AND USE THE
POLICE TO ROUND UP WANTED PERSONS ; AND
-- PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE ING ON AN EQUAL BASIS. WITH OTHER
PARTIES.
DODGING SOME QUESTIONS, FACING SOME HARD ISSUES
----------------------~------------------------
5. (U) FOLLOWING KHATABQS PRESENTATION, DR. HUSSEIN TOOK
QUESTIONS FOR NEARLY ONE HOUR. HE DODGED SOME ISSUES, BUT
WAS FORTHRIGHT IN THE FACE OF OTHERS. ASKED ABOUT THE

EFFECTIVENESS OF THE IGC, HE TOLD THE CROWD HE HAD KNOWN
MANY OF ITS MEMBERS FOR YEARS, HAVING LIVED AMONG THEM IN
SAUDI ARABIA AND SYRIA. IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION ABOUT
HIS PARTYQS ROLE IN OBTAINING THE RELEASE OF DETAINEES, HE
REPLIED THAT THE U.S. MILITARY HAD RELEASED MANY DETAINEES
PRIOR TO THE EID. ASKED FOR HIS EVALUATION OF JALAL
I · TALABANIQS :PoSfTfo:N :REGARDING i<:IRKi.JK, HE · o:NtY· REPLIED ; ·. "
QKIRKUK IS A CITY FOR ALL, A CITY OF PEACE . Q HOWEVER, WHEN
SOMEONE ASKED WHETHER THE U.S. SUPPORTED TALABANIQS KURDISH
NATIONALISM, HE POINTED OUT THAT THE U.S. HAD FORCEFULLY
AND CONSISTENTLY SUPPORTED THE UNITY AND TERRITORIAL
INTEGRITY OF IRAQ, AND HAD OFTEN REPEATED ITS STANCE SINCE
1991. ON THE ISSUE OF U.S. MILITARY BASES, HE SAID HE
UNDERSTOOD SOME BASES WOULD BE BUILT IN THE SOUTH. HE
ADDED THAT HE STRONGLY SUPPORTED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF U.S.
BASES SINCE THE U.S. HAD BASES IN SEVERAL ADVANCED
COUNTRIES LIKE THE UK, JAPAN AND KOREA. HE ADDED THAT HE
DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE SHOULD REGARD THE ISSUE AS A
SENSITIVE ONE.
6. (U) REGAIU)ING THE COMING TRANSITION TO IRAQI
SOVEREIGNTY, HUSSEIN REVIEWED THE PROPOSAL TO USE CAUCUSES
TO ELECT A TRANSITIONAL NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, NOTING THAT THE
PROPOSAL HAD NOT RECEIVED SUFFICIENT SUPPORT AND THEREFORE
THE WAY AHEAD WAS UNCLEAR. IN RESPONSE TO A QUERY ABOUT
THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF REFERENCES TO ISLAM IN THE
TRANSITIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE LAW (TAL) , HE SAID CPA
ADMINISTRATOR BREMER HAD SAID THE TAL WOULD BE BASED ON
ISLAM. HE SAID HE WAS OPTIMISTIC THAT IRAQIS WERE PREPARED
FOR DEMOCRACY AND BELIEVED THAT THE ECONOMY WOULD IMPROVE
IN THE COMING YEAR AS OIL REVENUES· CONTINUED. TO RECOVER.
HE ADVOCATED A STRONG ROLE FOR WOMEN IN A NEW IRAQ, NOTING
THAT WOMEN WERE WORKING IN EVERY ING OFFICE.
COMMENT
7. i'MKJ) THE ING RALLY HAD MUCH THE SAME FEEL OF SIMILAR
MEETINGS IN MANY DEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES, THOUGH IT LACKED THE
PIZAZZ THAT ACCOMPANIES MOST SUCH GATHERINGS IN THE U.S.
EXPRESSIONS OF SUPPORT FO:E't HIS MOVEMENT WERE FEW, BUT SO
WERE CRITICISMS OF HIS PLATFORM. THE QUESTIONS POSED TO
DR. HUSSEIN REFLECTED THE . PRIME CONCERNS OF THE LOCAL
POPULATIONS AND ARE MUCH THE SAME AS WE HEAR IN OUR
MEETINGS. THE UNITY OF IRAQ, AND ESPECIALLY SUSPICION OF
THE KURDS, DOMINATES THE POLITICS OF THIS AREA, AS DOES
DISTRUST OF THE IGC (DUE TO THE LACK OF A SALAH AD-DIN
REPRESENTATIVE, AMONG OTHER THINGS) AND CONCERN OVER
DETAINEES. MANY OF OUR CONTACTS ALSO BELIEVE DISBANDING
THE IRAQI ARMY WAS A MISTAKE AND MOST TELL OS THEY BELIEVE

DE-BAQATHIFICATION HAS GONE TOO FAR.
BREMER
NNNN