Cablegate: Expat Shi'a Deliver Thank-You for Iraq Liberation

null
Diana T Fritz 05/24/2007 04:07:03 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results

Cable
Text:

UNCLASSIFIED

SIPDIS
TELEGRAM May 20, 2003

To: No Action Addressee

Action: Unknown

From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 2404 - PRIORITY)

TAGS: PREL, PGOV

Captions: None

Subject: EXPAT SHI'A DELIVER THANK-YOU FOR IRAQ LIBERATION

Ref: None
_________________________________________________________________
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 02404

SIPDIS
CXABU:
ACTION: POL
INFO: RSO P/M AMB DCM ECON

DISSEMINATION: POL
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: CDA:RAALBRIGHT
DRAFTED: A/DCM:TEWILLIAMS
CLEARED: NONE

VZCZCADI851
PP RUEHC RUCNRAQ RUEHDI RUEKJCS RHEFDIA
DE RUEHAD #2404 1400952
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 200952Z MAY 03
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0006
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RUEHDI/AMCONSUL DUBAI 3144
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//OSD-NESA//
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 002404

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ TC
SUBJECT: EXPAT SHI'A DELIVER THANK-YOU FOR IRAQ LIBERATION

1. Two expat Iraqi Shi'a professionals (both long resident in
the UAE) called on A/DCM May 19 to deliver a letter of thanks
from their community here for the liberation of Iraq. 84 self-
styled "Iraqi Shi'a intellectuals" (mostly doctors and engineers)
signed a letter (text in para three) expressing their
appreciation for the ouster of Saddam and calling for the U.S. to
remain in Iraq as long as necessary to establish a democratic
government. In presenting their letter/petition, the two doctors
(one an orthodontist, the other a psychiatrist) said they have
been deeply disturbed by television images of angry Iraqi Shi'a
demonstrating against the U.S. presence, which they felt did not
represent the true feelings of the Iraqi Shi'a community. They
said that the expat Shi'a community in the UAE strongly supports
a democratic government with a clear separation of mosque and
state -- which they argued would be the most appropriate form of
government for historically secular Iraq. A/DCM thanked the two
Iraqi doctors for their letter and agreed to stay in touch
regarding matters of concern to their community.

2. Begin text:

April 28, 2003

Her Excellency the American Ambassador in the UAE

Dear Ms. Ambassador

We the Iraqi Shi'a intellectuals in Abu Dhabi and the rest of the
Emirates wish to express our views regarding the current events
in our country.

We begin by conveying our high appreciation through your
Excellency to the American administration and the American people
for having helped the Iraqi people to demolish the cruel and
corrupted regime of Saddam Hussein. Further more, we think that
the continued support of coalition forces is crucial until the
establishment of a democratically elected permanent government.

We highly respect the sacrifices made by the American and
coalition forces. Were it not for their action, the criminal
regime would have continued to preside over Iraq for decades to
come destroying Iraqi society, its values and norms while robbing
the people of their country's wealth.

In spite of our respect for the Shi'a clergymen in Iraq, some of
them are not representing our views. We are not in agreement
with their political opinions concerning the American government
and the future of Iraq.

We believe that after long years of suffering under tyranny and
dictatorship, Iraqis deserve a free democratic country reflecting
the entire Iraqi mosaic. In this regard we seek your help in
preventing some countries, Arab and non-Arab alike, from
interfering with the process of building the future of Iraq and
its democracy.

Thank you with best regards.

Yours,

The Undersigned

End text.

Albright

© Scoop Media