Iraq Slogger's Eason Jordon emails saying he put the question to Rubaie directly. Considering this was Rubaie's opportunity to put the nearly month-old matter to rest that, folks, is a de facto confirmation of authenticity.
Alphabet city's February 16, coverage of the letter is here.
In the letter, marked "Secret, Personal, and Urgent", Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Malki, following consultations with his National Security Adviser Mowaffak al-Rubaie and cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, decides to "hide the leadership of the jaysh al-mahdi (al-Mahdi Army)" in Iran "to prevent them from being arrested or killed at the hands of American forces." The leadership figures, whose names are attached to the letter, are said by Maliki to be connected with Iranian Revolutionary Guard. The prime minister says, "all administrative and security issues regarding the transfer of the leadership have been completed" and that he expects the transfer to be "executed." Copies of the letter are to be forwarded to the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Baghdad, the leadership of the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), and the office of the sayyid martyr al-Sadr. The prime minister instructs the three to "please advise." The letter is dated 14 January 2007, and is signed by the prime minister.
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[Retired USAF intelligence officer Lt. Col. Rick Francona's translation follows]
In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
Republic of Iraq Office of the Prime Minister
Number: 147/3/3/Q Date: 14/1/ 2007
Secret, Personal, and Urgent
Based on the telephone conversation with His Excellency Muqtada al-Sadr (God bless), and on consultations between myself and the honorable Dr. Muwafaq al-Rabi'i, and to maintain our great accomplishments, and the present conditions, we would like to hide the leadership of the jaysh al-mahdi (al-Mahdi Army), those top leaders connected with Iranian Revolutionary Guard organization – names attached - to prevent them from being arrested or killed at the hands of American forces, for a temporary period of time. It is preferable to send them to Iran until the crisis abates. Likewise, it is preferable to send the second level leadership to the southern governorates, bearing in mind that there are numerous attempts to convince the Americans to maintain the situation as is. All administrative and security issues regarding the transfer of the leadership have been completed.
We expect the execution, please advise.
Regards.
Attached names:
1. 'Abbas al-Kufi 2. 'Amr Muhaysin Khawajah 3. Salim Husayn 4. Azhar al-Maliki 5. Shaykh Farhan al-Sa'idi (al-Najaf) 6. Sayyid Fadil al-Shari'a (consultant to the prime minister) 7. Sayyid Riyadh al-Nuri (al-Najaf) 8. 'Ali Al-Fartusi 9. Haydar al-'Araji 10. Ahmad al-Darajji. 11. 'Amr al-Sa'idi
Copy to:
1. Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran - Baghdad 2. Leadership of the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq 3. Office of the sayyid martyr al-Sadr, (God bless)
