White House memo doubts Iraqi PM's ability to control violence: report

Washington - A White House memo written by US national security adviser Stephen Hadley raises doubts about Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's ability to control sectarian violence, the New York Times reported Wednesday, citing the document.

The memo was published as US President George W. Bush heads to Jordan for meetings with Maliki and Jordan's King Abdullah II.

The five-page secret memo, dated November 8, recommends that Washington take new steps to strengthen Maliki, the Times reports.

If Maliki fails to carry out specified steps, Washington may press him to reconfigure his support in parliament, which US officials could encourage by providing "monetary support to moderate groups" and by sending thousands more US troops to Baghdad, the memo reads.

Maliki currently relies on parliamentary support from radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, whose Mahdi Army militia is blamed for participating in sectarian violence.

Hadley wrote the memo after meeting with Maliki in Baghdad on October 30, the Times reported.

The chief aim of the memo "is to support Maliki and enhance his capabilities", said White House spokesman Tony Snow, traveling with the US president.

The document "summarized the incredible complexity of the situation, and noted the significant efforts the still-young Maliki government have made to date.

"We remain committed to helping the Maliki government achieve its political, economic, diplomatic and security goals. Our objectives, and our desire to help Maliki, have not changed," said Snow.

The memo, according to the Times, states that Maliki's "intentions seem good when he talks with Americans, and sensitive reporting suggests he is trying to stand up to the Shia hierarchy and force positive change.

"But the reality on the streets of Baghdad suggests Maliki is either ignorant of what is going on, misrepresenting his intentions, or that his capabilities are not yet sufficient to turn his good intentions into action."

"We returned from Iraq convinced we need to determine if Prime Minister Maliki is both willing and able to rise above the sectarian agendas being promoted by others," reads the memo, according to the Times.

"Do we and Prime Minister Maliki share the same vision for Iraq? If so, is he able to curb those who seek Shia hegemony or the reassertion of Sunni power? The answers to these questions are key in determining whether we have the right strategy in Iraq."

The memo has nothing suggesting US officials want to replace Maliki, the Times reports.

Agence France Presse