MODERATING SUNNI ISLAMIST SENTIMENT: JORDAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 009911 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/27/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER KDEM IZ JO SUBJECT: MODERATING SUNNI ISLAMIST SENTIMENT: JORDAN REF: STATE 231032 Classified By: Ambassador David Hale, reasons 1.4 b and d ¶1. (C) Ambassador made reftel points in separate meetings with King Abdullah II and FM Abdelelah Al-Khatib December 26. Both agreed the U.S. and Jordan should work with those inside and outside Iraq who might be able to move Sunni Arabs toward continuing engagement in the political process. The King said Jordan would urge its contacts among Sunni Arabs in Iraq to &lower the temperature8 on their complaints about the election, and withhold judgment until the IECI had investigated their charges. ¶2. (U) Dimai Haddad, Khatib,s private office director, told polcouns that Jordan,s public stance would be to urge the inclusion of all elements of Iraqi society in the political process. ¶3. (SBU) Amman,s Public Diplomacy section is working to place with local newspapers an op-ed piece by the Ambassador that points to the progress represented by the continuing political process in Iraq. Hale