JAFARI PLEDGES MORE SUNNI DIALOGUE, SAYS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002349

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NOFORN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2015
TAGS: OVIP PREL PGOV IZ
SUBJECT: JAFARI PLEDGES MORE SUNNI DIALOGUE, SAYS
INSURGENCY APPEARS ISOLATED, DESPERATE


Classified By: Classified by David M. Satterfield, Charge d'Affaires, f

or reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C/NF) Summary: During a May 19 meeting with Prime
Minister Jafari, the Deputy Secretary highlighted the need
for an integrated strategy (political, economic, and
security) to defeat the insurgency. As part of that
strategy, he emphasized the need for inclusiveness and the
importance of sticking to the constitutional schedule. He
urged Iraqi political and religious leaders to take a firm,
united stand against the sectarian violence spurred by the
Zarqawi network. He advised Jafari to prepare a plan
reflecting the ITG,s top economic priorities in advance of
the June 22 Brussels Conference. Jafari informed the Deputy
Secretary of the formation of a new ministerial committee to

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support the constitution drafting process and incorporate
Sunnis into the process. He also outlined his cabinet's
efforts to isolate the insurgency and bolster public
confidence in the government. End summary.

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Including Sunnis in Constitution Drafting
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2. (C/NF) In a May 19 meeting with Prime Minister Ibrahim
Jafari in Baghdad, Deputy Secretary Zoellick reviewed the
need for a three-pronged strategy ) political,
economic/reconstruction, and security ) to defeat the
insurgency. Jafari agreed. With respect to political
strategy, Jafari acknowledged that the composition of the
National Assembly (TNA) does not accurately reflect the
demographic reality of Iraq. The TNA,s 55-member
constitutional committee is similarly skewed. To redress
this imbalance, Jafari announced he will head a new
eight-minister committee, including five notable Sunnis, that
will "assist" Parliament's constitutional committee. Jafari
said the real purpose of the ministerial committee is to
ensure that Sunni voices are represented in the
constitutional drafting process. The Deputy Secretary
pointed out that increased public inclusion in the
constitutional process can counter insurgent efforts to
exploit divisions in Iraqi society. The Deputy Secretary
urged that Iraqi religious and political leaders stand
together and condemn sectarian violence and its architects,
especially Zarqawi.

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Readying an Economic Plan
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3. (C/NF) The Deputy Secretary observed that June will be an
important month for Iraq on the economic front. The
International Monetary Fund's (IMF) review, the upcoming
Brussels Conference, and the Joint Economic Committee, all
present opportunities to further Iraq's reconstruction. He
suggested the ITG develop a short-term plan based on a small
number of economic priorities, which the ITG could then
present to donors at the Brussels Conference. Noting
Minister of Planning Barham Salih,s excellent international
reputation, the Deputy Secretary observed that both Salih and
Finance Minister Allawi could play significant roles in
explaining Iraq's plan to donor countries. The Deputy
Secretary outlined USG priorities for reconstruction

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assistance, such as rehabilitation of Iraq,s electrical
system (with an eventual transition to natural gas as the key
fuel for electricity generation),creation of agricultural
sector jobs, completion of water and sanitation projects, and
promotion of small businesses through mirco-loans.


4. (C/NF) Jafari agreed with the need for a focused economic
plan, saying that public opinion polls show that security and
the delivery of essential services remain the top concerns of
ordinary Iraqis. He said Salih and Allawi will work with his
office in leading the review and analysis of proposals for an
economic plan. According to Jafari, his economic team would
focus on ensuring the most disadvantaged areas of the country
receive the largest portion of aid resources. Provincial
governments will be an integral part of the process of
allocating resources and will be responsible for
implementation and oversight of programs. He said this
decentralized approach would strengthen the administrative
and political relations between Baghdad and the provinces.

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How to Isolate Sunni Extremists
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5. (C/NF) With regard to stemming the rise in sectarian
violence, Jafari explained that there is a distorted view of
the relative strength of the insurgency. He said while acts
of violence appear to be on the rise, the random,
undisciplined nature of the attacks on Iraq,s citizenry
suggests that the insurgents are desperate and isolated.
Jafari added that as the insurgents sense progress in the
political sphere, they face increased pressure from within
their circles to commit acts of terrorism. Jafari also noted
that the process of Sunni engagement continues. He recently
met with Sunni leaders from Ramadi and was preparing to visit
Fallujah. He also promoted the idea of releasing a select
group of Sunni clerics and detainees (not yet charged with
crimes) held by the ISF and MNF-I as a gesture of good will
by the Iraqi government. He agreed that the ITG must speak
with a unified voice and stress to the public that Zarqawi is
not an Iraqi, but an evil foreign terrorist. The Deputy
Secretary affirmed that the U.S. remains fully committed to

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training the Iraqi Security Forces and engaging in joint
planning operations, and stressed the need to avoid any
surprises in the U.S.-ITG security relationship.


6. (C/NF) The Deputy Secretary observed that some U.S.
military commanders had been approached by extremist elements
in west Anbar seeking further discussions with U.S. and Iraqi
leaders; he asked how Jafari viewed such overtures. Jafari
firmly replied that the government is ready to talk. Jafari
then recounted recent positive signals he had received from
the Syrian MFA. The Deputy Secretary pointed out that these
new intimations of Syrian interest in engaging the Iraqi
leadership were evidence that the international pressure on
Damascus was working. The Deputy Secretary encouraged the
Prime Minister to make clear that Syria should not interfere
in Iraq,s internal affairs and should do more to control the
border. The Deputy Secretary urged Jafari to push Syrian
President Asad hard on these issues and remind him that Iraq
would not remain in its weakened state for long ) and would
not forget Syria,s unhelpful behavior. Jafari agreed.


7. (U) REO HILLA, REO BASRA, REO MOSUL, and REO KIRKUK,
minimize considered.

Jeffrey