TEXT FOR MG DARWISH FROM AMB KHALILZAD

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 004826 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2015 TAGS: PREL PTER AEMR IZ SUBJECT: TEXT FOR MG DARWISH FROM AMB KHALILZAD REF: ABU DHABI 4815 Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) This is an action request. Please see para 3. ¶2. (C) During a November 23 visit to Abu Dhabi, Ambassador Khalilzad discussed the desirability of engaging Iraqi cleric Dr. Ahmad 'Ubad Abdallah Al Kubaysi in support of the political process in Iraq (reftel). Major General Atiqu Juma Ali bin Darwish agreed to work on engaging Kubaysi as well. ¶3. (C) Embassy Baghdad requests that the following text please be forwarded to MG Darwish: BEGIN TEXT We would appreciate your influence to urge Dr. Kubaysi to issue a statement (fatwa) before the December 15 election that does the following: -- Encourages Sunni Arab participation in the ongoing political process in Iraq; -- Encourages Sunni Arabs to vote in the December 15 National Assembly elections; and -- Encourages an end to violence in Iraq, beginning with the election period. Further, we would appreciate your urging Dr. Kubaysi to consider issuing a fatwa after the election that would declare the insurgency "unlawful." END TEXT. KHALILZAD