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