SUNNI OUTREACH: AMB CONVEYS U.S. VISION OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 000071

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/08/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINS PTER PINR KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: SUNNI OUTREACH: AMB CONVEYS U.S. VISION OF
NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT


Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: On January 7, Ambassador Khalilzad outlined
suggested principles for the new Iraqi government during
meetings with two Sunni sheikhs recommended to the Ambassador
by Lakhdar Brahimi, former Special Advisor to UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan. The Ambassador underlined the

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importance of starting to address polarization in Iraqi
society and of finding competent persons from across Iraq's
communities to manage top government positions. One sheikh,
who claimed connections with the insurgency, was more
interested in discussing the withdrawal of MNF-I than the
formation of the new government. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) The Ambassador first met with Sheikh Dahran Hawaz
al-Sadid, General Secretary of the Arab Democratic Party and
member of Saleh Mutlaq's National Dialogue Council. The
Ambassador outlined suggested main principles for the
National Unity Government:

--A National Unity Government is important to decrease
sectarian polarization and increase confidence among all
Iraqis.

--Only competent government officials must lead in this
pivotal time.

--The new ministers for MOD and MOI should be non-sectarian
and free of ties to any militia.

--The government's three main functions -- security,
services, and the economy -- require cross-sectarian and
cross-ethnic leadership.


3. (C) Sheikh al-Sadid told the Ambassador the "best of the
bad" candidates for the next Prime Minister is Ayad Allawi.
Sadid claimed Prime Minister Ja'afari's government -- and by
association, Vice President Adel Abd al-Mehdi -- had lost the
confidence of the Iraqi street.


4. (C) In a separate meeting, Sheikh Khamis Hawaz al-Sidig, a
former Iraqi Army Major General from Hillah, offered to
submit names of suggested candidates for the top ministerial
positions.


5. (C) Sidig, who claims to be close to the insurgents,
seemed more concerned about the withdrawal of MNF-I than
about formation of the new government. He told the
Ambassador much of the insurgent violence is perpetrated by
unemployed former Iraqi Army soldiers. Sidig said the
insurgents want a timetable for withdrawal of MNF-I but do
not want a quick withdrawal.


6. (C) The Ambassador explained MNF-I does not have a
timetable for withdrawal but plans to draw down troops
gradually as Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) gain competence. He
recommended Sidig explain to insurgents that violence is not
the answer, and the future of Iraq depends on good governance
and respect for the ISF. Sidig suggested MNF-I withdraw from
one small area for two weeks to see if violence would
decrease, as he predicted. The Ambassador said that he would
discuss his proposal with GEN Casey.


7. (SBU) Biographic information: Sheikh Khamis Hawaz al-Sidig
has lived in Hillah since 1978. His father is from the
United Arab Emirates. He is a member of the Shamar tribe.


8. (C) Sheikh Dahran Hawaz al-Sadid, also from the Shamar
tribe, is the General Secretary of the Arab Democratic Party.
He is likely to be a member of the Council of
Representatives. His party holds six of the ten seats won by
Saleh Mutlaq's National Dialogue Council.
KHALILZAD