NEW WAY FORWARD ON IRAQ -- OMAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L MUSCAT 000435 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR PM/RSAT, NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/2017 TAGS: MARR MAPS MOPS PREL PTER IZ MU SUBJECT: NEW WAY FORWARD ON IRAQ -- OMAN REF: A. STATE 54925 ¶B. MUSCAT 414 Classified By: Ambassador Gary A. Grappo for Reasons 1.4 (b, d) (C) Oman remains very concerned about instability and sectarian violence in Iraq, which it fears could spread elsewhere in the region. In response to our requests, Oman has heightened its engagement with the Iraqi government, including by hosting the recent visit of Iraqi PM al-Maliki (ref B). During this visit, however, Maliki did not request any Omani assistance, and the Omanis volunteered none. Moreover, senior Omani officials continue to assert that additional military action in Iraq will not quell the insurgency unless the Iraqi government does more to promote political reconciliation. Given this context and Oman's traditional reluctance to become involved in foreign conflicts (particularly independent of its GCC partners), post does not believe that the Omani government would be willing to contribute troops or other direct support to further the President's new strategy in Iraq. GRAPPO