Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KABUL2548
2008-09-17 12:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:
IEC PRESIDENT ON THE TALIBAN AND ELECTIONS
how-toVZCZCXRO4756 PP RUEHPW DE RUEHBUL #2548 2611222 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 171222Z SEP 08 FM AMEMBASSY KABUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5557 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 002548
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, S/CRS
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
NSC FOR JWOOD
OSD FOR MCGRAW
CG CJTF-101, POLAD, JICCENT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2018
TAGS: KDEM PGOV AF
SUBJECT: IEC PRESIDENT ON THE TALIBAN AND ELECTIONS
REF: KABUL 2416
Classified By: Political Counselor Alan Yu; 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 002548
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, S/CRS
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
NSC FOR JWOOD
OSD FOR MCGRAW
CG CJTF-101, POLAD, JICCENT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2018
TAGS: KDEM PGOV AF
SUBJECT: IEC PRESIDENT ON THE TALIBAN AND ELECTIONS
REF: KABUL 2416
Classified By: Political Counselor Alan Yu; 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C NF) Dr. Azizullah Lodin, president of the Independent
Elections Commission (IEC),on September 16 told PolCons that
he has met several times with different Taliban elements over
the past month, including as recently as September 15. These
particular Taliban want to change their association from the
Taliban to the government, but feel they need government
security guarantees. If these groups leave the Taliban, Lodin
explained, the Taliban will kill them. If they remain with
the Taliban, the international coalition forces and the
Afghan National ARMY will kill them. Lodin told these groups
(none of whom spoke for senior Taliban leadership) that he
will try to broker a meeting with President Karzai after the
Eid holiday. "I have been friends with Karzai for thirty
years," Lodin said.
2. (C NF) These meetings, Lodin hinted, are the background
for his remarks at the September 11 IEC press conference,
where he answered a journalist's question by saying the
Taliban, including Mullah Omar, are welcome to participate as
candidates in the elections as long as constitutional and
election law requirements are met. The Ministry of Interior
tells Lodin that the Taliban are now targeting government
officials. Lodin says he has privately told Taliban leaders
to stand back and "let the people go" to register and vote in
the elections. Still, Lodin repeated that his chief concern
about elections is that security will deter voter
participation. "I think the people will not have the
courage," he said.
3. (C NF) Lodin believes he must combine this "honesty"
with "optimism" in his role as IEC president. He said he
refuses to consider postponing elections, and cited Abraham
Lincoln's stance during the U.S. Civil War as his model. Like
other interlocutors, Lodin noted corruption, unmet
expectations, and the "weakness" of the government -
particularly as tied to coalition force civilian casualties -
as principal election issues. For himself, he "is still a
mujahid," and wants to see a new, strong, albeit democratic,
leader for the future.
WOOD
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/FO, SCA/A, S/CRS
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
NSC FOR JWOOD
OSD FOR MCGRAW
CG CJTF-101, POLAD, JICCENT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2018
TAGS: KDEM PGOV AF
SUBJECT: IEC PRESIDENT ON THE TALIBAN AND ELECTIONS
REF: KABUL 2416
Classified By: Political Counselor Alan Yu; 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C NF) Dr. Azizullah Lodin, president of the Independent
Elections Commission (IEC),on September 16 told PolCons that
he has met several times with different Taliban elements over
the past month, including as recently as September 15. These
particular Taliban want to change their association from the
Taliban to the government, but feel they need government
security guarantees. If these groups leave the Taliban, Lodin
explained, the Taliban will kill them. If they remain with
the Taliban, the international coalition forces and the
Afghan National ARMY will kill them. Lodin told these groups
(none of whom spoke for senior Taliban leadership) that he
will try to broker a meeting with President Karzai after the
Eid holiday. "I have been friends with Karzai for thirty
years," Lodin said.
2. (C NF) These meetings, Lodin hinted, are the background
for his remarks at the September 11 IEC press conference,
where he answered a journalist's question by saying the
Taliban, including Mullah Omar, are welcome to participate as
candidates in the elections as long as constitutional and
election law requirements are met. The Ministry of Interior
tells Lodin that the Taliban are now targeting government
officials. Lodin says he has privately told Taliban leaders
to stand back and "let the people go" to register and vote in
the elections. Still, Lodin repeated that his chief concern
about elections is that security will deter voter
participation. "I think the people will not have the
courage," he said.
3. (C NF) Lodin believes he must combine this "honesty"
with "optimism" in his role as IEC president. He said he
refuses to consider postponing elections, and cited Abraham
Lincoln's stance during the U.S. Civil War as his model. Like
other interlocutors, Lodin noted corruption, unmet
expectations, and the "weakness" of the government -
particularly as tied to coalition force civilian casualties -
as principal election issues. For himself, he "is still a
mujahid," and wants to see a new, strong, albeit democratic,
leader for the future.
WOOD