Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BAGHDAD3249
2009-12-16 14:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
RECOMMENDATION FOR VPOTUS INVITATION TO IRAQ VP
how-toVZCZCXYZ0006 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHGB #3249 3501436 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 161436Z DEC 09 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5777 RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003249
SIPDIS
WHITE HOUSE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT (H.MUSTAFA)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/16/2019
TAGS: PGOV IZ
SUBJECT: RECOMMENDATION FOR VPOTUS INVITATION TO IRAQ VP
AL-MAHDI
Classified By: Ambassador Christopher R. Hill for Reasons 1.4 (b, d)
(C) Post understands that VPOTUS, as part of his efforts to
help resolve Iraq's recent election law crisis, extended an
invitation to Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi to visit
Washington in the near future. We strongly recommend that
VPOTUS issue a similar invitation to Iraq's other
vice-president, Adil Abd al-Mahdi, who played a much more
helpful role during the election law struggle, for two
primary reasons. First, inviting only one of Iraq's
vice-presidents could raise objections and charges of
favoritism by important Shia officials, particularly in
al-Mahdi's political party, the Islamic Supreme Council of
Iraq (ISCI). Second, al-Mahdi is perhaps the leading
candidate for the position of Prime Minister in the next
government if the Iraqi National Alliance, of which ISCI is
a major part, captures a plurality of votes in the March
national elections. At the very least, al-Mahdi will
continue to be a major figure in Iraqi politics; a visit by
him to Washington would well serve enduring U.S. interests in
Iraq.
HILL
SIPDIS
WHITE HOUSE FOR THE OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT (H.MUSTAFA)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/16/2019
TAGS: PGOV IZ
SUBJECT: RECOMMENDATION FOR VPOTUS INVITATION TO IRAQ VP
AL-MAHDI
Classified By: Ambassador Christopher R. Hill for Reasons 1.4 (b, d)
(C) Post understands that VPOTUS, as part of his efforts to
help resolve Iraq's recent election law crisis, extended an
invitation to Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi to visit
Washington in the near future. We strongly recommend that
VPOTUS issue a similar invitation to Iraq's other
vice-president, Adil Abd al-Mahdi, who played a much more
helpful role during the election law struggle, for two
primary reasons. First, inviting only one of Iraq's
vice-presidents could raise objections and charges of
favoritism by important Shia officials, particularly in
al-Mahdi's political party, the Islamic Supreme Council of
Iraq (ISCI). Second, al-Mahdi is perhaps the leading
candidate for the position of Prime Minister in the next
government if the Iraqi National Alliance, of which ISCI is
a major part, captures a plurality of votes in the March
national elections. At the very least, al-Mahdi will
continue to be a major figure in Iraqi politics; a visit by
him to Washington would well serve enduring U.S. interests in
Iraq.
HILL