US embassy cable - 05AMMAN7211

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 AMMAN 007211 
 
SIPDIS 
 
ECA/PE/V/R/N (SABED-KOTOB, EDIGGINS); NEA/PPD (DBENZE); 
NEA/ARN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OEXC SCUL JO 
SUBJECT: FY-05 RP: "PROMOTING INTERFAITH DIALOGUE," NOVEMBER 
21 - DECEMBER 10, 2005 
 
1.  THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS SECTION IN IRAQ NOMINATES THREE 
PARTICIPANTS FOR SUBJECT PROGRAM. 
 
2. MR.DALUZ A. MOHAMMED, MR.MAJID I. MOHAMED, AND MR. MUNIR 
H. KHUDAIR HAVE RECEIVED COUNTRY TEAM APPROVAL FOR THEIR 
PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM. 
 
3. START FIXED-FORMAT TEXT (PLEASE DO NOT EDIT): 
: THE FOLLOWING DATA IS IN A FIXED FORMAT WHICH ENABLES 
: AUTOMATED PROCESSING IN WASHINGTON AND SHOULD NOT BE 
: EDITED EXCEPT BY MEANS OF THE POST-EVDB SOFTWARE. 
EXPORT-SOURCE: POST-EVDB 
VERSION: 3.0.7 
POST-EMAIL: ALDADAWM@STATE.GOV 
TRANSMITTING-POST: PAS AMMAN 
TRANSMITTING-POST-ID: 2887 
EXPORT-TYPE: BIO DATA 
START NOMINATION: 
ECA-OFFICE: E/VGN 
PROG-AGENCY-NAME: 
POST-PROJ-ID: 270 
ECA-PROJ-NO: E/VGN-2006-0013 
PROJ-NAME: PROMOTING INTERFAITH DIALOGUE / IRAQ 
START MEMO PROJ-DESC: 
 
END MEMO PROJ-DESC: 
PROJ-TYPE: REGIONAL 
PROG-TYPE: IV GRANT VISITOR 
FY: 2005 
DEPART-POST: 11/19/2005 
SESSION-DATE: 11/21/2005 
RETURN-POST: 12/10/2005 
NO-OF-PART: 3 
RANK-ORDER: 0 
START MEMO POST-OBJ: 
 
END MEMO POST-OBJ: 
START MEMO POST-RCMD: 
 
END MEMO POST-RCMD: 
ECA-OFFICE-ID: 1039 
PROG-AGENCY-ID: 
PROJ-TYPE-ID: RP 
PROG-TYPE-ID: 29 
NOMINATING-POST-ID: 2887 
FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 
STATUS: N 
ORIGINATOR: U 
SUBJ-DISC: 
START BIO: 
PREFIX: MR. 
F-NAME: MAJID 
M-NAME: I. 
L-NAME: MOHAMED 
SUFFIX: 
POSITION-CODE: 350 
PRINCIPAL: YES 
GENDER: M 
DOB: 06/21/1960 
MAR-STAT: 
BIRTH-CITY: BAGHDAD 
BIRTH-CNTRY: IRAQ 
CITIZ-CNTRY: IRAQ 
RES-CNTRY: IRAQ 
START MEMO POSITION: 
IMAM OF THE "GRAND MOSQUE," SULAIMANIYA, IRAQ, PAST MANY 
YEARS 
END MEMO POSITION: 
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
 
END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
 
END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
NONE 
END MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
JORDAN 
END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO EDUCATION: 
BA, ISLAMIC SCIENCE AND HISTORY, ISLAMABAD, LAHOOR, 
PAKISTAN, 1992-1996 
END MEMO EDUCATION: 
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
NONE 
END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
NONE 
END MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
NO PORK 
NO ALCOHOL 
END MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
FIRST-LANG: KURDISH 
ENGL-READ: 3 
ENGL-SPEAK: 3 
ENGL-COMP: 3 
START OTHER-LANGS: 
OTHER-LANG: ARABIC 
OTHER-LANG-ID: AR 
READ: 0 
SPEAK: 0 
COMP: 0 
END OTHER-LANGS: 
START OTHER-LANGS: 
OTHER-LANG: URDU 
OTHER-LANG-ID: UR 
READ: 0 
SPEAK: 0 
COMP: 0 
END OTHER-LANGS: 
START OTHER-LANGS: 
OTHER-LANG: FARSI 
OTHER-LANG-ID: FI 
READ: 0 
SPEAK: 0 
COMP: 0 
END OTHER-LANGS: 
START MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
 
END MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
START MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
 
END MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
START MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
 
END MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
START MEMO VIS-REC: 
 
END MEMO VIS-REC: 
NOMINATING-OFFICER: BILL GRANT, GC, CPA SULAIMANIYA 
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
SHEIK MAJID IS ONE OF THE CHIEF CLERICS IN SULAIMANIYA AND 
FORMERLY HELD ELECTED POSITIONS IN SULAIMANIYA; HE GAVE UP 
THESE POSITIONS BECAUSE HE FELT THEY WERE TOO POLITICIZED 
AND HE WANTED TO REMAIN INDEPENDENT. SHEIK MAJID HOLDS A 
VERY PRO-COALITION VIEWPOINT AND PREACHES ABOUT THE FUTURE 
OF THE "NEW IRAQ" TO HIS HUNDREDS OF FOLLOWERS. INFLUENTIAL, 
INTELLIGENT, AND RELATIVELY YOUNG AMONG THE RELIGIOUS 
LEADERS OF THE COMMUNITY, SHEIK MAJID IS A GREAT CANDIDATE 
FOR AN IV PROGRAM. 
 
 
END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
NOM-OFF: IRAQ-SULAIMANIYA 
SPEAKER: NO 
NOTIFY-EMB: NO 
MEDIA: NO 
HOME-STAY: NO 
HOME-HOSP: YES 
E-I-TYPE: INTERPRETER 
NOMINEE-ID: 443 
PERSON-ID: 445 
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID: IZ 
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID: IZ 
RES-CNTRY-ID: IZ 
FIRST-LANG-ID: KU 
E-I-TYPE-ID: I 
NOM-POST-ID: 2887 
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 43698 
NOM-STATUS: N 
DS2019-ACTION: 1 
DS2019-SUBJECT: 38.0299 
SPONS-FUNDS: 0 
SPONS-AGENCY1: DOS 
USGOVT-AGENCY1: DOS 
US-AGENCY-AMT1: 8000 
USGOVT-AGENCY2: 
US-AGENCY-AMT2: 0 
INTL-ORG1: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT1: 0 
INTL-ORG2: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT2: 0 
VIS-GOVT-AMT: 0 
COMMISSION: 0 
OTHER-AMOUNT: 0 
VIS-AMOUNT: 0 
VIS-CAT: 5 
END BIO: 
START BIO: 
PREFIX: MR. 
F-NAME: MUNIR 
M-NAME: H. 
L-NAME: KHUDAIR 
SUFFIX: 
POSITION-CODE: 350 
PRINCIPAL: YES 
GENDER: M 
DOB: 01/19/1967 
MAR-STAT: M 
BIRTH-CITY: BAGHDAD 
BIRTH-CNTRY: IRAQ 
CITIZ-CNTRY: IRAQ 
RES-CNTRY: IRAQ 
START MEMO POSITION: 
IMAM, SHAHEED AL-SABRI MOSQUE, BAGHDAD 
END MEMO POSITION: 
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
 
END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
ENGINEER AND BUILDING CONTRACTOR 
END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
NONE 
END MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
TWO TRIPS TO SAUDI ARABIA FOR THE HAJ; SYRIA; UAE 
 
END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO EDUCATION: 
M.A. SHARIA (ISLAMIC LAW), SHARIA ACADEMY, BAGHDAD, 1998; 
B.A.  ENGINEERING, BAGHDAD TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY, 1991 
 
 
END MEMO EDUCATION: 
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
MEMBER, IRAQI ISLAMIC PARTY; MEMBER, ENGINEERING SYNDICATE 
 
END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
NONE 
END MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
NO ALCOHOL 
NO PORK 
END MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
FIRST-LANG: ARABIC 
ENGL-READ: 3 
ENGL-SPEAK: 3 
ENGL-COMP: 3 
START MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
 
END MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
START MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
 
END MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
START MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
 
END MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
START MEMO VIS-REC: 
 
END MEMO VIS-REC: 
NOMINATING-OFFICER: JEFFREY BEALS 
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
MUNIR KHUDAIR IS AN EXTREMELY INTRIGUING AND APPROPRIATE 
CANDIDATE FOR AN IV PROGRAM ON INTERFAITH DIALOGUE.  HE IS A 
SUNNI ARAB CLERIC WHO HAS BEEN DEVASTATED BY THE VIOLENCE 
AND DESTRUCTION IN IRAQ SINCE THE FALL OF SADDAM HUSAYN'S 
REGIME.  HE IS ALSO A CLERIC WHO HAD HIS OWN DEEP MISGIVINGS 
ABOUT THE RULE OF SADDAM HUSAYN.  MORE IMPORTANTLY, HE IS A 
RELIGIOUS LEADER WHO HAS DEEP DOUBTS ABOUT U.S. INTENTIONS 
IN THE MIDDLE EAST BUT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE LACKS FIRST-HAND 
INFORMATION ABOUT AMERICA.  I WAS THE FIRST AMERICAN HE HAD 
MET AND THE EXPERIENCE WAS JARRING FOR US BOTH.  KHUDAIR IS 
MORE THAN A SKEPTIC ABOUT AMERICA'S TOLERANCE - HE IS A 
LEADING MEMBER OF THE IRAQI ISLAMIC ORGANIZATION AND MUSLIM 
ULEMA COUNCIL, TWO OF THE SUNNI ARAB ORGANIZATIONS MOST 
CRITICAL TO THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY IN IRAQ.  BOTH GROUPS 
HAVE BEEN ANGRY CRITICS OF THE OCCUPATION, AND BOTH WILL 
NEED TO COME ON BOARD THE POLITICAL PROCESS IF A NEW IRAQ IS 
TO BE BUILT.  KHUDAIR IS GAMBLING BY EVEN ANNOUNCING HIS 
DESIRE TO VISIT THE UNITED STATES.  THAT LEVEL OF 
FLEXIBILITY AND OPENNESS COULD COST HIM HIS LIFE FROM SOME 
OF HIS CONGREGANTS.  WE SHOULD TAKE HIM UP ON THE OFFER. 
 
 
END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
NOM-OFF: BAGHDAD 
SPEAKER: NO 
NOTIFY-EMB: YES 
MEDIA: NO 
HOME-STAY: NO 
HOME-HOSP: YES 
E-I-TYPE: INTERPRETER 
NOMINEE-ID: 604 
PERSON-ID: 603 
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID: IZ 
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID: IZ 
RES-CNTRY-ID: IZ 
FIRST-LANG-ID: AR 
E-I-TYPE-ID: I 
NOM-POST-ID: 2887 
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 0 
NOM-STATUS: N 
DS2019-ACTION: 1 
DS2019-SUBJECT: 38.0201 
SPONS-FUNDS: 8000 
SPONS-AGENCY1: 
USGOVT-AGENCY1: 
US-AGENCY-AMT1: 0 
USGOVT-AGENCY2: 
US-AGENCY-AMT2: 0 
INTL-ORG1: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT1: 0 
INTL-ORG2: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT2: 0 
VIS-GOVT-AMT: 0 
COMMISSION: 0 
OTHER-AMOUNT: 0 
VIS-AMOUNT: 0 
VIS-CAT: 5 
END BIO: 
START BIO: 
PREFIX: MR. 
F-NAME: DALSUZ 
M-NAME: AHMAD 
L-NAME: MOHAMMED 
SUFFIX: 
POSITION-CODE: 350 
PRINCIPAL: YES 
GENDER: M 
DOB: 12/26/1971 
MAR-STAT: M 
BIRTH-CITY: KHANAQIN, DIYALA PROV 
BIRTH-CNTRY: IRAQ 
CITIZ-CNTRY: IRAQ 
RES-CNTRY: IRAQ 
START MEMO POSITION: 
1996 - PRESENT:  IMAM 
END MEMO POSITION: 
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
 
END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
 
END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
NONE 
END MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
JAN 2005 - SAUDI ARABIA (HAJJ); SEP 2002 - JUL 2003:  YEMEN 
(TO WORK AS A TEACHER); SEP 2002 - JORDAN (TRAVEL); OCT 1999 
- JORDAN (TOURISM) 
 
END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO EDUCATION: 
1993 - 1997:  B.A. ISLAMIC SCIENCE, FUNDAMENTALS OF 
RELIGION, BAGHDAD UNIVERSITY 
 
 
END MEMO EDUCATION: 
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
MARCH 2005 - PRESENT:  MEMBER OF THE DIYALA PROVINCIAL 
COUNCIL; COUNCIL OF ISLAMIC SCHOLARS (SUNNI); 
KURDISH ISLAMIC PARTY 
 
END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
GRADUATION THESIS 
END MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
NO PORK 
NO ALCOHOL 
END MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
FIRST-LANG: ARABIC 
ENGL-READ: 1 
ENGL-SPEAK: 1 
ENGL-COMP: 1 
START MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
 
END MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
START MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
 
END MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
START MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
 
END MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
START MEMO VIS-REC: 
END MEMO VIS-REC: 
NOMINATING-OFFICER: SHERMAN L. GRANDY 
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
AN IMAM, DALSOUZ AHMAD MOHAMAD HAS BEEN A KEY LEADER IN 
DIYALA PROVINCE ADVOCATING UNITY AND TOLERANCE AND REJECTING 
SECTARIANISM AND TERRORISM.  HE HAS FREQUENTLY ENCOURAGED 
HIS FOLLOWERS TO SEEK A POLITICAL SOLUTION TO IRAQ'S 
INSURGENCY.  HE HAS ACTIVELY WORKED WITH COALITION FORCES IN 
PROMOTING RECONSTRUCTION.  AS A CURRENT MEMBER OF THE 
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL, HE IS AN INCLUSIVE LEADER, REACHING OUT 
TO SHIITE MEMBERS.  HE HAS ALSO ESTABLISHED INTERFAITH 
RELATIONS WITH ATHEISTS IN MUQDADIYAH DISTRICT.  HE A STRONG 
AND NATURAL CANDIDATE FOR THE PROMOTING INTERFAITH DIALOGUE 
REGIONAL PROGRAM. 
END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
NOM-OFF: SET-DIYALA 
SPEAKER: NO 
NOTIFY-EMB: NO 
MEDIA: NO 
HOME-STAY: NO 
HOME-HOSP: YES 
E-I-TYPE: INTERPRETER 
NOMINEE-ID: 605 
PERSON-ID: 604 
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID: IZ 
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID: IZ 
RES-CNTRY-ID: IZ 
FIRST-LANG-ID: AR 
E-I-TYPE-ID: I 
NOM-POST-ID: 2887 
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 0 
NOM-STATUS: N 
DS2019-ACTION: 1 
DS2019-SUBJECT: 38.0201 
SPONS-FUNDS: 8000 
SPONS-AGENCY1: 
USGOVT-AGENCY1: 
US-AGENCY-AMT1: 0 
USGOVT-AGENCY2: 
US-AGENCY-AMT2: 0 
INTL-ORG1: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT1: 0 
INTL-ORG2: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT2: 0 
VIS-GOVT-AMT: 0 
COMMISSION: 0 
OTHER-AMOUNT: 0 
VIS-AMOUNT: 0 
VIS-CAT: 5 
END BIO: 
END NOMINATION: 
END FIXED-FORMAT TEXT: 
4. PLEASE ADVISE ACCEPTANCE. 
HALE