US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD4961

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 004961 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2015 
TAGS: PREL, MOPS, IZ, Elections, Sunni Arab 
SUBJECT: LEADING IRAQI SUNNI ARAB SLATE CALLS ON INSURGENTS 
TO CEASE ATTACKS DURING THE ELECTION 
 
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT S. FORD FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) A 
ND (D). 
 
 1. (C)  Ambassador Khalilzad and General Casey convoked 
selected Sunni Arab leaders December 11 to discuss concrete 
steps each side could take in support of the December 15 
elections (see septel).  After this meeting, the 
Iraqi National Dialogue Council, which is a major group within 
the leading Sunni Arab slate ("Tawafoq" or Accord), issued a 
statement (text below) December 12 calling on the 
insurgents to cease military operations for five days 
beginning December 13.  The statement also calls on MNF-I 
and the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) to cease military 
operations.  The statement was delivered by Khalaf 
al-Ulayyan, a former military officer from al-Anbar 
province who is likely to be a political leader of Tawafoq 
in the new Iraqi legislature.  Al-Ulayyan participated in the 
December 11 meeting with Ambassador Khalilzad and General 
Casey. 
 
2.  (C) Comment:  The National Dialog Council, whose leaders 
include Sunni Arab Islamists and tribal figures, still calls 
the insurgency an "honorable resistance" fought by 
"mujahideen." 
They have never before issued a statement like this.  We are 
not sure yet how much impact it will have.  Its appearance 
on Sharqiya TV means it will get a big audience.  A Sunni Arab 
journalist told PolCouns 12/12 that the insurgency's hard- 
core elements are Baathists who don't listen to Islamists. 
Even if the impact is not immediate, we do have a major 
Sunni Arab group now urging an end to fighting, at least 
temporarily, so that they can better exploit opportunities 
in the political process here.  That is a positive message 
for us. 
 
3. (U)  Following is the text of a report that appeared on 
Iraq's al-Sharqiyah television December 12: 
 
The Iraq National Dialogue Council has called for halting 
the military operations in some Iraqi cities and villages, 
as well as the raid and arrest operations in order to calm 
the situation as a prelude to holding the elections under 
secure and stable conditions. In a statement read out by 
its secretary general Khalaf al-Ulayyan today, the council 
appealed to whom it called gunmen to stop their acts to 
achieve this goal. 
 
(Begin al-Ulayyan recording) In the name of God, the 
merciful, the compassionate; 
 
But if the enemy incline towards peace, do thou (also) 
incline towards peace, and trust in Allah for He is One 
that heareth and knoweth (all things) (Koranic verse) 
 
As the date set for the parliamentary elections is 
approaching, and in order to guarantee an effective 
participation by all sectors of the Iraqi people in the 
elections, we call on the occupation forces and the Iraqi 
Government to stop the military operations in flashpoint 
governorates in general and halt the raid, arrest, and 
physical liquidation operations.  We also call for the 
release of prisoners in government jails and the abolition 
of the decree stipulating that the governorates of Al-Anbar 
and Ninawa are emergency areas. 
 
We also call on the zealous, auspicious Iraqis, who 
dedicated themselves to defending their religion, homeland, 
and honor for the sake of God, to stop the jihadist 
operations against the occupation forces and their allied 
forces for five days, starting 13 December 2005.  This is 
in order for them to prove to the entire world that they 
have a message and are seeking rights, and that they are 
neither rabble-rousers nor terrorists as they are described 
by the occupiers and their agents. 
 
This is also in order for them to prove to their people 
that it is they who defend their rights and care about 
their interests.  To prove this, they should respond to the 
people's wish to participate effectively in the elections 
and preserve their security and safety and the safety of 
the international observers tasked with monitoring the 
voting process.  We hope that the religious authorities and 
political entities will support us in this demand in order 
to avoid sedition. Praise be to God. 
 
(Signed) The Iraqi National Dialogue Council -- The Iraqi 
Al-Tawafuq (accord) Front. 
 
(Dated) 10 Dhu Al-Qi'dah 1426 Hegira, corresponding to 12 
December 2005.  (end recording) (Vide of Al-Ulayyan reading 
the statement out) 
KHALILZAD