11 December 2005
Iraqi Elections Will Draw Many Sunnis, Amb. Khalilzad Predicts
U.S. envoy says political process could marginalize terrorists, lessen violence
By Howard Cincotta
Washington File Special Correspondent
Washington -- The upcoming Iraqi elections for a new national assembly will draw substantial Sunni participation and could help close sectarian divisions in the country, Zalmay Khalilzad, U.S. ambassador to Iraq, said in two televised news interviews December 11.
On ABC's This Week, Khalilzad predicted that Sunnis would vote in large numbers, which means that they will have significant representation in the new national assembly.
On December 15, Iraqis will elect a new assembly, called the Council of Representatives, completing a three-stage electoral cycle aimed at establishing a democratic government.
The cycle began in January with the election of a Transitional National Assembly tasked with drafting a new constitution. The second stage took place in an October referendum in which 78 percent of Iraqi voters endorsed the proposed charter. (See related article.)
The newly elected council will address such issues as amending the constitution and reforming the military and police – issues that are of concern to the Sunni population, according to Khalilzad.
On CNN’s Late Edition, Khalilzad said, "Sunnis seem to be developing confidence in the political process. They believe that their grievances can be dealt with politically. That's what their willingness to participate indicates."
If no single party gets a majority, a result that Khalilzad said is likely, then the newly elected representatives will need to engage in coalition-building to form a government, a process in which the Sunnis will play a critical role, he said.
As the political process becomes more important, the terrorists will become more isolated and the level of violence will decline, Khalilzad said. He expressed his admiration for the courage of the Sunni politicians who "stand up and participate in the political process."
Khalilzad confirmed that the United States has begun talks with some supporters of the insurgency who have been opposed to the political process in the past. The United States has been offering to deal with their legitimate concerns and urging them to participate in politics rather than encourage violence. "We're making progress," he said, "as indicated by the fact that two Sunni alliances are now running in the election."
At the same time, Khalilzad stressed that the United States would never negotiate with terrorists and their supporters, which he identified as al-Qaida figures like Abu Musab al Zarqawi, Saddamists, and violent jihadists. (See Response to Terrorism.)
In response to a question on Late Edition, Khalilzad denied the likelihood that Iraq would split into separate states, including an independent Kurdistan. He argued instead that the Kurds recognize that it is better for them to be part of a united, federal Iraq that provides autonomy for the Kurdish people yet also allows them to be important players in shaping the future of Iraq as a single nation.
Khalilzad said on This Week that progress on the political front, coupled with the expansion of the Iraqi army and police, should lead to a significant reduction in U.S. troops in Iraq, although he declined to set a number.
Speaking on Late Edition, however, Khalilzad warned that a precipitous U.S. withdrawal could result in civil war and leave behind a sanctuary for terrorists similar to that provided in Afghanistan under the Taliban.
The better way, he argued, is increased political participation by all groups -- including Sunnis -- the strengthening of Iraqi security forces "and incrementally decreasing the size and mission of U.S. forces."
For additional information on U.S. policy, see Iraq’s Political Process and Iraq Update.
A transcript of Khalilzad's interview on Late Edition is available on the CNN Web site.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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