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Saudi King Promises Help in Delicate Effort to Unite Factions in Iraq Saudi King Promises Help in Delicate Effort to Unite Factions in Iraq
(35 minutes later)
JIDDA, Saudi Arabia — King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia assured American officials on Friday that he would use his influence with Sunni leaders in Iraq to try to speed the formation of a multi-sect government there, a senior State Department official said. JIDDA, Saudi Arabia — King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia assured American officials on Friday that he would use his influence with Sunni leaders in Iraq to try to speed the formation of a multisect government there, a senior State Department official said.
The king’s assurance marks a shift in the Sunni monarchy’s stance and was conveyed to Secretary of State John Kerry in a three-and-a-half-hour long meeting here. The king’s assurance is a shift in the Sunni monarchy’s stance and was conveyed to Secretary of State John Kerry in a meeting that lasted three and a half hours here.
The Saudis had been reluctant to support the formation of a new Iraqi government until it became clear that Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki would not be given a third term.The Saudis had been reluctant to support the formation of a new Iraqi government until it became clear that Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki would not be given a third term.
The failing security situation in Iraq, which has bought militants from the Islamic State for Iraq and Syria to within striking distance of the Saudi border in western Iraq, appeared to have led to a change in Saudi calculations. The failing security situation in Iraq, which has brought militants from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria to within striking distance of the Saudi border in western Iraq, appeared to have led to a change in Saudi calculations.
The Saudis also appeared to be calculating that Mr. Maliki’s ability to secure a third term was in jeopardy and that the best way to block him was to encourage Sunni parties to join Kurdish parties and Mr. Maliki’s Shiite rivals in backing an alternative.The Saudis also appeared to be calculating that Mr. Maliki’s ability to secure a third term was in jeopardy and that the best way to block him was to encourage Sunni parties to join Kurdish parties and Mr. Maliki’s Shiite rivals in backing an alternative.
“Both the secretary and the king believe that the security challenges that Iraq faces require a new government,” said the State Department official, referring to the government formation process underway in Baghdad.“Both the secretary and the king believe that the security challenges that Iraq faces require a new government,” said the State Department official, referring to the government formation process underway in Baghdad.
“The two shared a view that all of Iraq’s communities should be participating on an urgent basis in the political process to allow it to move forward, and that both the secretary and King Abdullah in their conversations with Iraqi leaders would convey that message directly to them,” added the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under State Department protocol.“The two shared a view that all of Iraq’s communities should be participating on an urgent basis in the political process to allow it to move forward, and that both the secretary and King Abdullah in their conversations with Iraqi leaders would convey that message directly to them,” added the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under State Department protocol.
The Iraqi Parliament is scheduled to begin the process of forming a new government on Tuesday. To keep the political process on track, American officials would like the Sunnis to settle on their choice for Parliament speaker by then. For some time, in an informal understanding, a Shiite Arab has been prime minister, an ethnic Kurd president and a Sunni Arab speaker. The Iraqi Parliament is scheduled to begin the process of forming a new government on Tuesday. To keep the political process on track, American officials would like the Sunnis to settle on their choice for Parliament speaker by then. For some time, in an informal understanding, a Shiite Arab has been prime minister, an ethnic Kurd president and a Sunni Arab speaker. 
Mr. Kerry underscored in his meeting with the king that Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq’s top Shiite cleric, had urged the selection of a Shiite prime minister by then.Mr. Kerry underscored in his meeting with the king that Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq’s top Shiite cleric, had urged the selection of a Shiite prime minister by then.
The Saudis’ disdain for Mr. Maliki is longstanding.The Saudis’ disdain for Mr. Maliki is longstanding.
“I don’t trust this man,” King Abdullah told John O. Brennan, the C.I.A. director who was then Mr. Obama’s counterterrorism director, in a March 15, 2009, meeting, according to classified cable that was made public by WikiLeaks. “He is an Iranian agent.” “I don’t trust this man,” King Abdullah told John O. Brennan, the C.I.A. director who was then Mr. Obama’s counterterrorism director, in a March 15, 2009, meeting, according to a classified cable that was made public by WikiLeaks. “He is an Iranian agent.”
Mr. Kerry’s meeting with King Abdullah was their first of the Iraq crisis and was held at an ornate palace that featured a marble map of the world with Muslim countries colored in green.Mr. Kerry’s meeting with King Abdullah was their first of the Iraq crisis and was held at an ornate palace that featured a marble map of the world with Muslim countries colored in green.
It followed a Thursday meeting in Paris in which there were indications of a shift in the Saudi stance on Iraq.It followed a Thursday meeting in Paris in which there were indications of a shift in the Saudi stance on Iraq.
During the meeting here, the king discussed security measures the kingdom was taking to deal with the potential threat from ISIS in neighboring Iraq. Mr. Kerry also noted approving a public statement earlier this week from a Saudi official that the kingdom would increase its oil production to make up for any disruption of supply from Iraq.During the meeting here, the king discussed security measures the kingdom was taking to deal with the potential threat from ISIS in neighboring Iraq. Mr. Kerry also noted approving a public statement earlier this week from a Saudi official that the kingdom would increase its oil production to make up for any disruption of supply from Iraq.
Mr. Kerry also met separately here with Ahmad al-Jarba, the president of the moderate Syrian Opposition Coalition. Mr. Kerry also met separately here with Ahmad Assi al-Jarba, the president of the moderate Syrian opposition coalition.
That meeting came one day after the White House announced it was seeking $500 million from Congress so that the Pentagon could train and arm “vetted elements” of the Syrian opposition. A leader of the Shammar tribe, which has branches in Saudi Arabia and Iraq, Mr. Jarba has had strong backing from the Saudis. And Mr. Kerry described him as a leader who could help the United States counter militants from ISIS, and who might also be able to play a role in influencing Sunni politics in Iraq.That meeting came one day after the White House announced it was seeking $500 million from Congress so that the Pentagon could train and arm “vetted elements” of the Syrian opposition. A leader of the Shammar tribe, which has branches in Saudi Arabia and Iraq, Mr. Jarba has had strong backing from the Saudis. And Mr. Kerry described him as a leader who could help the United States counter militants from ISIS, and who might also be able to play a role in influencing Sunni politics in Iraq.
“President Jarba represents a tribe that reaches right into Iraq,” said Mr. Kerry at their meeting at the airport here. “He knows people there.” “President Jarba represents a tribe that reaches right into Iraq,” Mr. Kerry said at their meeting at the airport here. “He knows people there.”
Just before Mr. Kerry left Saudi Arabia he called Massoud Barzani, the president of the Kurdish autonomous region. Mr. Kerry had met with Mr. Barzani in Erbil on Tuesday and urged the Kurds to put aside their dreams of statehood and join the government formation process in Iraq.Just before Mr. Kerry left Saudi Arabia he called Massoud Barzani, the president of the Kurdish autonomous region. Mr. Kerry had met with Mr. Barzani in Erbil on Tuesday and urged the Kurds to put aside their dreams of statehood and join the government formation process in Iraq.