Subject: Re: A suggestion on Iraq
From: Antony Blinken <[email-masked]>
To: Michele Flournoy <[email-masked]>
Cc: Susan Rice <[email-masked]>, John Podesta <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 21 Jun 2014 22:36:33 -0400

Excellent idea.  Will talk to john.  Have connected with petraeus and chiarelli.  

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jun 21, 2014, at 8:18 PM, Michele Flournoy <[email-masked]> wrote:
> 
> Susan, Tony and John:
> 
> I know you all are pressing the various parties in Iraq to come to the table and hammer out a comprehensive and inclusive political solution.
> 
> To that end, I wanted to encourage you to reach out to and leverage some of the U.S. military officers who were trusted interlocutors with the Sunni sheiks in Anbar during the first "Anbar Awakening."  
> 
> Chief among these is John Allen.  I have no doubt that if you asked John to help reach out to and even convene the Sunni tribal leaders (say, in Jordan or another nearby, safe locale), he would be willing to do that.  And I am sure others would be willing to help as well if asked.
> 
> Just an idea.  If you have already thought of this, good on you.
> 
> Best,
> Michele