Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
03ABUDHABI2082 | 2003-04-30 10:51:00 | SECRET | Embassy Abu Dhabi |
null Diana T Fritz 05/24/2007 04:23:49 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: SECRET SIPDIS TELEGRAM April 30, 2003 To: No Action Addressee Action: Unknown From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 2082 - UNKNOWN) TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PARM, MOPS Captions: None Subject: SECRETARY OF DEFENSE RUMSFELD MEETING WITH UAE ARMED FORCES CHIEF OF STAFF SHAYKH MUHAMMAD BIN ZAYID AL-NAHYAN Ref: None _________________________________________________________________ S E C R E T ABU DHABI 02082 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: POL INFO: P/M ECON AMB RSO DCM DISSEMINATION: POL CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: AMB:MMWAHBA DRAFTED: POL:STWILLIAMS CLEARED: NONE VZCZCADI058 OO RUEKJCS RUEHC RUCNRAQ RUEHBUL RHEHNSC RUEAIIA RHEFDIA RUCJACC RUEKJCS DE RUEHAD #2082/01 1201051 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 301051Z APR 03 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9701 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0121 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUCJACC/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//POLAD// RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J2// |
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 002082 |
1. (U) Classified by Ambassador Marcelle M. Wahba for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D). 2. (S) SUMMARY: SecDef met with UAE Armed Forces Chief of Staff LTG Muhammad bin Zayid Al-Nahyan (MbZ) on April 27 in Abu Dhabi. After congratulating SecDef on Operation Iraqi Freedom, MbZ made the following points: (1) There is a narrow window to curtail Iranian influence among Iraqi Shi'a groups. (2) Iran is a regional threat and the leadership in Tehran uses the "American and Israeli enemy" to maintain control. (3) Jordan's King Abdullah is a courageous leader who deserves our support. SecDef made the following points: (1) He thanked the UAE for its support in the liberation of Iraq. (2) While it is understandable for Iraq's neighbors, including Iran and Syria, to have an interest, we cannot abdicate to them control of Iraq's internal affairs. (3) Syria has played an unhelpful role, although Bashar Al-Asad appears to be getting the message to some extent. (4) The U.S. provides support to Jordan and encourages others to follow suit. (5) The U.S. has made progress in training the Afghan National Army, but it is important that this progress be accelerated. CENTCOM Commander Gen. Franks and Amb. Wahba joined SecDef. 3. (S) OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM: MbZ congratulated SecDef on the "amazing" success of Operation Iraqi Freedom against an Iraqi regime that was the enemy of both the U.S. and the UAE. SecDef thanked MbZ for the UAE's cooperation; the role played by the UAE and Kuwait helped speed up the operation and saved lives. SecDef credited General Franks and his team for the success of the plan and the campaign. There was a minimum loss of life, no environmental damage, no ballistic missiles fired at neighboring states and virtually no outflow of refugees. 4. (S) IRANIAN INFLUENCE IN IRAQ: SecDef asked MbZ about Iran's influence in Iraq. MbZ replied that Iran concerns everyone. Anticipating Saddam's fall, the Iranians seized the opportunity to gain the confidence and loyalty of "their Shi'a groups" in Iraq. Though the Emiratis would not object to a Shi'a president if elected, they would be concerned by the emergence of a powerful Shi'a religious figure. In his view, we are in a critical period, during which we have an opportunity to encourage the emergence of moderate Shi'a leaders and circumscribe Iranian influence. SecDef acknowledged that the transition from Saddam's rule may be bumpy; while it is understandable for Iraq's neighbors, including Iran and Syria, to have some influence, abdicating control to them is unacceptable. 5. (S) IRANIAN THREAT TO THE REGION: MbZ and SecDef agreed that Iran poses a significant regional and international threat. SecDef hoped for internal change in Iran; he doubted that young Iranians will want to be ruled by the clerics indefinitely. MbZ said the Iranian leadership has successfully used the concept of the "enemy" Americans and Israelis to maintain control. Seven years ago, Rafsanjani's brother had told him that Iran would not stop developing its technology until it had in its arsenal a missile that could reach the U.S. 6. (S) SYRIA UNHELPFUL: When asked whether Syria had been cooperating as we wanted, SecDef said no. On balance Syria had been unhelpful, and "unwisely so." Damascus had stopped weapons from crossing the border when the U.S. cautioned Syria, but allowed busloads of mercenaries to cross into Iraq. SecDef stated that Bashar Al-Asad seems to be getting the message after the intervention of Hosni Mubarak and others. While he did not think Al-Asad will allow more wanted Iraqis into Syria, SecDef believed that the Syrian leader will permit the exit of those already in Syria. MbZ reported that Shaykh Zayid had dispatched UAE Information Minister Abdullah bin Zayid to Damascus to warn them to be careful, only 48 hours before SecDef spoke publicly about Syria's unhelpful role. 7. (S) JORDAN DESERVES OUR SUPPORT: SecDef asked MbZ for his assessment of how his friend King Abdullah weathered the Iraq conflict. MbZ said he thought Abdullah was in "reasonable shape." MbZ admired Abdullah's courage in backing the OIF coalition -- 180 degrees from what his father had done during Desert Storm. SecDef and MbZ agreed that Jordan deserves our support. "If anyone deserves our support, he does," SecDef agreed fully. 8. (S) AFGHANISTAN: SecDef asked MbZ's view of the situation in Afghanistan. MbZ said a UAE military team had just returned from Kabul and reported it was calm and secure, "like any other city." SecDef noted the past footdragging of MoD and regional leaders. It was two steps forward, one step back. A number of Afghan National Army (ANA) battalions were trained, but they are not yet linked to the Defense Ministry. It is important that ANA training be accelerated to build confidence in the central government. 9. (U) SecDef has reviewed and cleared this cable. WAHBA |