(C) IRAQI OPPOSITIONISTS AND RECONSTRUCTION;

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001102 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/FO E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/25/2013 TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR EAID IZ KU SUBJECT: (C) IRAQI OPPOSITIONISTS AND RECONSTRUCTION; MINSTATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS RAISES WAR ISSUES WITH THE AMBASSADOR Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: On March 24, during an introductory call for Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA) Director, Gen. Jay Garner, he and the Ambassador discussed war-related issues with Minstate for Foreign Affairs Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah . Among the items raised were ORHA's structure and mission, the inclusion of Iraqi oppositionists in war efforts and Kuwait's efforts to begin providing humanitarian assistance. End Summary. -------------- ORHA -------------- ¶2. (C) Dr. Mohammed was very interested in the structure and mission of ORHA, and asked Gen. Garner if ORHA would wait until securing Baghdad to begin its operations. He also asked for Gen. Garner's assessment of the humanitarian situation in Iraq, and inquired as to how ORHA would distribute humanitarian goods. Gen. Garner explained that he reported to CENTCOM Commander Gen. Franks and SecDef Rumsfeld. He said ORHA has plans to place teams in every city with a population over 100,000, and would do so as soon as the security situation permitted. The teams, which are composed mainly of civilians, are hoping to distribute humanitarian assistance via the already existing Oil For Food (OFF) distribution mechanisms. Gen. Garner said the UNSC Resolution currently in the works is aimed at continuing the OFF program. The UK and US are working directly with the UNSYG in an attempt to get the resolution introduced over French and Russian objections. Although the humanitarian situation has not been as bad as had been expected, he said, aid distribution will be ORHA's first priority in Iraq. If the situation deteriorates further, Gen. Garner said ORHA will look at all options for aid distribution, including airdrops. ¶3. (C) Dr. Mohammed also asked Gen. Garner about the current status of oil fires in Iraq. Garner explained that the Army Corps of Engineers, along with Kuwaiti firefighters and civilians contracted through ORHA, would be putting out the oil fires near Basra. The Ambassador confirmed that the U.S. has no solid evidence that wells in Kirkuk were ever blown. -------------- IRAQI OPPOSITION GROUPS -------------- ¶4. (C) The Minister also raised concerns that the U.S. may not be making a sufficient effort to fully inform the Iraqi people of its goals. He said there seemed to be "ambiguity" amongst the Iraqis, and asked if we were broadcasting our message into Iraq alongside our forces. Gen. Garner confirmed that multiple efforts are being made to ensure the Iraqi people are fully aware of U.S. reconstruction plans, including leaflet drops and radio broadcasts. In addition, he said, ORHA teams will be increasing radio broadcasts as soon as they enter Iraq. ¶5. (C) Building on this concern, the Minister suggested the U.S. avail itself of Iraqi oppositionists to help spread the U.S. message inside Iraq. He said that the Shiite Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolutionin Iraq (SCIRI),in particular, had been complaining to the GOK that they had been "sidelined." "The time for fighting back" against Iraqi propaganda was now, he said, and suggested that the US utilize SCIRI to do so, especially in the south. "Most of the fighting back should be carried out by Iraqis," he said. "You need to choose the right instruments to accomplish your goals." -------------- KUWAIT'S CONTRIBUTIONS -------------- ¶6. (C) Confirming an announcement that had been made in the press earlier in the week, Dr. Mohammed said Kuwait had begun treating Iraqis injured in the fighting at Umm Qasr in a field hospital it had set up on the Kuwaiti side of the border at UNIKOM's old HQ at Camp Khor. In addition, Kuwait has already provided humanitarian aid, which has been loaded onto a ship waiting to enter Iraq at Umm Qasr. Dr. Mohammed said Kuwait is interested in publicizing its efforts, and indicated he would appreciate it if the Ambassador and Gen. Garner kept Kuwait in mind should opportunities for publicity arise. ¶7. (U) Gen. Garner has not cleared this message. JONES