Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03KUWAIT3039
2003-07-09 12:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
GOK REQUESTS INCREASED SECURITY FOR FUEL SHIPMENTS
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 003039
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2013
TAGS: MOPS PREL EPET IZ KU
SUBJECT: GOK REQUESTS INCREASED SECURITY FOR FUEL SHIPMENTS
TO IRAQ
Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones, reasons 1.5 (B) and (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 003039
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2013
TAGS: MOPS PREL EPET IZ KU
SUBJECT: GOK REQUESTS INCREASED SECURITY FOR FUEL SHIPMENTS
TO IRAQ
Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones, reasons 1.5 (B) and (D).
1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 3.
2. (C) MFA U/S Khalid al-Jarallah contacted the Ambassador on
the afternoon of July 9 at the request of Minister of Foreign
Affairs Shaykh Sabah al-Sabah. According to al-Jarallah
there is a continuing need for security for trucks carrying
goods from Kuwait into Iraq, particularly those carrying fuel
under contract to Kellogg, Brown and Root. He said that
Shaykh Sabah had raised this issue recently with both NEA A/S
Burns and UK FM Jack Straw and that each had assured him of
their readiness to be of help on the issue. Unfortunately,
although some security was being provided, it was still
insufficient. Shaykh Sabah had asked him to reiterate the
GOK request for increased security for the fuel trucks in
particular. He termed this a "small but important" issue
since the availability of fuel impacted on the daily lives of
Iraqi civilians. The Ambassador noted that, unfortunately,
he had not been present during Shaykh Sabah's discussions
with A/S Burns, however he would relay this request at once
to Washington and the Coalition Provisional Authority in
Baghdad.
3. (C) Comment and Action request: We understand from KBR
that its trucks do periodically receive small arms fire, even
at locations relatively near to the IZ/KU border, and that
one of their fuel-truck drivers was seriously wounded in late
June. We have also heard reports of other incidents where
trucks have been looted and drivers held for ransom. While
we are not in a position to verify such accounts, we have no
reason to believe that local interlocutors would
intentionally try to exaggerate the security situation inside
Iraq. In such an environment, a redoubling of efforts to
protect shipments of materials important to the US to the
extent that resources allow would seem to make good sense.
Please advise on how we should respond to the GOK request.
4. (U) Minimize considered.
JONES
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/09/2013
TAGS: MOPS PREL EPET IZ KU
SUBJECT: GOK REQUESTS INCREASED SECURITY FOR FUEL SHIPMENTS
TO IRAQ
Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones, reasons 1.5 (B) and (D).
1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 3.
2. (C) MFA U/S Khalid al-Jarallah contacted the Ambassador on
the afternoon of July 9 at the request of Minister of Foreign
Affairs Shaykh Sabah al-Sabah. According to al-Jarallah
there is a continuing need for security for trucks carrying
goods from Kuwait into Iraq, particularly those carrying fuel
under contract to Kellogg, Brown and Root. He said that
Shaykh Sabah had raised this issue recently with both NEA A/S
Burns and UK FM Jack Straw and that each had assured him of
their readiness to be of help on the issue. Unfortunately,
although some security was being provided, it was still
insufficient. Shaykh Sabah had asked him to reiterate the
GOK request for increased security for the fuel trucks in
particular. He termed this a "small but important" issue
since the availability of fuel impacted on the daily lives of
Iraqi civilians. The Ambassador noted that, unfortunately,
he had not been present during Shaykh Sabah's discussions
with A/S Burns, however he would relay this request at once
to Washington and the Coalition Provisional Authority in
Baghdad.
3. (C) Comment and Action request: We understand from KBR
that its trucks do periodically receive small arms fire, even
at locations relatively near to the IZ/KU border, and that
one of their fuel-truck drivers was seriously wounded in late
June. We have also heard reports of other incidents where
trucks have been looted and drivers held for ransom. While
we are not in a position to verify such accounts, we have no
reason to believe that local interlocutors would
intentionally try to exaggerate the security situation inside
Iraq. In such an environment, a redoubling of efforts to
protect shipments of materials important to the US to the
extent that resources allow would seem to make good sense.
Please advise on how we should respond to the GOK request.
4. (U) Minimize considered.
JONES