ANTHRAX AND SMALLPOX PROGRAM FOR KUWAITI MILITARY

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000553

SIPDIS

DOD FOR DEPSECDEF, SECDEF FOR DUSD POLICY, DUSD TECHNOLOGY,
DUSD SECURITY, DUSD POLICY AND COUNTER-PROLIFERATION
COMFLCC ALSO PASS TO SURGEON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2013
TAGS: ASEC KU MCAP PREL PTER US
SUBJECT: ANTHRAX AND SMALLPOX PROGRAM FOR KUWAITI MILITARY


Classified By: CDA FRANK C. URBANCIC, REASON: 1.5 (B) AND (D)


1. (U) This is an action request. See para 5.


2. (C) The United States and Kuwait are standing shoulder to
shoulder in the international effort to disarm Iraq. As a
result of Kuwait's geographic location next to Iraq, and the
political decision by the GoK to support very large numbers
of US troops in the country, Kuwait is the first and most
likely target of any future Iraqi bio-terror attack in the
region.


3. (C) All US troops are fully vaccinated against both
anthrax and smallpox. As part of its own efforts to provide
equal protections to its troops who will be standing in the
same terrain as their US counterparts, the GoK has requested
enough smallpox and anthrax vaccine to inoculate 15,000 of
its own personnel. The US response has been disappointing,
and our hosts have negatively noted it. In the LoA which we
have been instructed to provide to the Kuwaitis, the US has
offered only enough anthrax vaccine for 2750 people, and it
has offered to sell both the anthrax and smallpox vaccines,
vice provide it as aid in kind. Thus, we are not only not
providing quantities sufficient to protect these coalition
partners, we are asking them to pay for these relatively
small and insufficient amounts.


4. (C) This slap at the Kuwaitis has arrived at exactly the
same moment that the Embassy is engaged in intensive efforts
with the GoK to secure their approval (not required under the
terms of the current DCA) to provide additional millions of
dollars-worth of jet fuel, access to ports, and vast amounts
of other supplies to US forces as aid in kind from the GoK to
the coalition forces. Embassy views this situation as
degrading to our overall relationship, potentially
jeopardizing Kuwaiti willingness to approve future aid in
kind requests from the United States.


5. (C) Action Request: That the Department revisit this
issue with DoD urgently to secure sufficient supplies of
smallpox and anthrax vaccine for the full 15,000 personnel
requests by the GoK, and that it be provided as aid in kind
from the United States.
URBANCIC