Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
04KUWAIT1041 | 2004-03-30 13:46:00 | SECRET//NOFORN | Embassy Kuwait |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. |
S E C R E T KUWAIT 001041 |
1. (S/NF) Ref A relayed a report from a well-connected Kuwaiti source that Shaykh Nawaf al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, has the inside track to be a future Amir. The Bosnian ambassador (protect), a Muslim who speaks fluent Arabic and enjoys warm relations with senior members of the ruling family, flatly told us March 29, quite unbidden, that Shaykh Nawaf "will be the next Amir" after the current Amir, Crown Prince and Prime Minister depart the scene. While this cannot be considered confirmation, it warrants attention. 2. (S/NF) We stand by ref B assertion that Shaykh Nawaf, half-brother to both the Amir and the Prime Minister, is "neither highly educated nor particularly sophisticated, and is not seen as a strong figure. Loyalty and bloodline appear to be his selling points: he presents no threat to Shaykh Sabah" the Prime Minister and de-facto ruler. Clearly, however, it does not follow that Shaykh Nawaf "is not generally seen as a prospective Amir." Indeed, lack of ambition, along with loyalty and bloodline, may make him attractive to the Prime Minister as a potential designated successor. 3. (S/NF) It is hard not to notice that the Jaber branch of the ruling al-Sabah family is tightening its grip on the reins of power: besides bringing Shaykh Nawaf back into the Cabinet, another half-brother, Shaykh Mishaal al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah, has been named Deputy Chairman of the National Guard (the job Shaykh Nawaf held until July). A nephew, Shaykh Ahmed al-Fahd al-Jaber al-Sabah, is Minister of Energy. It is reasonable to suppose that Shaykh Sabah, who wields real power as Prime Minister, might be comfortable with the notion of an Amir above politics and an empowered (and competent) Prime Minister running the country. That would be consistent with the scenario laid out in ref A, in which Shaykh Sabah would become Amir, Shaykh Nawaf Crown Prince, and Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah, who holds a PhD in economics from Harvard, would become Prime Minister. That arrangement would give the Salem branch of the ruling family a high-level position (the last two Amirs, and the current ailing Crown Prince, all come from this branch. Since 1915, all the rulers of Kuwait have come from either the Jaber or Salem branch.) 4. (C) Shaykh Nawaf is about 67 years old but looks younger and appears to be in robust health. URBANCIC |