Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04KUWAIT1504
2004-05-12 12:50:00
SECRET
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:  

(U) RECRUITING KUWAITI KIDS TO FIGHT IN IRAQ

Tags:  PTER KISL ASEC MOPS IZ KU 
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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 001504 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/IR, NEA/ARN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2014
TAGS: PTER KISL ASEC MOPS IZ KU
SUBJECT: (U) RECRUITING KUWAITI KIDS TO FIGHT IN IRAQ

Classified By: CDA FRANK URBANCIC; REASON 1.4 (B, D).

S E C R E T KUWAIT 001504

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/IR, NEA/ARN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2014
TAGS: PTER KISL ASEC MOPS IZ KU
SUBJECT: (U) RECRUITING KUWAITI KIDS TO FIGHT IN IRAQ

Classified By: CDA FRANK URBANCIC; REASON 1.4 (B, D).


1. (U) The local Arabic-language daily Al-Qabas reported May
5 that a Kuwaiti had filed a complaint with his embassy in
Damascus, accusing Hamed al-Ali of recruiting his son to go
to Iraq via Syria. The story also reports that, according to
the Kuwaiti parent, the youths who are recruited will spend
time at "training camps" in Syria before entering Iraq.
Additionally, recruitees are reportedly being advised to
shave their beards and wear western clothes to deflect
suspicion. The article said Kuwait State Security was
investigating the matter.


2. (U) Shaykh Hamed al-Ali ("Shaykh" being an honorific
denoting status as a religious teacher) is a Kuwaiti and
former spokesman for the Salafi Movement (aka "Scientific
Salafis"). Kuwaiti authorities detained him recently after
his website was found linked to a site showing how to make
explosives. Al-Ali also made a public comment to the effect
that Kuwaitis did not have to go to Iraq for Jihad, the enemy
could be found in Kuwait. He was released after 4 days --
the maximum a suspect can be held without being referred to
the prosecutor.


3. (C) The Chairman of the National Security Bureau, Shaykh
Sabah al-Khaled al-Hamad al-Sabah, told visiting Deputy
National Security Advisor Fran Townsend May 4 that a Kuwaiti
in Syria had complained to the Embassy in Damascus May 2 that
his son and a friend, both 16-17 years old, were in Syria to
go fight in Iraq against the coalition. The man asked the
GOK's help to have Syrian authorities stop the boys. The
SARG had not yet responded (it had only been approached the
previous day). Prime Minister Shaykh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber
al-Sabah mentioned Hamed al-Ali to Ms. Townsend in a separate
meeting the same day (septel),claiming that he would be put
on trial -- apparently in connection with his earlier
detention, as the PM did not mention the Syrian angle.
URBANCIC