(S) ISLAMIST EXTREMIST WANTS TO TALK TO U.S., SAYS

S E C R E T KUWAIT 001661 SIPDIS STATE FOR S/CT, INR/NESA, NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.6X1 TAGS: PTER KISL PREL KJUS PINR KU SUBJECT: (S) ISLAMIST EXTREMIST WANTS TO TALK TO U.S., SAYS MFA REF: KUWAIT 1500 Classified By: CDA FRANK URBANCIC; REASON 1.6 X1. ¶1. (S) MFA Acting Undersecretary Amb. Khaled al-Babtain convoked CDA May 25 to tell him that Jaber al-Jalahma "has information" for the US Embassy. As reported reftel, DNSA Fran Townsend singled out Jalahma by name during her May 4 meeting with Prime Minister Shaykh Sabah al-Ahmed, as an extremist who needs to be stopped; in reply, the PM sought to reassure her that the GOK has him under control. ¶2. (S) We intend to take up this offer promptly. Babtain said the meeting should occur at MFA, for the sake of discretion. ¶3. (S) COMMENT: Babtain made it sound like this was Jalahma's own initiative, but it may very well be that the GOK is putting him up to it, in a bid to persuade us of the PM's argument to Ms. Townsend that the GOK is able to coopt extremists and moderate their behavior. URBANCIC