INTERIOR MINISTRY OFFICIAL APPRAISES KSS

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 002512

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2014
TAGS: PREL PTER ASEC PGOV KU
SUBJECT: INTERIOR MINISTRY OFFICIAL APPRAISES KSS
PERFORMANCE


Classified By: CDA MATTHEW TUELLER; REASON 1.4 (B)


1. (C)SUMMARY: In an August 8 meeting with Charge, Interior
Ministry Undersecretary LtGen Nasser Al-Othman said that the
Ministry will not stop in its efforts to uncover militant
activities in Kuwait. Al-Othman also spoke of a need to
improve KSS and for the organization to be more aggressive in
pursuing terror suspects. END SUMMARY


2. (C) On August 8, Charge called on Interior Ministry
Undersecretary LtGen Nasser Ahmed Al-Othman. Charge thanked
Al-Othman for the security the Ministry has provided to the
US Embassy and US citizens in Kuwait. He also congratulated
him on the recent arrests of Kuwaitis suspected of supporting
Al-Qa'ida by recruiting militants to strike US targets in
Iraq and Kuwait. Al-Othman commented that the Ministry,s
aim is not merely to prepare these cases for prosecution but
to get more information and to develop additional leads on
possible suspects. He assured Charge that they are not
relenting on the investigation and are following up on all
leads.

KSS Must Do Better
--------------

3. (C) LtGen Al-Othman said the Kuwait State Security (KSS)
must be more aggressive in pursuing terrorists and terrorist
supporters. He remarked that had three Kuwaiti youths not
been apprehended in Syria after trying to enter Iraq in July,
they would still be in Kuwait, unknown to security officials
and planning attacks. The detentions led to KSS raids and to
the arrest of many more terror suspects here. He used this
point to illustrate that KSS must do better and must be more
aggressive in its approach to apprehending militants.
Al-Othman remarked that Kuwait is in a middle phase of
security efforts against militants but must move to the next
step. He stated that security officials are now able to
surround and apprehend militants but they must make efforts
to penetrate the organizations as well.


4. (C) Al-Othman stated KSS also needs good investigators
with good training. Because of this need, Al-Othman
expressed an interest in future training opportunities with
US law enforcement officials. He said that KSS personnel
must become more skilled. He also expressed hope for
improved interoperability with US law enforcement officials
in the future.


5. (C) COMMENT: LtGen Nasser Al-Othman,s view of the KSS
appears to be closely aligned with that of the Interior
Minister*that KSS needs to be reformed and revitalized if it
is to better protect Kuwaiti citizens and residents from
militant activities in Kuwait.
TUELLER