SUCCESSION: APPEAL FOR ROYAL TITLE DAMAGES

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 004407 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, INR E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2014 TAGS: PGOV PREL KU SUBJECT: SUCCESSION: APPEAL FOR ROYAL TITLE DAMAGES CHANCES FOR REAL POWER REF: A. KUWAIT 3391 ¶B. KUWAIT 3580 Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) In a December 15 meeting, a senior advisor to the Prime Minister told Poloff that Shaykh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah, Commander of the National Guard, had asked the Amir on November 30 -- in the presence of both the Crown Prince and PM -- "if (PM) Shaykh Sabah was more important than him" and demanded the title "His Highness." (Note: Shaykh Sabah was granted the title His Highness upon being named Prime Minister in July 2003. Shaykh Salem Al-Ali previously held the title "His Excellency." End Note.) The Amir acquiesced, bestowing the title of "His Highness" thus codifying Shaykh Salem's position as the number three person in the Al-Sabah family rank order, behind the Amir and Crown Prince. ¶2. (C) Downplaying the significance of the title, the PM's advisor told Poloff any chances Shaykh Salem had of becoming Crown Prince or Amir were effectively killed by the rash demand for the new title. He added that the demand was proof that Shaykh Salem did not possess the political acumen necessary to lead. ¶3. (SBU) Shaykh Salem started a flurry of speculation in October when he announced that major high-level Sabah family leadership changes were imminent (reftels). The eighty year old Shaykh is the senior member of the Salem branch, one of two branches (the other is the Jaber branch, from which the Amir comes) eligible for the two top posts. ¶4. (C) Comment: The abrupt December 1st official designation of National Guard Chief Shaykh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah as "His Highness" was the result of a direct appeal by Shaykh Salem to the Amir, and may have fatally damaged Shaykh Salem's chances of ever attaining the positions of either Crown Prince or Amir. His acquisition of the title "His Highness" is widely viewed as a concession by the Amir to a senior Al-Sabah family member who lacks in real influence what he enjoys in seniority. That said, he is still the most senior member of the Salem branch, and as such will most likely be in a position to influence the outcome of inner circle Al-Sabah deliberations on who will be the next Amir. ********************************************* Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website ********************************************* LEBARON