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.

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