Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04MANAMA1867
2004-12-14 06:35:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
Cable title:  

DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR HADLEY'S DECEMBER

Tags:  PREL MARR KDEM PGOV BA IR 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001867 

SIPDIS

NSC FOR DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR HADLEY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2014
TAGS: PREL MARR KDEM PGOV BA IR
SUBJECT: DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR HADLEY'S DECEMBER
4 MEETING WITH BAHRAINI CROWN PRINCE SALMAN

Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).

-------
Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001867

SIPDIS

NSC FOR DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR HADLEY

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2014
TAGS: PREL MARR KDEM PGOV BA IR
SUBJECT: DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR HADLEY'S DECEMBER
4 MEETING WITH BAHRAINI CROWN PRINCE SALMAN

Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. (C) Deputy National Security Advisor Hadley met with
Bahraini Crown Prince Salman December 4 on the margins of the
IISS Gulf Security Dialogue conference in Manama. DNSA
Hadley praised Bahrain's leadership role in the G8 Broader
Middle East reform initiative, and noted the President's
desire for progress in Israel/Palestinian peace negotiations.
The Crown Prince stated that the international community has
to communicate its model of a just society to counteract Al
Qaida's dangerous ideas. DNSA Hadley requested financial
support for the Palestinian Authority to ensure its viability
following the January elections. The Crown Prince raised the
increase in U.S. troops on the ground in Iraq, and DNSA
Hadley said that this was a temporary measure to increase
security during the Iraqi election period but that in the
long term Iraqis would comprise a larger percentage of the
troop strength. The CP said that Bahrain would support an
Iraqi decision to delay the elections, but the Iraqis had not
decided to do this. Turning to Bahrain, the CP said that
Bahrain had arrested the terrorist suspects to disrupt a plot
to attack before the U.S. elections. He could not predict
what the court might decide in the case against the four
suspects. End Summary.

--------------
Leader in Middle East Reform
--------------


2. (C) DNSA Hadley opened the December 4 meeting by thanking
the Crown Prince for his comments in the IISS Gulf Security
Dialogue conference, particularly about the U.S. seeking to
help those interested in political and economic reform in the
Middle East. The President believes strongly in the G8
Broader Middle East and North Africa initiative and
recognizes Bahrain's leadership role. The President sees a
strategic opportunity to achieve progress in the
Israel/Palestine issue. The Crown Prince pointed out his
view that the U.S. tends to talk privately to Israel but

publicly to the Arabs. The U.S. is in the process of
reassessing its approach and is looking for the best way to
move ahead.


3. (C) The Crown Prince said Bahrain recognizes that
maintaining security in an interdependent world requires
close coordination and communication. If there are concerns,
we have to address them right away and eliminate any
misunderstanding. Al Qaida is propagating dangerous ideas
and we cannot let the terrorists bring us to our knees. We
know we have a more just model of how we should live, and we
have to promote this model.

--------------
Financial Support for PA
--------------


4. (C) DNSA Hadley said the PA is strapped for cash and that
Finance Minister Fayyad is under pressure each month to pay
salaries. The international community should come together
to ensure that the PA is more financial viable following the
January 9 elections. Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Mubarak
Al Khalifa interjected that Mahmoud Abbas needs all the help
he can get. PM Sharon did not give him a chance to succeed
when Abbas was prime minister. On the financial side, donors
look at all the money that was given for schools and other
infrastructure projects, and it all was destroyed. Some
people ask why they should help again. He said, however, "we
in the Gulf are ready to help Abbas" to give him a chance to
succeed. In response to the Crown Prince's question, DNSA
Hadley replied that Hamas appears strong but the PA security
forces might be able to address the threat if they cooperated
and strengthened their capabilities. The CP said that Hamas
is popular in Gaza because it provides better services than
the PA and is not corrupt.

--------------
Al Qaida Allied with Baathists
--------------


5. (C) DNSA Hadley said that the U.S. and its allies had
eliminated 75 percent of Al Qaida's leadership. Local groups
associated with Al Qaida now have much looser affiliations
than was the case previously, and they do not have the
capacity to carry out a huge attack like 9/11. In Iraq, Al
Qaida may be allying itself with the Baathists, and our goal
should be to isolate them from the rest of the Iraqi
population. The Crown Prince mentioned that the U.S. was
increasing the number of troops on the ground in the lead up
to the January 30 elections, and agreed that this was
necessary. DNSA Hadley said that this was for a temporary
period only and Iraqis would eventually comprise a larger
percentage of the troop strength in the country, but this
takes time. U.S. forces in Iraq currently are a source of
both security and insecurity.


6. (C) DNSA Hadley suggested that Iraq's immediate priority
should be to get Iraqi Sunnis to participate in the upcoming
Iraqi elections. Though some had been encouraging the U.S.
to delay the elections, Hadley pointed out that this is an
Iraqi decision, not an American one. The Crown Prince
responded that Bahrain would support an Iraqi decision to
delay, but the Iraqis have not said this yet. DNSA Hadley
noted that the Shia want elections on time and delaying them
could cause a real dilemma. PM Alawi would have to decide
what he wants to do.

--------------
Case Against Bahraini Terrorist Suspects
--------------


7. (C) Regarding combating terrorism, DNSA Hadley said that
we must cooperate and share intelligence. When we find bad
guys, we have to keep them in custody and use the legal
process against them. In the case of Bahrain, we are aware
that there are many pressures, but we are concerned about the
arrest and release of terrorist suspects and the message this
sends. The CP replied that he understood the United States
had been most interested in disrupting an attack prior to the
U.S. elections. The GOB had heard the U.S. say that Bahrain
might or might not find something to use against the
terrorists; the important thing was to disrupt the plot. The
Crown Prince said that Bahrain had found only what was on the
suspects' personal computers and nothing else. When Bahrain
locks someone away, it must be for a good reason. At best,
the suspects could be sentenced to three years in prison; at
worst, they could get time served. The most dangerous
suspect is behind bars for six months for having fled the
court during a September hearing. The CP said he could not
predict what the court might do to the four suspects. The
U.S. should see that Bahrain is doing the best it can within
the rule of law. The suspects are under tight surveillance
and should not be cause for worry.


8. (C) In closing, DNSA Hadley alluded to U.S. concerns
about a possible retreat from the GOB's commitment to
political free speech and human rights, saying that
Washington valued Bahrain's leading role in this field and
hoped that it would be maintained. The CP took the point.


9. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.


10. (C) The NSC cleared this message.


MONROE