Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04MANAMA476
2004-04-05 13:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
Cable title:  

BAHRAIN ON SADR: VERBAL SUPPORT FOR US, MAYBE

Tags:  BA IZ MOPS PREL 
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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 MANAMA 000476 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR PM/RSAT AND PM/PMAT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2014
TAGS: BA IZ MOPS PREL
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN ON SADR: VERBAL SUPPORT FOR US, MAYBE
PUBLIC STATEMENT MONDAY NIGHT

REF: STATE 74537

Classified By: CDA Robert S. Ford, reason 1.4 (a) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000476

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR PM/RSAT AND PM/PMAT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2014
TAGS: BA IZ MOPS PREL
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN ON SADR: VERBAL SUPPORT FOR US, MAYBE
PUBLIC STATEMENT MONDAY NIGHT

REF: STATE 74537

Classified By: CDA Robert S. Ford, reason 1.4 (a) and (d)


1. (C) Bahraini Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
Abdelghaffar expressed strong (verbal) support for Coalition
operations to contain Muqtada Sadr and the Jaysh al-Mahdi.
Charge stressed the challenge Sadr represents in Iraq and the
need for a forceful Coalition response. Abdelghaffar agreed
that the Coaltion needs to restore stability and bring law
and order to Iraq. Charge pressed hard for a Bahraini public
statement of support for Coalition operations. The Minister
understood the request and said he would seek guidance.


2. (C) Charge also called the MFA Assistant Undersecretary
Sheikh Abdelaziz bin Mubarak (the younger brother of the
Bahraini Foreign Minister and a member of the ruling
al-Khalifa family with consistently good contacts at the
Palace) to make the same points. Charge emphasized our need
for a Bahraini public statement of support given the likely
greater profile of our military operations. Abdelaziz said
issuing a public Bahraini statement made sense to him, and he
promised to relay our request immediately to the Foreign
Minister.


3. (C) Comment: The Bahrainis were noticeably uninformed
about what occured on the ground in Najaf and Baghdad on
Sunday. (Their attention has been focused totally on their
Grand Prix racing event April 4.) As we have reported
previously, the GoB is keenly interested in Iraq's Shia
community and the relative balance of power in Iraq. We
think they will pay more attention to the Iraq news now, and
that they will be supportive on operations to restrain Sadr.
If we don't get a public statement on April 5, Charge will
press again at a higher level on April 6.
FORD