MEETING WITH NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR OF IRAQ,

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 005210

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI AND NEA/I

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/27/2025
TAGS: PREL ASEC IZ IR AE
SUBJECT: MEETING WITH NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR OF IRAQ,
DR. MOWAFFAK AL RUBAIE

Classified By: CDA Martin R. Quinn. Reason: 1.4 (b and d)


1. (C) Summary: In response to Dr. Rubaie's
out-of-the-blue request for a meeting, CDA met with Iraqi
National Security Adviser Mowaffak Al Rubaie at 6 p.m.,
December 26. Visiting the UAE to address a conference on the
Iraqi Constitution, Al Rubaei expressed interest in
approaching UAEG for financial support for infrastructure
projects in Iraq and discussed the post-election scene and
his hopes for Iraq. End summary.


2. (C) CDA met with Iraqi National Security Adviser Dr.
Mowaffak Al Rubaie at the embassy at 6 p.m. December 26 in
response to an unexpected telephone request for same.
Members of Dr. Al Rubaie's traveling party included Sheikh
Khaleel Al Shallal Al Jarba (National Security Adviser for
Iraqi Tribal Affairs),Dr. Samir Al Sadoon, Iraqi Embassy
Charge Mustafa Kamal Aboud, and US adviser Major Chris
Lindstrom. Abu Dhabi RSO Tom Barnard also participated in
the meeting.


3. (C) Dr. Al Rubaie was invited to Abu Dhabi to address a
December 27-28 conference on the Iraqi Constitution sponsored
by the quasi-official, UAEG-funded think tank, the Emirates
Center for Strategic Studies and Research. With regard to
the December 15 Iraqi elections, Al Rubaie expressed pride
and optimism in the fact that 71% of the population had voted
and that the time had come when Iraq could turn a new page in
its history through the democratic process. Al Rubaie said
he agreed with Ambassador Khalilzad and spoke of the urgent
need to overcome factionalism in Iraq and to develop an
inclusive framework and a Unity government. He noted,
however, that most Iraqis had voted along ethnic and
religious lines.


4. (C) Al Rubaie inquired about UAE support for Iraq, and CDA
sketched in broad outline the UAE's Madrid pledge, the
pattern of disbursements, its disposition on Iraqi debt
forgiveness, and preference to channel contributions toward
specific projects rather than awarding outright cash grants.
Al Rubaie said there was a great need for infrastructure
improvement in Iraq as well as for educated Iraqi exiles to
return home and repatriate their nation-building skills.


5. (C) With seeming spontaneity Al Rubaie floated an idea of
approaching the UAE for support of what he said could be
called "Shaykh Zeyed hospitals" in Iraq, basic medical
treatment centers, one to be located in each of 15 provinces
that need such facilities at an approximate cost of $10M each
-- $150M in all. CDA indicated that the UAE often favored
humanitarian projects.


6. (C) Discussion centered on the outrages of the Saddam
Hussein regime, the inevitable hardships and difficulties
that follow any sudden change of government, as well as
America's substantial investment of blood and treasure in
support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Al Rubaie pointedly
asked whether American embassies had reported Saddam's crimes
prior to 1990. CDA assured him that indeed these acts had
been reported, but that the unprovoked invasion of Kuwait in
August 1990 marked a turning point, crystallizing US and
international awareness of how dangerous Saddam's Iraq truly
was.


7. (C) Subsequent discussion focused on expectations for Iraq
in the future, GCC interest in Iraq's long-term stability and
UAE's demonstrated willingness to sponsor projects deemed
worthy. In conversation about democratic institutions as
intrinsic guarantees of long-term political and social
stability, Al Rubaie asked about UAE attitudes towards Iran,
the significance of the islands dispute, as well as the sense
of alarm ("legitimate fear") with regard to Iranian nuclear
facilities expressed at the conclusion of the recent GCC
summit. Al Rubaie appeared to be fishing for guidance on how
to pitch the "Iraq-Iran relationship" of the future to
influential UAE interlocutors he might encounter.


8. (C) Comment: Al Rubaie remarked that this was his first
visit to the Emirates in more than 15 years and before he had
only been to Dubai. He spoke briefly about his neurological
practice in the UK, his family in London and plans to visit
them over New Year's. Cordial throughout, but every so often
indicating an inclination to be critical ("It's harder to get
into this Embassy than the White House."),Al Rubaie
concluded the meeting by saying that he was glad to hear that
other Americans -- in addition to President Bush -- supported
Iraqis and believed in their future.
QUINN