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