HALTING THE FLOW OF FOREIGN INSURGENTS TO IRAQ:

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 003290 SIPDIS FOR NEA/ARPI; LONDON FOR TSOU E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2015 TAGS: PTER PREL KISL KU TERRORISM SUBJECT: HALTING THE FLOW OF FOREIGN INSURGENTS TO IRAQ: KUWAIT STRIVES TO BE A CENTER OF ISLAMIC MODERATION REF: A. STATE 136754 ¶B. KUWAIT 2624 ¶C. KUWAIT 1308 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Matthew H. Tueller for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Charge delivered July 25 ref a demarche to Shaykh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, President of the National Security Bureau (NSB). He explained that the U.S. was approaching several governments, with an emphasis on Iraq's neighbors, to underscore concerns about the presence of foreign fighters in Iraq and the need to prevent their entry, an effort supported by the Iraqi Transitional Government (ITG). He noted that many of the young men apprehended by Iraqi, U.S. and coalition forces were third country nationals drawn to Iraq by a distorted view of jihad. Not only did they present a threat to Iraq, particularly the innocent civilians injured or killed in recent attacks, but also to their home nations to which they might return with "credentials" earned in Iraq. Drawing from reftel, he suggested the GOK strengthen its intelligence- and information-sharing with the U.S. and others, and also look at imposing travel restrictions or improving the security of passports or other identity documents. He also invited GOK recommendations on how to quell the flow of insurgents to Iraq. "We're in the Same Boat with You" -------------- ¶2. (C) Shaykh Sabah Al-Khaled responded that the flow of insurgents and terrorists to Iraq was an immediate concern. He said the GOK was focusing its efforts on the problem and Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah traveled to Syria July 21 for meetings with President Bashar Al-Asad on border security. According to Sabah Al-Khaled, Al-Asad claimed the GOS had increased security on the Syrian side, but complained that there was not a sufficient Iraqi, American, or coalition presence on the other side. Sabah Al-Khaled noted that Syria was of particular interest to the GOK because the few Kuwaitis apprehended in Iraq had all traveled via Syria. He commented that a network was in place to facilitate their travel and said the GOK was concerned they would return to Kuwait, view it as a "soft target," and launch domestic attacks. As an example, he cited Nasser Khlaif Al-Enezi, a member of the Lions of the Peninsula cell uncovered at the beginning of the year, who had spent four months training in Iraq, getting there by way of Syria. He returned to Kuwait and immediately began planning attacks and was killed in January by Kuwait security forces. Sabah Al-Khaled also informed the Charge that Kuwait and the ITG had direct talks about border security. He said Ministry of Interior officials met with ITG counterparts on the margins of the Istanbul neighbors' meeting and no complaints were raised. Stating, "We're in the same boat with you," Sabah Al-Khaled said securing borders was in the national interest of Iraq's neighbors and the GOK was ready to cooperate. He added that the GOK welcomed any available information on Kuwaitis apprehended or detained in Iraq. Kuwait to Become Center for Islamic Moderation -------------- - ¶3. (C) In addition to improving border control, the Charge identified stemming terror financing and limiting inflammatory statements by religious leaders as other ways to combat the insurgency. Sabah Al-Khaled referred to the GOK interministerial plan to promote moderation (ref b). He said the GOK took to heart British Prime Minister Blair's comments about the "evil of ideology" and was now working with moderate clerics from Morocco to Jordan to encourage tolerance. He said it was a long-term plan, but the GOK had the necessary funding and was committed to see it through. He further commented that the task was difficult, especially since extremists used modern technology such as the internet and text messages to spread hate, messages that resonated when young people were regularly bombarded with images of Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib, and the occupied territories. Shaykh Thamer Al-Sabah, NSB Office Director, noted that two government-run television stations were airing more public service announcements on tolerance than advertising. He added that local mosques had condemned recent attacks in London, Sharm El-Sheikh, Beirut, and Iraq, stressing that the insurgency was not Islam. Sabah Al-Khaled said the GOK took the attacks in London and Sharm El-Sheikh seriously: they were proof "we are not immune from anything happening in the neighborhood." The Charge commended GOK efforts and encouraged the GOK to work with other Arab states on spreading the importance of tolerance and moderation. Using Every Law in the Book to Combat Terrorism -------------- -- ¶4. (C) Responding to the Charge's question about the adequacy of Kuwaiti laws to try terrorists and their supporters, Sabah Al-Khaled said new and stronger laws were needed, but since passing new legislation was a cumbersome process, the GOK was currently using all existing laws to "bridge the gap." For example, terror supporter Hamad Abdullah Al-Ali, would be charged with "damaging the relationship of Kuwait with its neighbors" and "harming the security of Kuwait" in the absence of laws to try him for his suspected involvement in sending jihadis to Iraq. ¶5. (U) Khartoum and Tripoli: Minimize considered. ********************************************* Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website ********************************************* TUELLER