KUWAITI CONTACTS BRIEF KUWAIT COUNTRY OFFICER ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 004116

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/19/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL PBTS PHUM KWMN KISL SOCI OTRA PINR KU TERRORISM
SUBJECT: KUWAITI CONTACTS BRIEF KUWAIT COUNTRY OFFICER ON
SUCCESSION, TERRORISM, AND WOMEN'S POLITICAL RIGHTS

Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (SBU) Summary: Country Officer for Kuwait, David Berns,
met September 18 with Jassem Boodai, owner and
editor-in-chief of the Arabic-language daily Al-Rai Al-Aam;
Salim Al-Nashi, official spokesman of the Traditional
Salafis; and Dr. Lubna Al-Kazi and Ma'souma Al-Abdullah,
members of the Women's Social and Cultural Society, which
actively promotes women's rights in Kuwait. Boodai told
Berns the issue of succession currently dominated political
discussion in Kuwait. Al-Nashi explained his organization's
opposition to women's suffrage, but noted that now that it
had been granted, the Traditional Salafis would court women's
votes. Al-Nashi also condemned terrorism based on Islam and
characterized Al-Qaeda leaders as "criminals." Al-Kazi and
Al-Abdullah highlighted the challenges still facing women's
full integration into Kuwaiti political life. Berns also
accompanied Emboffs on a visit to the Kuwait-Iraq border to
view the area where Iraqi-owned farms extend into Kuwaiti
territory. End summary.

Hot Issues: Succession and Terrorism
--------------


2. (C) Jassem Boodai, editor-in-chief of Al-Rai Al-Aam, told
Berns the most pressing political issue in Kuwait was the
dispute within the ruling family over succession. Boodai
presented several different hypothetical succession
scenarios, which could result in an Al-Sabah other than Prime
Minister Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah becoming
Amir. He specifically mentioned family elder Shaykh Salem
Al-Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah as a possible alternative. Deadlock
within the ruling family over succession has stalled
political decision-making in Kuwait, Boodai said.


3. (SBU) Al-Nashi told Berns that Islam categorically
condemned the killing of Muslims, explaining that Al-Qaeda
leaders Osama Bin Laden, Ayman Al-Zawahiri and Abu Musat
Al-Zarqawi were not clerics and did not have the right to
issue fatwas legitimizing terrorism. He went even further,
characterizing these Al-Qaeda leaders as "criminals."
(Comment: While Islamists frequently criticize terrorism and
violence in general, such pointed, personal criticism of UBL,
et al, especially on religious grounds, is rare. End
comment.) Al-Nashi also questioned why the U.S. was so hated
in the Middle East when it had defended Muslims against
aggression in Bosnia and Kuwait.

Women's Suffrage: Who Will Gain?
--------------


4. (SBU) Salim Al-Nashi, spokesman for the Traditional
Salafis, explained to Berns that his organization opposed
women's suffrage in Kuwait because it was counter to Islam.
Asked the Traditional Salafis' position now that women's
suffrage had been granted, Al-Nashi said his organization
would court women's votes to promote their own Islamist
agenda and to prevent more liberal groups from profiting from
women's suffrage. He explained this was permissible since
Islam allowed interpretations of fatwas to change depending
on political circumstances.


5. (SBU) Dr. Lubna Al-Kazi and Ma'souma Al-Abdullah
highlighted the challenges still facing women in
participating in Kuwaiti politics. Al-Abdullah cited the
difficulties women have obtaining loans from banks and the
exclusion of women from male social circles like diwaniyas
where politics and business are discussed. (Note: Diwaniyas
are traditionally frequented by men. There are, however, a
few female and mixed diwaniyas. End note.) Al-Kazi said it
was important for Kuwaiti women to capitalize on their
suffrage and engage actively in politics. She also asked for
help identifying successful Kuwaiti women to speak to the
Women's Social and Cultural Society on how to break through
the "glass ceiling." (Note: There remains little
interaction among women's groups in Kuwait. The Embassy can
assist by providing numerous suggestions for successful
Kuwaiti women speakers. End note.)

Visit to the Kuwait-Iraq Border
--------------


6. (SBU) Escorted by Kuwaiti Minister of Interior (MOI)
border police, Emboffs and Berns drove September 18 along the
Kuwait-Iraq border from the Navistar Coalition crossing to
the edges of Umm Qasr to examine the Kuwaiti border barrier
and UN border demarcation posts. The physical demarcation of
the border is marked by large cement posts installed by
UNIKOM approximately every two kilometers. The Kuwaitis have
installed a metal border barrier approximately three feet
from the UN demarcated border.

7. (SBU) In three locations, Iraqi farms clearly extended
between three to six meters into Kuwaiti territory. These
locations were marked by gaps of several hundred meters in
the Kuwaiti border barrier. The most egregious border
violation was near Umm Qasr where Iraqi houses are located
more than 12 meters inside Kuwaiti territory; the houses were
even built around UN border post number 105 clearly
demarcating the border.


8. Country Officer for Kuwait Berns has cleared this message.

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