Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05MANAMA224
2005-02-16 12:50:00
SECRET
Embassy Manama
Cable title:  

BAHRAINIS PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE REGIONAL TERRORIST

Tags:  PTER ASEC PGOV PREL BA 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

161250Z Feb 05
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 MANAMA 000224 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, S/CT, DS
WHITE HOUSE FOR HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISOR TOWNSEND

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2015
TAGS: PTER ASEC PGOV PREL BA
SUBJECT: BAHRAINIS PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE REGIONAL TERRORIST
THREAT


Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).

-------
Summary
-------

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 MANAMA 000224

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, S/CT, DS
WHITE HOUSE FOR HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISOR TOWNSEND

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2015
TAGS: PTER ASEC PGOV PREL BA
SUBJECT: BAHRAINIS PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE REGIONAL TERRORIST
THREAT


Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. (C) Bahraini media have covered the threat of regional
terrorism in an unusually direct way following recent
incidents in Kuwait and Oman and the Saudi counter-terrorism
conference. The Interior Minister visited Kuwait February 6
and stated publicly that countries must work together to
eradicate terrorism before it poses a threat to Gulf national
security. The Defense Minister in a February 4 interview
recognized that no place is immune from terrorism, which has
"no nation, color, or creed." The CT conference in Riyadh
attracted daily, front-page coverage, in particular Saudi
Crown Prince Abdullah's proposal to establish an
international institution for combating terrorism. Prominent
politicians and activists interviewed by Al Wasat newspaper
asserted that terrorism is incompatible with Islam and many
expressed support for new laws to combat terror. While
Bahraini officials often speak privately about the dangers of
terrorism, they have not generally offered the same candor in
public comments. This shift may demonstrate their belated
recognition that Bahrain is no different from other countries
and could experience a future attack. End Summary.

--------------
Interior Minister Visits Kuwait
--------------


2. (SBU) The coincidence in timing of the Omani roundup of
extremists, clashes between Kuwaiti authorities and armed
terrorists (in which a Bahraini student was killed, among
other casualties),and the February 5-8 Saudi
counter-terrorism conference has led to an unusual amount of
press coverage of and public commentary on the regional
terrorist threat. The press prominently covered Interior
Minister Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa's February 6
visit to Kuwait in the immediate aftermath of the incidents
there. He said that he visited to express solidarity with
Kuwait and noted that he would discuss boosting security
cooperation in the fight against terrorism. He continued,

"We must all work to eradicate this danger before it spreads
and grows in a way that harms the people and poses a threat
to Gulf national security." He declared Bahrain's support
for all measures "to eradicate these criminal actions and to
confront jointly and firmly any attempt to undermine security
and stability in our peaceful region."

--------------
Defense Minister Cites Terrorism Danger
--------------


3. (SBU) Defense Minister General Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed
Al Khalifa addressed the issue in his February 4 interview
with Al Ayam and the Bahrain Tribune on the anniversary of
the founding of the Bahrain Defense Force. He recognized
that other regional countries, specifically Saudi Arabia and
Kuwait, have been harmed by terrorism, and stated, "Of
course, no country can claim that it is immune from attacks,
no matter how big or strong it is, and the last few years are
a sad reminder of this terrible truth. Terror has no nation,
color, or creed." He asserted, "We have unequivocally
condemned the attacks in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, just like
we condemn terrorist attacks wherever they take place. We
regret the terrible attacks in Kuwait, and we hope that they
will be over soon so that people in Kuwait can feel safe."

--------------
Prominent Coverage of Saudi CT Conference
--------------


4. (SBU) The February 5-8 counter-terrorism conference in
Saudi Arabia was given daily front-page coverage. Several
newspapers printed a full color photograph of Homeland
Security Advisor Townsend shaking hands with Saudi Crown
Prince Abdullah. The Saudi proposal to establish an
international institution for combating terrorism was widely
praised, and the Bahraini Cabinet formally supported the
proposal in a February 6 decision. Attention on the Saudi
suggestion swamped a Bahraini idea floated February 5 by
Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid during his visit to Kuwait,
when he called for the establishment of specialized national
centers to confront terrorism in the GCC states. (See septel
on the Ambassador's meeting with Shaikh Rashid.)

--------------
"Terror Incompatible with Islam"
--------------


5. (SBU) On February 7, independent newspaper Al Wasat
published interviews with eight members of Parliament and
political society leaders on the subject of terror incidents
in the Gulf. All condemned terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia
and Kuwait, with many adding that the terrorists violated the
teachings of Islam. Council of Representatives (COR) member
Dr. Saadi Mohammed, from the Minbar Islamic bloc, said that
"such deviant acts are incompatible with the teachings and
very spirit of Islam." Independent Salafi COR MP Jassim Al
Saeedi said, "I lay the blame on and reprimand all those who
affiliate themselves with Islam then kill and terrify
innocent people." He denied that Salafi teachings provide a
fertile environment for extremists, saying, "Since my
introduction to Salafi teachings, I have yet to see or hear
from Salafi scholars anything that encourages fanaticism or
extremism; on the contrary, they preach tolerance." He
stated that terrorism comes from sources outside of Salafi
teachings. Shura Council member Mansour Al Arrayed said, "We
must prove to the world that Islam is a religion that
encourages tolerance, moderation, and strongly denounces
violence."


6. (SBU) Those participating in the interviews addressed
possible responses to the specter of terrorism in the Gulf
region. Al Arrayed proposed that the GCC countries develop a
joint initiative to combat terrorism. President of Al Wifaq
National Islamic Society Shaikh Ali Salman urged governments
to deal with the roots of terror through implementation of
reform programs, and not focus solely on a security response.
Member of the National Democratic Action Society Radhi Al
Mousawi asserted that the solution to political frustration
is more democracy. He said that governments should confront
social problems such as poverty, unemployment, low wages, and
corruption.

--------------
New Laws to Address Terror
--------------


7. (SBU) COR MP Farid Ghazi supports new legislation
designed specifically to combat terrorism, but urged that
such laws must preserve human rights and dignity. COR MP
Yousef Zainal said that precautionary measures must be taken
to avert possible negative effects of anti-terror laws on
innocent civilians. Salafi MP Al Saeedi said that he
supports expediting the enactment of new laws to combat
terror and prevent the creation of new cells, but cautions
that they be in accordance with Islamic Sharia law.


8. (SBU) On February 9, widely read Al Wasat columnist Abbas
Busafwan wrote in his regular column that "it is a mistake to
say that Bahrainis are different and that Bahrain is far from
any terrorist attack. If terrorist attacks occurred in
Kuwait and Saudi Arabia and a fundamentalist group was
captured in Oman, why do we distance Bahrain from any
potential attack?" He adds, "We cannot rule out the
possibility of terrorist attacks or sleeping terrorist cells
in Bahrain."

--------------
Comment
--------------


9. (S) In a case of unusual candor, prominent Bahraini
officials, parliamentarians, activists, and journalists are
publicly acknowledging the possibility of terrorist attacks
occurring inside Bahrain. We often have heard this sentiment
in private, but the rash of incidents in Saudi Arabia,
Kuwait, and Oman have prompted influential Bahrainis to speak
more openly about an event possibly happening in Bahrain.
With regard to dealing with its own local extremists, the GOB
continues to provide tight surveillance of the four terror
suspects charged with conspiracy to carry out terrorist
attacks. In a possibly related development, the media
reported this week that the Cabinet is reviewing the draft
counter-terrorism law in preparation for passing it to
Parliament.

MONROE