S/CT COORDINATOR CRUMPTON DISCUSSES

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 ABU DHABI 001930

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR S/CT, NEA/FO, NEA/ARP, NEA/IR AND INR/NESA
NSC FOR FTOWNSEND, JZARATE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2016
TAGS: PTER PINS PREL KISL KPAL IR IZ AE
SUBJECT: S/CT COORDINATOR CRUMPTON DISCUSSES
COUNTERTERRORISM WITH UAE STATE SECURITY DIRECTOR


ABU DHABI 00001930 001.2 OF 003


Classified By: AMBASSADOR MICHELE J. SISON, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (S) Summary: During a May 7 meeting, Department of State
Coordinator for Counterterrorism Henry Crumpton and UAE State
Security Director Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed al-Nahyan discussed
counterterrorism cooperation and the need to find new ways to
coordinate intelligence activities and counter-terror policy
to face the Iranian threat. While the UAE is aware that
Iranian intelligence is selecting potential targets inside
the UAE, and the Emiratis want to defend their interests,
Sheikh Hazza also made it clear that his government does not
want to provoke Iran. Hazza reported that the State Security
Directorate (SSD) had created a new unit to respond to
Iranian activity and Shi'a extremists, including Hizballah.
Concerning the Palestinian situation, Sheikh Hazza stated
that if Hamas were to govern successfully, it would embolden
other Islamists in the Arab world. In his view, Fatah should
be encouraged to reform so that it can provide a viable
alternative to Hamas. Sheikh Hazza's elaboration on the role
of the Muslim Brotherhood in the UAE and in the region,
including the organization's structure and methods, was the
most detailed account of the Islamist threat we have heard
from the UAE leadership to date. End Summary.


2. (U) On May 7, Department of State Coordinator for
Counterterrorism Henry Crumpton and Ambassador met with UAE
State Security Director Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed al-Nahyan, SSD
Director of External Relations Col. Hamed al-Shamsi, and SSD
Director for Counterterrorism Maj. Saif Majed al-Meheiri.
Crumpton was accompanied by S/CT Senior Advisor Michael
Hurley, and Polchief was note taker.


3. (S) Crumpton and Sheikh Hazza reviewed recent progress on
U.S.-UAE counterterrorism cooperation, including the recent
Joint Terrorist Financing Coordinating Committee's
deliberations (septel) and the proposed U.S. Customs
(DHS/ICE) - Dubai Customs Tactical Cash Courier operation.
Crumpton noted that he would be testifying before the House
International Relations Committee about the Country Reports
on Terrorism later this month and that he would be naming the
UAE as a "key partner" in the War on Terror.

Iranian Threat
--------------


4. (S) Sheikh Hazza spoke for several minutes about the
counterterrorism challenges facing the UAE, focusing
especially on the Iranian threat. He noted his satisfaction
with the level of U.S.-UAE cooperation in fighting Al Qaida
and terrorism in the post-9/11 period, but he talked about
the need to find new ways to coordinate intelligence
activities to face the Iranian threat. "We need to bring all
our efforts and resources together to face this crisis. ...
Iran is a large neighbor," he said. Sheikh Hazza mentioned
the UAE's ongoing interest in working with "friends" to help
stabilize the situation in Iraq and reduce Iranian
infiltration inside Iraq. The UAE fears that Iranian
infiltration will not stop with Iraq, but will spread to
Saudi Arabia and Bahrain as well, he added.


5. (S) In the eighties, Sheikh Hazza continued, Iranians
smuggled weapons and explosives into the UAE, but SSD was
able to intercept these shipments. Iranians have also
attempted to penetrate countries by exporting extremists
abroad. The UAE is trying its best to prevent this, but at
the same time, the Emiratis are being careful to avoid
conflict with Iran, Sheikh Hazza told Crumpton. "There is
Iranian intelligence activity in the UAE. They are gathering
as much information as they can for their future preparations
so they are able to identify many targets in the UAE," he
said. Sheikh Hazza also expressed concern that Hizballah in
Lebanon was serving as an important source of intelligence
for Iran.


6. (S) Sheikh Hazza assured Crumpton that the UAE intends to
protect itself and its friends like the United States that
have military and other assets in the UAE. "We need to
coordinate and cooperation on Iranian intelligence
activities," he said. However, Sheikh Hazza reiterated that
the UAE did not want to provoke Iran: "We are not going to
harm Iran. We are going to defend our interests."


7. (S) Crumpton assessed that it was important that Iran not
be seen as a "monolithic entity." There are different
actors, such as President Ahmedinejad, the clerics, and the

ABU DHABI 00001930 002.2 OF 003


students. Ahmedinejad and the clergy are both hardliners,
but there is political animosity between them, he said. "Our
policy toward Iran must be geared toward these different
entities," Crumpton asserted. Sheikh Hazza asked about the
timeframe for this policy, and also whether the U.S. intended
to step up pressure on Iran. Crumpton responded that the
approach would be long-term and welcomed "specific
intelligence and policy recommendations from Iran's neighbors
... We are going to be determined and careful." Crumpton
spoke of a coalition of countries willing to work together to
stop Iran, as well as "specific measures, each calibrated
based on our objectives." He welcomed UAE advice on how
Ahmedinejad's power might be diminished. For his part,
Sheikh Hazza asked Crumpton for his views on Russia's offer
to enrich uranium on behalf of the Iranians.

Hizballah and Iranian Ties
--------------


8. (S) Crumpton and Sheikh Hazza agreed that Iran posed a
present threat and that Hizballah was an extension of Iran.
Hizballah also gives political and financial backing to
Palestinian rejectionists and has "growing links" in southern
Iraq, Crumpton assessed. Hizballah owes its sophistication
to Iranian training. "We know they operate inside the U.S.
They are patient ... and very aggressive," posing a terrorism
threat as well as a counterintelligence threat, Crumpton told
Sheikh Hazza. The United States would be grateful if the UAE
could share any information on Hizballah and Iran. Sheikh
Hazza said the SSD's newly created special unit to deal with
Iranian activity and Shi'a extremists would enable greater
cooperation and coordination between the UAE and U.S.
Crumpton emphasized the importance of the U.S. and the UAE
coordinating thinking on counter-terror policy.

Support for Palestinians
--------------


9. (S) Asked for his assessment of Hamas and the situation in
the Palestinian territories, Sheikh Hazza responded that if
Hamas were to successfully govern, it would embolden other
Islamists in the Arab world. It was important, however, for
the international community and for Palestinians to encourage
Fatah to reform so that Fatah could provide a viable
alternative to Hamas, Sheikh Hazza said. Crumpton agreed
that Hamas' likely failure as a governing institution will be
a lesson for others.

Disdain for Muslim Brotherhood
--------------


10. (S) Crumpton sought Sheikh Hazza's views on the Muslim
Brotherhood and its operations within the region. Sheikh
Hazza underscored his country's dislike for Islamist groups
like the Muslim Brotherhood. "We believe that in the future
they are going to commit the same stupid things as al-Qaida.
There is no difference between the ideology of al-Qaida and
the Muslim Brotherhood," he insisted. Asked by the
Ambassador whether the Muslim Brotherhood had made efforts to
infiltrate schools and mosques in the UAE, Sheikh Hazza
explained that Muslim Brotherhood extremists were "very
organized." Muslim Brotherhood sympathizers in the UAE
belong to a larger Muslim Brotherhood structure, he
continued. The SSD believes the Muslim Brotherhood has
helped al-Qaida by issuing fatwas. "Just watch Yusuf
al-Qaradawi," Sheikh Hazza exclaimed, referring to the Muslim
scholar who has a weekly show on al-Jazeera satellite
television. Within the Muslim Brotherhood structure, there
are different levels of ideology, with those advocating
violence at one extreme, he said. "We think we can counter
them by changing the educational system and through social
development," Sheikh Hazza asserted.


11. (S) Sheikh Hazza offered further details on the Muslim
Brotherhood in the UAE, noting that it consists of a main
organization and several smaller organizations (majlis
al-shourah). These smaller units try to infiltrate student
groups and teachers. There is also an armed unit. The UAE
security forces have captured members of their armed unit,
and a Ministry of Interior investigation is ongoing. The
Muslim Brotherhood's "final target" is to capture power, so
the organization is attempting to recruit members of the UAE
armed forces, he said. In the region, the Muslim Brotherhood
is attempting to influence the educational system, he
continued. The group has reportedly put codes in textbooks

ABU DHABI 00001930 003.2 OF 003


designed to influence students' political views. Sheikh
Hazza further described how each cell, or family, has a
leader and a deputy leader. These leaders, or emirs, meet
annually in Egypt, Turkey, England, and Germany, according to
Sheikh Hazza. Muslim Brotherhood members play 7 percent of
their income to the organization. The Muslim Brotherhood has
commercial interests and supports charitable concerns, he
added. Ambassador reminded Sheikh Hazza that the USG had
passed a paper to the UAEG in January requesting
investigation of Human Appeal International, an Emirate of
Ajman-based NGO with Muslim Brotherhood ties suspected of
serving as a "feeder" for Hamas and elements of the al-Qaida
network.


12. (S) The UAE,s concern about the Muslim Brotherhood stems
in part from the fact that the organization is behaving the
way Iran is behaving in Iraq, said Sheikh Hazza. He assessed
that the Muslim Brotherhood "could make a problem for the
whole world," although he said that the UAE did not face a
serious "problem" from the Muslim Brotherhood. He promised
to make a further presentation about the Muslim Brotherhood
this summer during his next visit to the United States
(scheduled to take place "before September").


13. (S) Sheikh Hazza told Crumpton that the UAEG believes it
is responding to terrorism "in a very frank way" even though
it is not always capable of doing everything. Sheikh Hazza
admitted feeling "depressed" by the negative publicity his
country received during the Dubai Ports World affair.
However, "For the UAE Government, we are not upset (about
what was said). We know that people judge without knowing
where the UAE is located," he said. The UAE is trying to
counter extremism and ensure its security by expanding its
economic relations, developing its educational system, and
ensuring a moderate form of religious expression. The UAE
hopes to serve as a model of cooperation between the West and
the Arab world, Sheikh Hazza added. Crumpton agreed that the
UAE's economic development and its many examples of
globalization demonstrate how interdependent countries have
become. While Sheikh Hazza said he would like the U.S.
public and Congress to have a favorable impression of the
UAE, he cautioned that there are many details of its
counterterrorism cooperation with the United States that
cannot be publicized -) for the UAE's own protection.
SISON