REGIONAL CT STRATEGY FOR IRAQ AND ITS NEIGHBORS:

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 05 KUWAIT 001675 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR S/CT, NEA, INL (TODD),PM; NCTC FOR HARTLEY; DOJ FOR SWARTZ; OSD FOR MANCUSO; LONDON FOR TSOU; PARIS FOR ZEYA; PLEASE PASS TO USAID (WARD) E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/06/2016 TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV IZ KU SY JO TU SA SUBJECT: REGIONAL CT STRATEGY FOR IRAQ AND ITS NEIGHBORS: RESULTS OF APRIL 26 COM VIDEO CONFERENCE REF: A. KUWAIT 1421 ¶B. KUWAIT 913 Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S REL AUS UK) Summary: Chiefs of Mission from Kuwait, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Syria conferred via video conference on April 26 to follow up on Regional Strategy Initiative (RSI) proposals first formulated at a March 7-8 counterterrorism (CT) strategy session in Kuwait (Ref A) to counter foreign fighters entering and leaving Iraq. Coordinator for Counterterrorism Ambassador Henry Crumpton and interagency representatives participated from Washington and other sites. Embassy Baghdad and Embassy Ankara were not able to participate due to visits of Secretaries Rice and Rumsfeld. JSOC Commander briefed on the DoD foreign fighter strategy and endorsed the RSI. COMs recommended interagency support for the following proposals: -- A regional biometrics meeting of U.S. and foreign counterparts to coordinate policies on biometrics to be held in Jordan, with S/CT identifying funding and DOJ and DHS coordinating on agenda and content. -- The S/CT request for the establishment of CT specialist positions in the geographic bureaus and S/CT support for the Regional Strategy Initiative. -- PM exploration of options for staffing Joint Interagency Task Forces (JIATF) to facilitate State-DoD CT coordination. JSOC has invited S/CT and PM to visit JIATF West in Iraq. -- Use of existing mechanisms such as the Arab League and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for regular engagement and consultations with regional partners on CT issues. -- Directing more CT training at mid-level Ministry of Interior officials, in multi-country group programs to build cross-border professional relationships. -- Embassy consultation with host governments about their willingness to participate in future regional training programs, at the Jordan International Police Training Center (JIPTC) in Amman. Embassy Riyadh will solicit Saudi financial support for JIPTC renovation as INL finalizes a strategy for JIPTC use and funding. -- Embassy recommendations to NEA and S/CT on what additional information-sharing by Embassy Baghdad would enhance regional CT efforts. 
-- Embassy coordination with ECA on detailed requests with ECA for expanded exchange and scholarship programs to promote religious tolerance. -- S/CT engagement with DS, EB, and USAID on including CT issues in private sector outreach. Agreed actions are shown in paras 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20. End Summary. Regional Biometrics And Forensics Conference -------------- KUWAIT 00001675 002 OF 005 ¶3. (S REL AUS UK) Embassy Amman reported that King Abdullah would be pleased to have Jordan host a regional conference on biometrics, with the intelligence directorate taking the lead. COMs agreed that the meeting should have a relatively low profile, with sub-ministerial participants. They committed to contacting their host governments to seek advance agreement on three conference objectives and report the findings to Embassy Amman: -- Obtain a political commitment by participating governments to share biometrics data on a case-by-case basis. More automatic data sharing can be addressed at a later time. -- Appoint senior points of contact in each government on biometrics and information-sharing issues. -- Consider integrating the U.S. IAFES automated fingerprint system into any agreed biometrics collection and sharing mechanism, and seek compatibility with the FBI's ongoing Global Fingerprint Initiative. Conferees noted the importance of intragovernment cooperation and system compatibility for any biometrics program. COMs acknowledged other related initiatives at DOJ and the need for close U.S. interagency cooperation on conference preparations. They agreed that Arab governments should lead the process as much as possible to keep the focus on developing partner nation capacity. There was also discussion of whether it would be appropriate for Syria to participate in the effort. ¶4. (S REL AUS UK) Action: Embassies will discuss a potential biometrics conference with host governments, and seek advance agreement on conference objectives and share host country views with Embassy Amman; the Government of Jordan will likely host. S/CT will identify funding resources. S/CT will work with DOJ and other relevant agencies to ensure the conference complements, and is compatible with, existing standards and initiatives. NEA and S/CT will formulate a policy decision on Syrian participation. Embassy Amman will seek Government of Jordan views on inviting Syria to the conference. Saudi Arabia as a Regional CT Focus -------------- ¶5. (S REL AUS UK) Embassy Riyadh assessed that Saudi regional leadership on CT issues is constrained by the situation in Iraq and Syria; improving bilateral cooperation in a regional context is a more realistic goal. The Saudis have a six-country initiative with the Gulf States that might serve as a useful regional mechanism, however. The Saudi government still sees its planned CT center as international, despite U.S. recommendations for a regional focus. Embassy Kuwait asked Embassy Riyadh to encourage the Saudi government to share with the Kuwaiti government the success of U.S.-Saudi CT cooperation, particularly on terrorist financing and regulation of charities issues. ¶6. (S REL AUS UK) Actions: Embassy Riyadh will quietly urge Saudi Arabia to enhance bilateral CT cooperation with regional partners and encourage inclusion of CT issues in the KUWAIT 00001675 003 OF 005 Saudi six-country initiative, with a focus on cash couriers. Embassy Riyadh, NEA, and S/CT will formulate renewed approaches to the Saudis on a regional focus for their CT center. RSI and Specialist CT Officers -------------- ¶7. (S REL AUS UK) S/CT briefed on the broader Regional Strategy Initiative (RSI),with the regional CT conferences in Jakarta and Kuwait to be followed by a Horn of Africa conference in May, an Eastern Mediterranean conference in June, and South Asia and North/South Mediterranean conferences planned for later in 2006. S/CT is seeking several new specialized CT positions to place in different regions, beginning in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa. FSI has developed a CT curriculum for use with entry-level, mid-level, and senior-level officers. ¶8. (S REL AUS UK) Actions: S/CT will work with relevant bureaus and the interagency on preparations for regional conferences. S/CT will consult with relevant posts and bureaus on placement of new CT specialist positions. Embassies will identify candidates for CT training at FSI. State Representation on JIACG/JIATF -------------- ¶9. (S REL AUS UK) JSOC advocated State representation on JIATF East and JIATF West to enhance State-DoD CT coordination. PM and S/CT stressed their support for the concept. PM is exploring options for appropriate staffing of JIATFs. JSOC invited PM and S/CT to visit JIATF West in Iraq to see its operation. ¶10. (S REL AUS UK) Actions: PM and DoD will seek agreement on appropriate State Department staffing of JIATFs. Regional Information Sharing -------------- ¶11. (S REL AUS UK) COMs had in Kuwait requested greater sharing of CT-related information between Embassy Baghdad and other posts in the region. Discussion at this meeting was constrained by the absence of Embassy Baghdad. S/CT asked Embassies to consider what information from Baghdad and Washington would aid their efforts to disrupt foreign fighter networks. ¶12. (S REL AUS UK) Actions: Embassies will advise NEA and S/CT what information they want from Baghdad and Washington to aid their CT efforts. Regional CT Partnerships -------------- ¶13. (S REL AUS UK) COMs agreed on regional partnership initiatives proposed by Embassy Kuwait (Ref B): -- Regularly consult with Arab League member Interior Ministers before Arab League meetings to influence League discussion of CT issues. Similar consultations on other KUWAIT 00001675 004 OF 005 issues are already held with Arab League member Foreign Ministers. The same can be done with GCC member Interior Ministers before GCC meetings. -- Conduct more multi-country anti-terrorism training programs, with particular emphasis on mid- to senior-level GCC member personnel. The chief aim is to promote professional relationships among regional security services that can be carried into very senior positions in time. ¶14. (S REL AUS UK) Actions: Embassies will begin meeting with host country Interior Ministers before Arab League and GCC meetings, as appropriate. Embassies will recommend specific names and/or ranks of security service personnel to S/CT for multi-country anti-terrorism training. Conversion of JIPTC to Regional CT Training Center -------------- -------------- ¶15. (S REL AUS UK) INL A/S Patterson is considering possible uses of the Jordan International Police Training Center (JIPTC) after it reverts to Jordanian control in December ¶2006. Four programs have been proposed: 1) Jordanian Police Training Center; 2) Regional Police Training Center; 3) International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA); and 4) Regional CT Training Center. The JIPTC facility is large enough that some or all of these uses could be adopted. Funding for renovation and maintenance is the biggest outstanding issue and INL is working on a funding strategy. S/CT is committed to arranging as much regional CT training as possible at JIPTC, with early emphasis on Lebanon and GCC members. ¶16. (S REL AUS UK) Actions: Embassies will assess host country willingness to participate in CT training programs at JIPTC. Embassy Riyadh will approach Saudi Arabia about contributing to JIPTC renovation and maintenance costs. INL will advise on JIPTC future use decision. Exchanges and Scholarships -------------- ¶17. (S REL AUS UK) COMs agreed that International Visitor (IV) programs and related exchanges and scholarships, particularly those involving Muslim religious figures, promote religious tolerance and greatly aid in the war on terror. COMs recommended that these programs be expanded. Embassy Kuwait singled out the positive local reception to a recent speech by Undersecretary Hughes on interfaith dialogue, and asked that such speeches be quickly translated into Arabic and disseminated. ECA briefed on plans to increase IV programs and put more funding into interfaith dialogue; a decision will soon be made on a new Islamic Dialogue. ECA asked that Embassies provide more information on what IV themes they prefer and encouraged more use of the Voluntary Visitor program. Questions and requests regarding scholarships should be sent to ECA/A Tom Farrell. Embassy Damascus asked that ECA work closely with DHS on the problems faced by Syrian IV participants at U.S. ports of entry. S/CT proposed that more consideration be given to bringing together religious scholars in the regions. USAID highlighted its Muslim Outreach program. NSC advised that general talking points on engaging with the Muslim community are being prepared for USG use. KUWAIT 00001675 005 OF 005 ¶18. (S REL AUS UK) Actions: Embassies will provide ECA with detailed requests for additional exchanges and scholarships. ECA will discuss the issue of Syrian IV participants with DHS. Interagency should coordinate on sending a consistent message to the Muslim community. Private Sector Engagement -------------- ¶19. (S REL AUS UK) COMs agreed that production of a handbook on how to vet employees in a foreign environment, drawing on USG and large multinational firm experience, would enhance the CT dimension of the international business community. Embassy Kuwait suggested that this could be a topic for discussion with the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC). Embassy Riyadh proposed that the Business Executives for National Security (BENS) organization could be used as a model for an international version. S/CT noted that EB and USAID both have expansive private sector outreach initiatives that could potentially include CT concerns. ¶20. (S REL UK US) Actions: S/CT will engage with DS, BENS, EB, and USAID on the private sector-CT nexus and then update COMs and the interagency. ********************************************* * For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ********************************************* * LEBARON