TERRORISM FINANCE - UN 1267 SANCTIONS AGAINST

S E C R E T KUWAIT 002416 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, EB/ESC/TFS FOR BENDANA, NEA/RA FOR MONOSSON, S/CT FOR KUSHNER, TREASURY/TFFC FOR HEFFERNAN, OIA FOR LEVITT, NSC FOR HINNEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2016 TAGS: ECON PGOV PTER PREL KU KTFN TERROR FINANCE SUBJECT: TERRORISM FINANCE - UN 1267 SANCTIONS AGAINST KUWAIT-BASED TERRORIST FACILITATORS REF: SECSTATE 97217 Classified By: CDA Matthew Tueller. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S/NF) Reftel requests post's assessment of likely GOK reaction to UN 1267 Committee listing of Jaber Al-Jalahmah, Mubarak Al-Bathali, and Hamed Abdullah Al-Ali. Our assessment is that at this time, elements within the GOK are hesitant when it comes to public designations, but senior GOK officials are studying the information we have presented and attempting to reach an internal consensus on how best to proceed. ¶2. (S/NF) There is little disagreement amongst our Kuwaiti interlocutors with the analysis that these three individuals have been engaged and continue to engage in activities that lend moral and financial support to terrorists. The hesitancy is based primarily on concern that without evidence that a Kuwaiti court would accept that the three have violated Kuwaiti laws, the GOK will be subjected to a propaganda campaign by influential Islamists. Several senior Kuwaiti officials argue that extremists successfully exploit public sympathy from public designation by portraying themselves as victims of U.S. animosity towards Islam. Arab governments are attacked as pliable puppets unwilling or unable to protect their citizens. ¶3. (S/NF) We believe it is critical that we continue to engage in frank dialogue with Kuwaiti officials on terrorist financiers and these three individuals specifically. Currently, the Foreign Minister and MFA Under Secretary, key officials who have been leading discussion of next steps, are on official travel with the Amir. Post will raise the issue of co-sponsorship at the earliest possible opportunity following their return and urge that Kuwait co-sponsor designation of the three as a strong indicator that the government will not tolerate activities that support terrorists. ******************************************** For more Embassy Kuwait reporting, see: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s Or Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ******************************************** TUELLER