SENATOR SPECTER ENGAGES KUWAITI LEADERS ON IRAQ,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 003393

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

FOR NEA/ARP AND H

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/20/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KU
SUBJECT: SENATOR SPECTER ENGAGES KUWAITI LEADERS ON IRAQ,
IRAN, AND LEBANON


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


1. (C/NF) Summary: During an August 18-19 visit to Kuwait,
Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) discussed current events in
Iraq, Iran, and Lebanon, as well as bilateral issues with
Kuwait's Amir, Prime Minister, and Deputy Prime
Minister/Foreign Minister. On Iraq, Amir Shaykh Sabah said
despite mistakes made in the past, it was time for Iraqis to
take charge. He urged U.S. and coalition troops to withdraw
to outlying areas, leaving the security of cities to Iraqi
forces. Prime Minister Shaykh Nasser Mohammed said Iraq's
future depended on the cohesion of a real coalition
government. Kuwait's leadership shared U.S. concerns about
Iran's role in the region and argued that events in Lebanon
and Iranian defiance of U.S. and EU approaches only
emboldened the regime. They called for continued dialog and
cautioned that sanctions would lead Tehran to retaliate and
small countries like Kuwait were in its path. The Amir
welcomed the ceasefire in Lebanon and said UNIFIL forces
could succeed if given a strong mandate. The PM recommended
that UN peacekeepers come from countries acceptable to both
Lebanon and Israel. Senator Specter and the Amir commended
the strength of U.S.-Kuwaiti relations and agreed on the need
to resolve the status individuals detained at Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba. End Summary.

Iraq Needs a Real Coalition Government
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2. (C/NF) Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) opened his August 19
joint meeting with Amir Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber
Al-Sabah and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister
Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah with a
discussion of the security situation in Iraq, soliciting from
the Amir his views on how to block foreign support to
insurgent groups and the start of a civil war. The Amir
responded that he was not pessimistic, but did not expect
Iraq to be stable for years to come. He said the current
situation was a result of series of mistakes made by Iraqi
leaders, Iran, and even the U.S. He encouraged the U.S. to
speed up the training of Iraq's security forces, arguing that
Iraqi control of the cities would help to calm the situation.
He counseled that U.S. forces should avoid a presence in the
cities. He did not believe that Iraqi forces were fully
prepared to take over internal security, but he said they
needed to be in charge yet able to call on the U.S. when
assistance was needed. Prime Minister Shaykh Nasser Mohammed
Al-Sabah echoed the Amir's remarks and said only a real
coalition government would hold Iraq together.

GOK Cautious about Use of Sanctions on Iran
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3. (C/NF) Turning to another regional concern, the Amir
told the Senator events in Lebanon only strengthened Iran's
position, heightening its influence in the region and
building confidence in the regime among Iran's people. The
GOI's direct challenge to the U.S. and the EU also enhanced
its standing. He remarked that Kuwait maintained cordial
relations with Iran, but was fearful of its policies and
nuclear ambitions. Kuwait feared a nuclear accident would
pollute the Gulf, Kuwait's source of water desalination
plants. In a separate meeting, the PM said that Iran's
nuclear facilities were built with a hodge-podge of
technology from Russia, Pakistan, China, and North Korea, and
as a result, the GOK had no confidence in the reactors. He
and the Amir advised Senator Specter that the GOK has shared
its concerns with Iran's leaders, but the Amir explained it
was hesitant to exert too much pressure on Iran lest it
retaliate, noting that Iranians had been previously arrested
for extremist activities in Kuwait. Commenting that Iran has
rebuffed the U.S. and EU, the Amir questioned the influence
of a small country like Kuwait. The PM, once Kuwait's
ambassador to Iran, told Senator Specter the time to stop
Iran's nuclear activities was more than four years ago. He
questioned U.S. activism during that period and recommended
open talks as the only way to influence Iran. Senator
Specter responded that it was not possible to go back in
time, but it was not too late to act and the U.S. welcomed
Kuwait's views. Responding to the Senator's question about
the imposition of sanctions, Shaykh Sabah advocated dialogue
and negotiations, arguing that sanctions would likely
antagonize Tehran.

With the Right Mandate, UNIFIL Can Succeed
--------------


4. (C/NF) On Lebanon, the Amir said UNIFIL forces could be
successful if they were backed by a strong mandate and the

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full Security Council. The PM recommended that peacekeepers
come from countries respected by both sides to the conflict,
suggesting forces from Scandinavia and South America. The
Amir further urged the UNSC to make clear to SYG Annan what
it expected from the organization and member states. He
further regretted the loss of life on both sides of the
border and, in discussing with the Senator a recent editorial
by former National Security Advisor Scowcroft said if Israel
reverted to the pre-1967 borders, Kuwait would be among the
first countries to extend its support and recognition. The
PM appealed to the U.S. to call on Israel to exercise
restraint, saying the month-long conflict destroyed Lebanon's
infrastructure and accomplished nothing.

Guantanamo: Detainees Will Be Held and Tried
--------------


5. (C/NF) Senator Specter thanked the Amir for Kuwait's
support for U.S. and coalition activities in Iraq. The Amir
replied that Kuwait and the U.S. had a long history of
friendship which he hoped would lead to a speedy resolution
of the status of six detainees still held at Guantanamo Bay.
He asserted the GOK would detain and try them. Senator
Specter informed the Amir that the Judiciary Committee, which
he chairs, maintains an active interest in the detainee issue
and said the status of all of those held at Guantanamo should
be addressed.


6. (U) Senator Specter did not clear this message.

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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/
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LeBaron