Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KUWAIT3565
2006-09-04 14:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
KUWAITI NATIONAL SECURITY BUREAU OFFICIAL: U.S.
how-toVZCZCXRO4202 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK DE RUEHKU #3565 2471450 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 041450Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6551 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 003565
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KU
SUBJECT: KUWAITI NATIONAL SECURITY BUREAU OFFICIAL: U.S.
POLICIES PROVIDING "AMMUNITION" FOR EXTREMISTS
REF: A. KUWAIT 3447
B. KUWAIT 3167
C. KUWAIT 2883
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Matthew Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) an
d (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 003565
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KU
SUBJECT: KUWAITI NATIONAL SECURITY BUREAU OFFICIAL: U.S.
POLICIES PROVIDING "AMMUNITION" FOR EXTREMISTS
REF: A. KUWAIT 3447
B. KUWAIT 3167
C. KUWAIT 2883
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Matthew Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) an
d (d)
1. (C/NF) PolChief met September 4 with Shaykh Thamer
Al-Sabah, the Office Director of Shaykh Ahmed Al-Fahd
Al-Sabah, the President of the National Security Bureau
(NSB),to deliver additional cleared DIA information on
Hizballah activities and missile capabilities, as requested
by Shaykh Ahmed in his August 18 meeting with the Ambassador
(ref A).
2. (C/NF) Asked about the upcoming GCC and Arab League
Summits, Shaykh Thamer reported that Iran and Lebanon would
dominate the agendas. On aid to Lebanon, he complained that
Kuwaiti and other GCC aircraft flying to Lebanon were forced
to land in Jordan for inspections before being allowed to
continue to Beirut. Noting that American and European
aircraft were not subject to the same requirements, he asked,
"Why are Arab countries being discriminated against?" He
argued that these types of policies reinforce Arabs'
perception of a U.S.-Israeli conspiracy and give "ammunition"
to extremists. Shaykh Thamer added that the failure to solve
the Israeli-Palestinian issue and the continued detention of
inmates at Guantanamo were similarly used by extremists to
rally people to their cause.
3. (C/NF) Shaykh Thamer said regional events had "changed
the mood in Kuwait" and cautioned that the Ambassador might
not receive as warm a welcome as usual during his traditional
Ramadan diwaniya (traditional salon) visits. He noted that
recent Kuwaiti criticism of the U.S. was across the board and
claimed "Shi'a, Sunnis, Hizbollahis, Bedouin, and
U.S.-educated Kuwaitis" had all participated in the mid-July
protests against the U.S. (ref C). "The change we have had
in Kuwait is that we no longer know who is going to speak out
against the U.S.," Shaykh Thamer said. Citing the Ministry
of Awqaf's new moderation program (ref B),he emphasized that
the Kuwaiti government was doing its best to combat extremism
and encourage tolerance.
********************************************* *
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/
********************************************* *
Tueller
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KU
SUBJECT: KUWAITI NATIONAL SECURITY BUREAU OFFICIAL: U.S.
POLICIES PROVIDING "AMMUNITION" FOR EXTREMISTS
REF: A. KUWAIT 3447
B. KUWAIT 3167
C. KUWAIT 2883
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Matthew Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) an
d (d)
1. (C/NF) PolChief met September 4 with Shaykh Thamer
Al-Sabah, the Office Director of Shaykh Ahmed Al-Fahd
Al-Sabah, the President of the National Security Bureau
(NSB),to deliver additional cleared DIA information on
Hizballah activities and missile capabilities, as requested
by Shaykh Ahmed in his August 18 meeting with the Ambassador
(ref A).
2. (C/NF) Asked about the upcoming GCC and Arab League
Summits, Shaykh Thamer reported that Iran and Lebanon would
dominate the agendas. On aid to Lebanon, he complained that
Kuwaiti and other GCC aircraft flying to Lebanon were forced
to land in Jordan for inspections before being allowed to
continue to Beirut. Noting that American and European
aircraft were not subject to the same requirements, he asked,
"Why are Arab countries being discriminated against?" He
argued that these types of policies reinforce Arabs'
perception of a U.S.-Israeli conspiracy and give "ammunition"
to extremists. Shaykh Thamer added that the failure to solve
the Israeli-Palestinian issue and the continued detention of
inmates at Guantanamo were similarly used by extremists to
rally people to their cause.
3. (C/NF) Shaykh Thamer said regional events had "changed
the mood in Kuwait" and cautioned that the Ambassador might
not receive as warm a welcome as usual during his traditional
Ramadan diwaniya (traditional salon) visits. He noted that
recent Kuwaiti criticism of the U.S. was across the board and
claimed "Shi'a, Sunnis, Hizbollahis, Bedouin, and
U.S.-educated Kuwaitis" had all participated in the mid-July
protests against the U.S. (ref C). "The change we have had
in Kuwait is that we no longer know who is going to speak out
against the U.S.," Shaykh Thamer said. Citing the Ministry
of Awqaf's new moderation program (ref B),he emphasized that
the Kuwaiti government was doing its best to combat extremism
and encourage tolerance.
********************************************* *
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/
********************************************* *
Tueller