Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KUWAIT4118
2006-10-16 14:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
FOREIGN AFFAIRS CHAIRMAN URGES U.S. TO SUPPORT
how-toVZCZCXRO0396 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK DE RUEHKU #4118 2891402 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 161402Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7187 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 004118
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/I AND NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ IR KU KUWAIT IRAN RELATIONS
KUWAIT-IRAQ RELATIONS
SUBJECT: FOREIGN AFFAIRS CHAIRMAN URGES U.S. TO SUPPORT
IRAQI TRIBES AND PRESSURE GCC ON IRAQ
Classified By: CDA Matt Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 004118
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/I AND NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ IR KU KUWAIT IRAN RELATIONS
KUWAIT-IRAQ RELATIONS
SUBJECT: FOREIGN AFFAIRS CHAIRMAN URGES U.S. TO SUPPORT
IRAQI TRIBES AND PRESSURE GCC ON IRAQ
Classified By: CDA Matt Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C/NF) During an October 15 meeting with PolChief,
Mohammed Jassem Al-Sager, the Speaker of the Arab Parliament
and the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the
Kuwaiti Parliament, characterized the prospect of GCC
countries gradually accepting an Iraqi government dominated
by Shi'a religious parties as "a disaster." "Neither the
Shi'a nor the Sunnis (in Iraq) are our friends," he
explained. The Chairman continued: "Hizb Al-Dawa are
Iranians, as are the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution
in Iraq (SCIRI). We can't trust them. We can't open a
dialogue with them because they go right to the Iranians."
Al-Sager, a liberal Sunni, argued that only liberal Iraqis,
"like Iyad Allawi and the heads of the Shi'a tribes," could
be trusted to govern the country. He stressed the importance
of supporting the tribes and urged the U.S. to provide them
with real support in the "tens of millions of dollars" to
counter Iranian influence and money among Iraqi "Islamist
institutions." Al-Sager asked if the U.S. had "considered
replacing (Hizb) Al-Dawa with Iyad Allawi in a peaceful coup"
or "engaging in dialogue with the former regime." PolChief
stated firmly that these were not/not realistic options.
2. (C/NF) Al-Sager urged the U.S. to have "a frank
discussion" with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and
"half convince, half order them" to get more involved in
Iraq, particularly on the economic front. "Why don't we (the
GCC) recognize this (Iraqi) government?" he asked
rhetorically. The Chairman expressed frustration that Kuwait
and Iraq had yet to exchange Ambassadors, saying "this should
have been done three years ago." He also criticized a recent
GOK decision requiring visas for all travel to/from Iraq,
arguing that this hurt business and economic relations
between the two countries. Al-Sager is planning to travel to
Iraq after Eid in his capacity as Speaker of the Arab
Parliament and asked for assistance in traveling there.
3. (C/NF) Turning to Iran, Al-Sager described GCC efforts to
agree on a common policy as "a nightmare." The Iranians are
pragmatic and very adept at getting what they want, "but
ultimately they will come to terms with the EU and the U.S.,"
he said. On the recent conflict between Hizballah and
Israel, Al-Sager argued that "Hizballah lost the war" and was
now "in deep trouble" on the domestic front, having lost its
justification for retaining its weapons.
4. (C/NF) Comment: Famously independent, Al-Sager speaks
largely for himself and not for the GOK or even the
Parliament as a whole. However, the intensity of his views
on the political situation in Iraq, and on international
efforts to contain Iran, are representative of the feelings
of many Kuwaitis who feel that their future is held hostage
to near-by events beyond their control.
********************************************* *
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/I AND NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV IZ IR KU KUWAIT IRAN RELATIONS
KUWAIT-IRAQ RELATIONS
SUBJECT: FOREIGN AFFAIRS CHAIRMAN URGES U.S. TO SUPPORT
IRAQI TRIBES AND PRESSURE GCC ON IRAQ
Classified By: CDA Matt Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C/NF) During an October 15 meeting with PolChief,
Mohammed Jassem Al-Sager, the Speaker of the Arab Parliament
and the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the
Kuwaiti Parliament, characterized the prospect of GCC
countries gradually accepting an Iraqi government dominated
by Shi'a religious parties as "a disaster." "Neither the
Shi'a nor the Sunnis (in Iraq) are our friends," he
explained. The Chairman continued: "Hizb Al-Dawa are
Iranians, as are the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution
in Iraq (SCIRI). We can't trust them. We can't open a
dialogue with them because they go right to the Iranians."
Al-Sager, a liberal Sunni, argued that only liberal Iraqis,
"like Iyad Allawi and the heads of the Shi'a tribes," could
be trusted to govern the country. He stressed the importance
of supporting the tribes and urged the U.S. to provide them
with real support in the "tens of millions of dollars" to
counter Iranian influence and money among Iraqi "Islamist
institutions." Al-Sager asked if the U.S. had "considered
replacing (Hizb) Al-Dawa with Iyad Allawi in a peaceful coup"
or "engaging in dialogue with the former regime." PolChief
stated firmly that these were not/not realistic options.
2. (C/NF) Al-Sager urged the U.S. to have "a frank
discussion" with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and
"half convince, half order them" to get more involved in
Iraq, particularly on the economic front. "Why don't we (the
GCC) recognize this (Iraqi) government?" he asked
rhetorically. The Chairman expressed frustration that Kuwait
and Iraq had yet to exchange Ambassadors, saying "this should
have been done three years ago." He also criticized a recent
GOK decision requiring visas for all travel to/from Iraq,
arguing that this hurt business and economic relations
between the two countries. Al-Sager is planning to travel to
Iraq after Eid in his capacity as Speaker of the Arab
Parliament and asked for assistance in traveling there.
3. (C/NF) Turning to Iran, Al-Sager described GCC efforts to
agree on a common policy as "a nightmare." The Iranians are
pragmatic and very adept at getting what they want, "but
ultimately they will come to terms with the EU and the U.S.,"
he said. On the recent conflict between Hizballah and
Israel, Al-Sager argued that "Hizballah lost the war" and was
now "in deep trouble" on the domestic front, having lost its
justification for retaining its weapons.
4. (C/NF) Comment: Famously independent, Al-Sager speaks
largely for himself and not for the GOK or even the
Parliament as a whole. However, the intensity of his views
on the political situation in Iraq, and on international
efforts to contain Iran, are representative of the feelings
of many Kuwaitis who feel that their future is held hostage
to near-by events beyond their control.
********************************************* *
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