BAHRAIN: REACTION TO PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001635 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/07/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PTER ASEC BA BILAT CTR SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: REACTION TO PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH ON DETAINEES IN THE WAR ON TERROR REF: STATE 146996 Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) DCM September 7 delivered reftel points concerning President Bush's September 6 speech on the transfer of CIA detainees to Guantanamo Bay to MFA Assistant Undersecretary for Coordination and Follow Up Shaikh Abdul Aziz Bin Mubarak Al Khalifa. Shaikh Abdul Aziz said he would pass the information to FM Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed Al Khalifa. He said that the speech was important because it laid out progress on the Guantanamo detainee situation making it possible to see some "light at the end of the tunnel." He commended the U.S. for taking this step and said that it is the right thing to do. ¶2. (C) Shaikh Abdul Aziz counseled that it is important for the U.S. not to expose itself to further criticism from the international community about the Guantanamo detainees. It is necessary to bring those found to have perpetrated crimes to justice, while releasing those against whom there is no evidence of criminal acts. He encouraged a speedy implementation of the ideas the President outlined in his speech, especially in light of the three remaining Bahraini detainees and the Bahraini public's impatience with resolution of their status. ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ ********************************************* ******** MONROE