DEFENSE MINISTER AND GENERAL ABIZAID DISCUSS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001806 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2016 TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS MASS BA IR IZ REGION BILAT OFFICIALS SUBJECT: DEFENSE MINISTER AND GENERAL ABIZAID DISCUSS REGIONAL SITUATION, BILATERAL COOPERATION Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) CENTCOM Commander General Abizaid October 11 met with Defense Minister GEN Shaikh Khalifa and discussed Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, bilateral military cooperation, and counter-terrorism. Shaikh Khalifa said that Iran's behavior in the region is growing worse and Iran's nuclear program must be stopped or neutralized. Iran had proposed signing a defense cooperation agreement with Bahrain and other GCC countries, but Shaikh Khalifa ruled out any possibility of doing so. He noted that Bahrain had not updated its military planning on Iran and invited the participation of a U.S. team in this process. Shaikh Khalifa is worried about the security situation in Iraq and suggested that the government should declare some form of martial law for a temporary period to solve the security problems. He supports Pakistani President Musharraf's efforts to engage with the tribes on the Afghan border, but recognizes that Afghanistan probably misinterprets what he is doing there. Bahrain has already done the paperwork required to integrate its air defenses with the U.S. and looks forward to participating in some way in a combined maritime patrol. Shaikh Khalifa said the government has the internal security situation under control. End Summary. -------------- Iran's Behavior Growing Worse -------------- ¶2. (C) CENTCOM Commander General Abizaid and delegation October 11 met with Defense Minister General Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa and discussed Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, U.S.-Bahrain military cooperation, and counter-terrorism. In response to GEN Abizaid's question, Shaikh Khalifa said that Iran's behavior in the region is growing worse, and it is imperative to stop or neutralize Iran's nuclear program. Iran is not currently threatening people but it is collecting intelligence throughout the region. The Minister noted that Iran had proposed signing a defense cooperation agreement with Bahrain and other GCC countries that would include guarantees that the GCC states would not allow their land, sea, and air to be used against Iran. Shaikh Khalifa ruled out any possibility of such an agreement. Shaikh Khalifa said that Bahrain needs to update its military planning vis-a-vis Iran, noting that the plans had not been reviewed in 10 years. He requested the participation of a U.S. team to assist in the update process. ¶3. (C) Noting Iran's meddling in Iraq, Shaikh Khalifa said that we should treat Iran as they treat others. There are big problems inside Iran: Azeris, Balouchis, and Arabs make up a good part of the population, and most of these oppose the Iranian government. Someone, he said, should push these groups to move against the GOI, to "keep the government occupied." GEN Abizaid said that as long as the United States and its allies stand together and defend our mutual interests, we will not have any problems with Iran. But we cannot show the Iranians any weakness; they must see only strength. Shaikh Khalifa commented that Iran will proceed with its nuclear program regardless of world opinion. They are desperate to move the program forward. -------------- Martial Law Needed In Iraq? -------------- ¶4. (C) Turning to Iraq, Shaikh Khalifa said he does not hear good news about what is happening there. People are worried about what they see. Once Iraqis start killing each other, it will be difficult to control. They seek revenge rather than go to the courts. GEN Abizaid commented that the level of violence between groups is high. We have to hope that the government gets stronger and politicians exert leadership. Shaikh Khalifa stated that Iraq needs some form of martial law for a short period to solve the security problems. He asked about the Iranian role in violence in Iraq. GEN Abizaid said there is some evidence of Iranian involvement but it is hard to detect. Shaikh Khalifa commented that Iran has its proxies do the job on its behalf. He indicated that Bahrain continued to provide assistance to Iraq. Just a few days earlier, 50 Iraqi children had come to Bahrain for needed medical treatment, and many of Iraq's firefighters had been trained in Bahrain. Shaikh Khalifa said that Bahrain is ready to support other activities and is open to U.S. suggestions. MANAMA 00001806 002 OF 002 ¶5. (C) In response to the Minister's request, GEN Abizaid provided a briefing on the state of operations in Afghanistan, also addressing Pakistani President Musharraf's recent agreement with tribes in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas on the border with Afghanistan. Shaikh Khalifa commented that Musharraf is engaged and knows how to work with the tribes. This engagement may, however, be misunderstood by the Afghanis. Musharraf is trying to break the tribes from within, but Afghanistan likely thinks Pakistan's intelligence service is supporting the tribes. Shaikh Khalifa admitted there is probably some corruption among the tribes; they have a tendency to take money and then do whatever they want. -------------- Bilateral Military Cooperation -------------- ¶6. (C) Noting that tensions could go up in the region due to the North Korean nuclear test, GEN Abizaid said the U.S. is interested in working with regional countries to integrate air defenses and improve communication links. Shaikh Khalifa said Bahrain was eager to establish these communication links and was ready to move ahead. He stated that King Hamad had instructed him to work with NAVCENT to study options for Bahraini participation in a combined maritime patrol. NAVCENT's VADM Walsh indicated that there would be a meeting November 1 to discuss this topic. Shaikh Khalifa said he was interested in Bahraini ships and officers working with NAVCENT. ¶7. (C) In response to the Charge's question, Shaikh Khalifa said the GOB remains in control of the security situation. He acknowledged there are some very small groups of extremists, both Sunni and Shia, but said they are being closely monitored. Bahrain's judicial system requires hard evidence to hold and try extremists, "a tough situation" for the government, he said. Shaikh Khalifa expressed his view that there had never been much interest in Sunni extremist ideology in GCC states outside of Saudi Arabia, and even in Saudi support for extremists was dying down. ¶8. (U) GEN Abizaid cleared this cable. ********************************************* ******** Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ ********************************************* ******** MONROE