Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MANAMA1844
2006-10-31 07:27:00
SECRET
Embassy Manama
Cable title:  

DEPUTY PM TELLS GSD DELEGATION THE BEST DEFENSE IS

Tags:  PREL MARR PARM BA IR REGION BILAT OFFICIALS 
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O 310727Z OCT 06 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5858
INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JCS WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 MANAMA 001844 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR PARM BA IR REGION BILAT OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: DEPUTY PM TELLS GSD DELEGATION THE BEST DEFENSE IS
BEING PREPARED

REF: STATE 171822

MANAMA 00001844 001.2 OF 003


Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.

-------
Summary
-------

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 MANAMA 001844

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR PARM BA IR REGION BILAT OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: DEPUTY PM TELLS GSD DELEGATION THE BEST DEFENSE IS
BEING PREPARED

REF: STATE 171822

MANAMA 00001844 001.2 OF 003


Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. (S) Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak
told the visiting interagency Gulf Security Dialogue (GSD)
delegation October 18 that Iran is a diplomatic, military,
and political threat to the countries of the region and that
the best defense is to show you are prepared for possible
future scenarios. He commented that while some GCC states
were slow to commit to initiatives like the GSD, Bahrain does
not hesitate to make an evaluation of its interests and then
sticks with its decision. Iran claims that its nuclear
program is for power only but refuses to allow the IAEA to
inspect its facilities. The IAEA, Shaikh Mohammed said,
should be the judge of Iran's program. On Iraq, he stated
that there can be a political deal on federalism, but the
country must maintain its territorial integrity. He praised
Secretary Rice's engagement on Israeli-Palestinian affairs

SIPDIS
and said that President Abbas deserves the support of the
international community. He worried that Iran was meddling
in Bahrain's internal affairs by influencing how some groups
vote in upcoming parliamentary and municipal elections. End
Summary.


2. (S) The interagency Gulf Security Dialogue delegation led
by Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military
Affairs John Hillen and Assistant Secretary of Defense for
International Security Affairs Peter Rodman met with Deputy
Prime Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa October
18 to discuss achieving progress on the six pillars of the
Dialogue (reftel). The delegation also met with King Hamad
bin Isa Al Khalifa, Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al
Khalifa, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Assistant Under
Secretary for Coordination and Follow Up Shaikh Abdul Aziz

SIPDIS
bin Mubarak Al Khalifa (septels).

--------------
Prudent to Prepare for Future Scenarios

--------------


3. (S) Shaikh Mohammed opened the meeting by welcoming the
delegation to Bahrain and acknowledging that regional defense
and security are among the most important issues to discuss
at this time. A/S Hillen said that the premise of the GSD is
to accelerate, broaden, and deepen the security relationship
between the United States and its friends in the Gulf. The
U.S. is currently working with each country bilaterally with
the intention to move multilaterally as soon as it is
feasible. We want to show Iran that the U.S. stands by its
friends. Shaikh Mohammed agreed that Iran was a diplomatic,
military, and political threat to the countries of the
region. It is prudent to prepare now for any possible future
scenario so there are no surprises. "The best defense is to
show people you are prepared," he said.


4. (S) A/S Rodman requested Shaikh Mohammed's advice on
gaining the support of all the GCC countries for the GSD
initiative, indicating that Qatar and Oman were not as
supportive as other countries. Shaikh Mohammed replied that
some neighbors were hesitant to go first and waited for other
countries to take the lead. Bahrain was not like this,
however; it decides whether an initiative is in its
interests, then sticks with the decision. The UAE has direct
contact with Iran on a daily basis and is constantly reminded
of the threat. With its extensive gas resources, Qatar
should try to protect itself from Iran. Oman is concerned
about Iran's influence on the Strait of Hormuz, but the GSD
is a defensive arrangement and can provide great benefits.
Kuwait worries about the Bushehr nuclear facility, which is
just across the Gulf. If anything happens at Bushehr, Kuwait
and all other countries on the Gulf could face contamination
and pollution. Proper defensive arrangements send the right
message and "protect us all."

-------------- -
IAEA Should be Judge of Iran's Nuclear Program
-------------- -


5. (S) Shaikh Mohammed said that Iran's military build-up
was worrying. Iranian officials occasionally visit Bahrain

MANAMA 00001844 002.2 OF 003


and want to promote bilateral cooperation. Former Foreign
Minister Velayati had proposed joint military maneuvers, but
Shaikh Mohammed had refused, telling him, "you only conduct
military exercises with countries you trust." He asked how
long Iranian citizens will put up with a government that
spends money to rebuild in south Lebanon while Iranian
villages damaged by earthquakes are not being repaired. On
the nuclear program, Iran claims it is not pursuing weapons.
If this is true, Shaikh Mohammed asked, why does Iran not
allow the IAEA to inspect its facilities. Every country has
the right to develop peaceful nuclear power, but not nuclear
weapons. Iran should allow the IAEA to be the judge of its
nuclear program.


6. (S) In response to A/S Hillen's question, Shaikh Mohammed
said Bahrain knows former President Khatemi very well,
calling him a moderate. But the system is focused on a
single leader, Khamenei. Even Rafsanjani could not win the
last presidential election because Khamenei had decided on
Ahmadi-Nejad. "Khamenei is another Shah," Shaikh Mohammed
commented. Ahmadi-Nejad, in contrast with Khatemi, believes
the system is too liberal. Shaikh Mohammed expressed his
hope that Iran will learn from its past and make positive
changes for the future. But in the meantime, people try to
flee Iran every night for a better life in the UAE.

--------------
Maintain Territorial Integrity of Iraq
--------------


7. (S) Turning to Iraq, Shaikh Mohammed said the main goal
has to be to bring the people some measure of security.
Politically, there can be a deal on federalism, but the
country must maintain its territorial integrity. Bahrain has
assisted Iraq in several ways already and would like to do
more. Bahrain's former ambassador in Baghdad had been shot
in July 2005; the GOB will send another ambassador as soon as
the security situation improves. A/S Hillen said the U.S.
was focused on helping the Iraqi government succeed in spite
of Sunni-Shia tensions. The Iraqi government should be
strong enough to withstand pressure from Iran but not strong
enough to threaten its neighbors.


8. (S) On the other agenda items in the GSD read-ahead
paper, Shaikh Mohammed said that Bahrain supports
intelligence cooperation and information exchange with the
U.S. This is most important in fighting terrorism, from the
security, political, and financial perspectives. He noted
that Bahrain had recently passed a counter-terrorism and
anti-money laundering/combating the financing of terror law
to address these issues directly. After receiving an
explanation from A/S Hillen on protecting critical
infrastructure, Shaikh Mohammed agreed that the U.S. and
Bahrain should work together to mitigate risk.


9. (S) Shaikh Mohammed stated that any discussion of
security in the region must include the Israel-Palestinian
conflict. Bahrain believes Palestinian President Abbas is a
good leader who deserves support. The extremists want to
reach the hearts and minds of people. To counteract this,
the U.S. and the rest of the international community should
reengage on peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
He cited Secretary Rice's recent trip to Cairo and Ramallah
as important steps.

--------------
Iran Meddling in Bahraini Affairs
--------------


10. (S) Shaikh Mohammed noted that with Bahraini
parliamentary and municipal elections coming, Iran was
exerting its influence with certain groups in a sectarian
way. "We don't want our democracy experiment to fail," he
said, and worried that Iran may be directing some Bahraini
citizens about who to vote for. Democracy has rules, and
people must follow the rules, especially not the use of
violence to achieve political objectives. Many well-educated
people are hesitant to get into politics, leaving
fundamentalists, both Sunni and Shia, competing for seats in
parliament and municipal councils. In Bahrain, he said, we
want prosperity and progress, but the influence from outside
countries could result in sectarian tensions like in Iraq.


11. (S) In conclusion, Shaikh Mohammed said that Bahrain
wants to continue to engage with the U.S. on the Gulf
Security Dialogue. "Friends should talk to each other, and

MANAMA 00001844 003.2 OF 003


be seen talking to each other." The goal is to move from the
stage of ideas to on-the-ground improvements. Referring to
the upcoming IISS Gulf Dialogue conference to be held in
Bahrain in December, Shaikh Mohammed suggested using that
forum to involve other countries in discussions related to
the GSD. He welcomed the planned participation of Secretary
Rumsfeld in the conference.


12. (U) A/S Hillen and A/S Rodman cleared this cable.


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