Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MANAMA1972
2006-11-28 10:47:00
SECRET
Embassy Manama
Cable title:
KING, NAVY SECRETARY DISCUSS BILATERAL RELATIONS,
how-toVZCZCXRO0030 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK DE RUEHMK #1972/01 3321047 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 281047Z NOV 06 FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6072 INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT PRIORITY RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC PRIORITY RUENAAA/SECNAV WASHDC PRIORITY
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001972
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS BA REGION BILAT OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: KING, NAVY SECRETARY DISCUSS BILATERAL RELATIONS,
IRAN, BAHRAINI ELECTIONS
Classified By: CDA Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
-------
Summary
-------
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001972
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS BA REGION BILAT OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: KING, NAVY SECRETARY DISCUSS BILATERAL RELATIONS,
IRAN, BAHRAINI ELECTIONS
Classified By: CDA Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (S) King Hamad told Secretary of the Navy Winter November
26 that Bahrain's relationship with the U.S. Navy was
fundamental to the stability and prosperity of the country
and region. The Navy has been an ambassador and liaison
between the two countries and Bahrain has benefited from
joint exercises and training. The King praised President
Bush's support, including elevating Bahrain to the status of
Major Non-NATO Ally and promoting the free trade agreement.
He warned that Iran is very active in the region and
commented that it was not right for Iran to have a nuclear
program controlled by only one man. He said it is best to
stop the nuclear program, by force if necessary, and stated
in a joking (?) manner that it might be best for Israel to
hit Iran, although he noted the potential realignments that
could be triggered by such an event. President
Ahmadi-Nejad's plan is to get Iranians to look outward and
ignore their internal problems. The King said he is
confident in Bahrain's internal situation and was proud that
elections the previous day had gone well. He called Bahraini
citizens "our true defensive line." End Summary.
--------------
Relationship with U.S. Navy "Our First One"
--------------
2. (C) King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa November 26 welcomed
Secretary of the Navy Winter to Bahrain and praised the long
SIPDIS
history between Bahrain and the U.S. Navy. He termed
Bahrain's relationship with the Navy "our first one," noting
that he was born at the same time that the Navy first
established a presence in Bahrain. The Navy, he said, has
been "an ambassador and liaison to the United States" and it
has done a great job to promote stability and prosperity in
the country and region. The King added that Bahrain had
learned a lot from the Navy through joint exercises and
training. Bahrain's frigate Sabha, he noted proudly, had
been used in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi
Freedom and had been deployed to the Northern Gulf during
OIF. The Secretary responded that NAVCENT's presence in
Bahrain represents a very important activity for the United
States. The two largest fleet concentration areas outside
the U.S. are the Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and the Seventh Fleet
in Japan.
3. (C) The King stated that President Bush has been a
wonderful friend to Bahrain. He supported Bahrain's
elevation to the status of Major Non-NATO Ally and promoted
the U.S.-Bahrain free trade agreement (FTA). Bahrain wants
to remain the U.S. Navy's base in the region and will do
whatever it can for the Navy. He noted that the U.S. and
Bahrain had stood together in the face of threats over the
years, including containing the Soviet Union in the Gulf
region (referring to the war in South Yemen),Nasser's
pan-Arabist expansionism, and Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. He
added that the FTA would help promote further prosperity in
Bahrain. The Secretary stated that the more that the United
States and coalition countries work together economically,
the better off we will all be, and the FTA provides the
mechanism to enhance the economic relationship.
-------------- --------------
Stop Iran's Nuke Program, With Force If Necessary
-------------- --------------
4. (S) The King warned that Iran is very active in the
region, particularly in Qatar and the UAE. Iran thinks it is
smart and powerful, but it is not. The Iranian government
represents only a minority of the people in Iran, which is
composed of Baluchis, Azeris, Kurds, and Arabs in addition to
Persians. In Iran, only those that are part of the system
can participate in politics. This is not a true democracy.
5. (S) It is not right, the King said, for Iran to have a
nuclear program controlled by "only one man." An Iranian
nuclear bomb would be a nightmare for the Gulf states. He
said he does not know if Israel can be patient while the
Iranian government issues threats. What is the best course
of action, he asked. Is it to accommodate Iran and allow it
to have a nuclear program? "I think it is best to stop the
nuclear program, with force if necessary." We in the region,
he said in a joking (?) tone, have no problem if Iran is hit.
It would be better if Israel does it. If they don't, Iran
MANAMA 00001972 002 OF 002
will hurt them, the King stated. He also noted the potential
realignments that could be triggered by such an event. He
then stated that, unlike North Korea, which is surrounded by
influential powers (China, Republic of Korea, Japan),nuclear
weapons in Iran would truly tip the balance of power in the
Gulf region.
6. (S) The Secretary commented that there is a big problem
of transparency with Iran's nuclear program. No one can say
what Iran plans to do with its program. The King replied
that the nuclear program is targeting the Gulf states and is
an instrument of Iran's policy of dominating the region.
Remember what Khomeini said about exporting the revolution,
he warned. (Iranian President) Ahmadi-Nejad is a young
Khomeini. His plan, the King said, is to get Iranians to
look outward and ignore their internal problems.
--------------
Citizens "Our True Defensive Line"
--------------
7. (C) The Secretary congratulated the King on the conduct
of elections the previous day which, according to preliminary
reports, appeared to have gone well. The King said he is
comfortable and confident with Bahrain's internal situation.
"Yesterday," he said, "we saw Bahrainis queuing for
elections, and there was not one single incident." He stated
that when he saw people out voting, he thought that "this is
our true defensive line. We showed the world that we do our
business well and can manage ourselves well." Just as
Bahrain was influenced by the democracy the United States,
Bahrain's democracy (though different from that in the U.S.
and other countries),will likewise influence other countries
in the region.
8. (U) Secretary Winter cleared this cable.
********************************************* ********
Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/
********************************************* ********
ZIADEH
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/27/2016
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS BA REGION BILAT OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: KING, NAVY SECRETARY DISCUSS BILATERAL RELATIONS,
IRAN, BAHRAINI ELECTIONS
Classified By: CDA Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (S) King Hamad told Secretary of the Navy Winter November
26 that Bahrain's relationship with the U.S. Navy was
fundamental to the stability and prosperity of the country
and region. The Navy has been an ambassador and liaison
between the two countries and Bahrain has benefited from
joint exercises and training. The King praised President
Bush's support, including elevating Bahrain to the status of
Major Non-NATO Ally and promoting the free trade agreement.
He warned that Iran is very active in the region and
commented that it was not right for Iran to have a nuclear
program controlled by only one man. He said it is best to
stop the nuclear program, by force if necessary, and stated
in a joking (?) manner that it might be best for Israel to
hit Iran, although he noted the potential realignments that
could be triggered by such an event. President
Ahmadi-Nejad's plan is to get Iranians to look outward and
ignore their internal problems. The King said he is
confident in Bahrain's internal situation and was proud that
elections the previous day had gone well. He called Bahraini
citizens "our true defensive line." End Summary.
--------------
Relationship with U.S. Navy "Our First One"
--------------
2. (C) King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa November 26 welcomed
Secretary of the Navy Winter to Bahrain and praised the long
SIPDIS
history between Bahrain and the U.S. Navy. He termed
Bahrain's relationship with the Navy "our first one," noting
that he was born at the same time that the Navy first
established a presence in Bahrain. The Navy, he said, has
been "an ambassador and liaison to the United States" and it
has done a great job to promote stability and prosperity in
the country and region. The King added that Bahrain had
learned a lot from the Navy through joint exercises and
training. Bahrain's frigate Sabha, he noted proudly, had
been used in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi
Freedom and had been deployed to the Northern Gulf during
OIF. The Secretary responded that NAVCENT's presence in
Bahrain represents a very important activity for the United
States. The two largest fleet concentration areas outside
the U.S. are the Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and the Seventh Fleet
in Japan.
3. (C) The King stated that President Bush has been a
wonderful friend to Bahrain. He supported Bahrain's
elevation to the status of Major Non-NATO Ally and promoted
the U.S.-Bahrain free trade agreement (FTA). Bahrain wants
to remain the U.S. Navy's base in the region and will do
whatever it can for the Navy. He noted that the U.S. and
Bahrain had stood together in the face of threats over the
years, including containing the Soviet Union in the Gulf
region (referring to the war in South Yemen),Nasser's
pan-Arabist expansionism, and Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. He
added that the FTA would help promote further prosperity in
Bahrain. The Secretary stated that the more that the United
States and coalition countries work together economically,
the better off we will all be, and the FTA provides the
mechanism to enhance the economic relationship.
-------------- --------------
Stop Iran's Nuke Program, With Force If Necessary
-------------- --------------
4. (S) The King warned that Iran is very active in the
region, particularly in Qatar and the UAE. Iran thinks it is
smart and powerful, but it is not. The Iranian government
represents only a minority of the people in Iran, which is
composed of Baluchis, Azeris, Kurds, and Arabs in addition to
Persians. In Iran, only those that are part of the system
can participate in politics. This is not a true democracy.
5. (S) It is not right, the King said, for Iran to have a
nuclear program controlled by "only one man." An Iranian
nuclear bomb would be a nightmare for the Gulf states. He
said he does not know if Israel can be patient while the
Iranian government issues threats. What is the best course
of action, he asked. Is it to accommodate Iran and allow it
to have a nuclear program? "I think it is best to stop the
nuclear program, with force if necessary." We in the region,
he said in a joking (?) tone, have no problem if Iran is hit.
It would be better if Israel does it. If they don't, Iran
MANAMA 00001972 002 OF 002
will hurt them, the King stated. He also noted the potential
realignments that could be triggered by such an event. He
then stated that, unlike North Korea, which is surrounded by
influential powers (China, Republic of Korea, Japan),nuclear
weapons in Iran would truly tip the balance of power in the
Gulf region.
6. (S) The Secretary commented that there is a big problem
of transparency with Iran's nuclear program. No one can say
what Iran plans to do with its program. The King replied
that the nuclear program is targeting the Gulf states and is
an instrument of Iran's policy of dominating the region.
Remember what Khomeini said about exporting the revolution,
he warned. (Iranian President) Ahmadi-Nejad is a young
Khomeini. His plan, the King said, is to get Iranians to
look outward and ignore their internal problems.
--------------
Citizens "Our True Defensive Line"
--------------
7. (C) The Secretary congratulated the King on the conduct
of elections the previous day which, according to preliminary
reports, appeared to have gone well. The King said he is
comfortable and confident with Bahrain's internal situation.
"Yesterday," he said, "we saw Bahrainis queuing for
elections, and there was not one single incident." He stated
that when he saw people out voting, he thought that "this is
our true defensive line. We showed the world that we do our
business well and can manage ourselves well." Just as
Bahrain was influenced by the democracy the United States,
Bahrain's democracy (though different from that in the U.S.
and other countries),will likewise influence other countries
in the region.
8. (U) Secretary Winter cleared this cable.
********************************************* ********
Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/
********************************************* ********
ZIADEH