SENATOR FEINGOLD QUERIES THE GOK ON IRAQ

C O N F I D E N T I A L NAIROBI 005165

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2016
TAGS: IZ KE PREL
SUBJECT: SENATOR FEINGOLD QUERIES THE GOK ON IRAQ

Classified By: PolCouns Andre for reasons 1.4 B & D.


1. (C) Summary: Senator Feingold sought views on
Iraq from President Kibaki, Foreign Minister Tuju
and Trade Minister Kituyi. Kibaki was strongly
supportive of the USG's efforts in Iraq and counseled
steadfastness. His Foreign and Trade ministers,
however, were highly critical of the USG's actions
in Iraq, but did not offer a policy prescription.
The GoK is often equally incoherent on domestic
political and other foreign policy issues.
End Summary.

Kibaki: Don't Abandon Iraq
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2. (C) President Mwai Kibaki answered Senator
Feingold by stating his conviction that the USG
"must not abandon Iraq and simply go out." He asked,
"Who do you leave behind? What changes (in the
region) will you have achieved?" He warned that a
premature departure "will lead to a bigger and wider
conflict in the region." It is better, he insisted,
to continue the struggle. He continued, "It is
fashionable to be hostile to America and say that you
should not be there. Personally, I do not support
that. You cannot withdraw just like that. You must
support those who want to move Iraq in the right
direction. I am quite sure it is better that way."

Tuju & Kituyi: Critical of U.S. Intervention, but No
Suggestions for Next Steps
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3. (C) Foreign Minister Rafael Tuju and Trade
Minister Mukhisa Kituyi responded to the senator's
question in terms very different from that of their
boss. Kituyi stated, "The average informed Kenyan
views the U.S. intervention as arrogant, unreasoned
and built on false pretenses. It is against the
interest of the War on Terrorism. We are partners
in that war, but the Iraq war has made us less
secure. We see a potential link between Iraq and
Somalia. We fear that jihadis will migrate to
Somalia as the next field of battle. Also, we see
Iraq as having sucked resources and attention away
from real threats."


4. (C) Tuju commented, "The U.S. had the right
intentions, but made too many mistakes. We disagree
with your method of dealing with problems. These
methods reflect faulty, shallow intelligence. This
same tendency affects our relations. Based on bad
intelligence, the Ambassador is told wrong things
about us by badly informed staff who are ignorant of
local dynamics. (Comment: We beg to differ. End
Comment.) In Iraq, the U.S. did not anticipate what
would happen between the Sunni and Shi'a communities,
or how neighboring countries would react (to the
intervention). No one appreciated the consequences.
You need a better perspective on issues. For example,
you have simplistic assumptions about the utility of
grafting democracy on societies with no infrastructure
for democracy. This simply doesn't work." Senator
Feingold asked Tuju about his view of "a timeline for
redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq." Tuju
responded, "I do not have enough information to hazard
a suggested approach, but your decision must be well
informed by reliable intelligence and reason, not just
politics." Tuju suggested that Iran is the key to a
USG exit strategy, "You should have encouraged
rapprochement with Iran long ago. Positive engagement
with Iran is needed, not threats. They will never
respond to threats."

Comment: Typical Incoherence
--------------


5. (C) In dramatic contrast to his predecessor,
Kibaki is known for delegating a great deal of
latitude and authority to his ministers. He does
not enforce unified policy positions even on key
domestic political issues. It is not surprising
that the GoK at senior levels has varied views on
Iraq.

RANNEBERGER