USD EDELMAN'S MEETINGS WITH THE KING AND CROWN

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 04 RIYADH 005042

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/10/2016
TAGS: MARR MASS MCAP SA PTER PREL PARM PINR
SUBJECT: USD EDELMAN'S MEETINGS WITH THE KING AND CROWN
PRINCE

Classified By: Ambassador James C. Oberwetter for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).


1. (S) Summary: Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Eric
Edelman discussed the U.S.-Saudi defense relationship,
regional security, helicopters, Iran, Iraq, and visas during
separate meetings with King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan
on June 6. Both the King and Crown Prince were supportive of
the U.S. approach toward Iran, and advised the USG to
continue consulting with the international community. King
Abdullah said that he recently discouraged the Iranian
president from visiting the Kingdom. The King said that he
would prefer that the Military Joint Planning Commission and
Strategic Joint Planning Commission meet earlier than this
fall. He also stressed the need for an expedited solution to
the Ministry of Interior's plan for purchasing new
helicopters. King Abdullah reiterated his recommendation
that the USG consider co-opting former Baathist elements into
the new Iraqi government, and said that Iran is "gaining the
upper hand" in Iraq. The Crown Prince raised Saudi
frustrations over visas, as did the King privately with
Ambassador Oberwetter following the meeting. End Summary.


2. (S) During separate meetings on June 6 with King Abdullah
and Crown Prince Sultan, Under Secretary of Defense for
Policy Eric Edelman discussed the U.S.-Saudi security
relationship, regional security, helicopters, Iran, Iraq, and
visas. Ambassador Oberwetter, Michael Coulter (DAS for
PolMil Affairs),Lt Gen Jeffrey Kohler (Director, DSCA),RADM
Robert Moeller (CENTCOM J-5),BG Michael Jones (Joint Staff
J-5 Deputy Director for PolMil Affairs),Maj Gen Twitchell
(CH-USMTM),DATT, and PolMilOff (notetaker) also attended.
Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz (Head of the General Intelligence
Presidency) and Adel al-Jubeir (Interpreter and Advisor to
the King) attended the meeting with King Abdullah. General
Saleh al-Muhayya (Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Defense
and Aviation) attended the meeting with the Crown Prince, who
also holds the title of Minister of Defense and Aviation.


3. (S) Both the King and Crown Prince agreed with U/S
Edelman's assessment that the U.S.-Saudi security
relationship is strong, but not as strong as it could and
should be. U/S Edelman explained that his visit to the
Kingdom was a result of the King's discussion in January with
VP Cheney, and the USG's intention to regularly consult with
the SAG leadership on regional security. As the situation in
the region is rapidly changing, U/S Edelman said that we need
to maintain a continuous security dialogue, including CT
efforts and sharing intelligence. He noted that since
January, Secretary Rice, General Pace, General Abizaid, U/S
Joseph, and A/S Hillen have all visited the Kingdom. The
Crown Prince said that the U.S.-Saudi friendship "is built on
strong principles that won't be affected by anything."
Acknowledging the SAG's willingness to overcome occasional
tensions in the relationship, he added "sometimes there is
dust in the air, but then the rain comes and eliminates that
dust." The King noted the U.S. and Saudi Arabia's "common
interests in seeking peace and stability in the world."

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IRAN
--------------


4. (S) U/S Edelman reiterated Secretary Rice's May 31
statement on Iran, making clear that the USG is prepared to
talk to Iran, if Iran verifiably stops enriching uranium. He
emphasized that the U.S. will do all that it can to protect
our friends and allies in the region. He said that Secretary
Rice's statement was partially based on advice the USG has
received from regional allies, including Saudi Arabia. He
told King Abdullah that Saudi kings have shared their advice
with the U.S. for the past 60 years, and that we continue to
value that advice. U/S Edelman also said that Turkey,
Jordan, Egypt, and Israel all share Saudi Arabia's concerns
with Iran's nuclear activities. He told the King that the
USG intends to work with Saudi Arabia and other allies in the
region to create a defense architecture that could include

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joint exercises, defensive systems and the Proliferation
Security Initiative (PSI). He added that the U.S. welcomed
Saudi Arabia's participation as an observer at the recent PSI
exercise in Turkey.


5. (S) King Abdullah lauded President Bush's "very wise
decision" to offer Iran a chance to negotiate. He said that
the USG's approach toward Iran "is the appropriate path," and
he encouraged the U.S. to continue consulting with other
allies on a common plan. "Unanimity with others is important
and opening the door for negotiations is important," he said.
"It needs to be an international approach. If we need to
take action, it's better that we have unanimity," he
continued. "It is critically important that one consults to
arrive at wisdom. If Iran does not respond favorably, the
international community will support the U.S. position." The
King also said that the SAG continues to advise other P5
states "to take the correct position on Iran; it is incumbent
upon the P5 to work with other states on a unified approach
toward Iran." He also urged the USG "not to give Iran the
wrong impression, and not to be vague. This could make the
situation worse."


6. (S) U/S Edelman explained to both the King and Crown
Prince that the USG does not object to Iran having a
peaceful, civilian nuclear energy program. He cited IAEA
reports that conclude that Iran's nuclear activities are
beyond the scope of a civil program, as well as Iran's own
deceptive statements on enriching uranium. The King stated
he had no way to confirm the truthfulness of Iran's
statements regarding its nuclear programs. The Crown Prince
said that Saudi Arabia feels no hostility toward Iran, but
the Kingdom is against Iran's nuclear efforts. Like the
King, Crown Prince Sultan was supportive of USG efforts to
engage Iran and consult with allies.


7. (S) King Abdullah said that he had recently shared his
condolences with Iranian President Ahmadinejad, on the death
of his father. During the conversation, Ahmadinejad pressed
the King about his desire to visit Saudi Arabia. The King
told U/S Edelman that in response, he asked Ahmadinejad, "you
are very busy these days. How can you take the time to come
to Saudi Arabia?" Ahmadinejad then told the King, "I really
want to come. I will find the time." (Comment. King
Abdullah was apparently making the point that the Iranian
president was not currently welcome in Saudi Arabia. End
Comment.)

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U.S.-KSA MILITARY RELATIONSHIP
--------------


8. (S) Crown Prince Sultan said that Saudi Arabia "will
never forget the blood we shed together to restore legitimacy
to Kuwait." He added, "whenever the U.S. and Saudi Arabia
cooperate, there is stability in the region. Our cooperation
will bring good to the region, to Iran, and to the whole
world." He said that the U.S.-KSA friendship "serves the
interests of Saudi Arabia, the Arab world, the region, and
the United States." He said that some U.S. media outlets
accused Saudi Arabia of being behind the September 11
attacks, but after then-Crown Prince Abdullah met President
Bush, those accusations stopped and our relationship
improved. Crown Prince Sultan said that he did not want the
Strategic Joint Planning Committee (SJPC) that met several
years ago to stop, and he welcomes the meetings starting
again. He added that he hopes that Assistant Minister of
Defense and Aviation, Prince Khalid bin Sultan, will soon
visit U/S Edelman in the U.S.


9. (S) U/S Edelman briefed the King and Crown Prince on his
meeting earlier in the day with Prince Khalid. He said they
discussed holding the Military Joint Planning Commission
(MJPC) in September, followed by the SJPC in October. U/S
Edelman told the King that there were several ongoing
initiatives that he had discussed with Prince Khalid, such as
the upcoming visit of 68 USAF personnel to conduct a

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comprehensive review of the Royal Saudi Air Force. He told
the King that the report would be presented to RSAF by
September. The King replied, "the September-October timeframe
is too long compared to the dangers we face now." He
continued, "God willing, the region will be spared any
negative consequences, and the Saudi armed forces, with the
help of the United States and God, will be able to defend the
Kingdom."


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HELICOPTERS AND INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY
--------------


10. (S) King Abdullah told U/S Edelman, "it's very important
that we defend our oil infrastructure and secure our
facilities together" and he stressed the importance of
"moving forward expeditiously." U/S Edelman mentioned the
May visits of the helicopter assessment team and the
infrastructure security team, and added that the U.S. will be
prepared to discuss ballistic missile defense with the SAG,
perhaps by this summer. He told the King that the President
and Vice President are both very committed to getting the
U.S.-KSA security relationship back on track, and that "the
USG is prepared to cover all different dimensions to help
Saudi Arabia's security," including the military, border
security, and energy infrastructure security. The King
replied, "our duty as friends is to protect what is vital to
the rest of the world."


11. (S) King Abdullah said that we need to expedite the
process of acquiring new helicopters for the Ministry of
Interior (MOI). "Days go by faster than we can keep up with.
Before we know it, it may be too late," he cautioned. U/S
Edelman told the King that the State Department has the lead
on developing a helicopter solution for MOI, with DOD
providing close support. He said that the USG is working
hard to improve the interagency process and develop the right
solutions for Saudi Arabia. U/S Edelman pointed out the
interagency representation in his delegation. Crown Prince
Sultan commented that overall, cooperation between MOI and
the USG on security and intelligence is going very well.

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IRAQ
--------------


12. (S) The King asked U/S Edelman if General Abizaid relayed
his message to President Bush during his last visit to the
Kingdom (Reftel). He said that part of the message was that
"it would be very wise to co-opt the former Baathist elements
into the new Iraqi government." He acknowledged the
difficulty of doing so, but said that current and future
Iraqi governments will resist reaching out to the former
Baathists. "But if the U.S. reaches out and co-opts them,"
he continued, "it will change the situation." He added that
any U.S. consultations with Iran about Iraq "are frivolous.
The Iranians are gaining the upper hand in Iraq. It's more
logical to adopt another approach." He concluded, "this is a
matter requiring deep and serious thought. Our objective is
to work for what is best for Iraq and the U.S. I only offer
my advice, that's all that I can do. It may be wrong, but
that is what I believe."

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VISAS
--------------


13. (S) The Crown Prince voiced his frustrations over the
visa process, and noted three categories of Saudis who travel
to the States: tourists, students, and people needing
medical treatment. He said that as a friend of the U.S., he
wants to see the process improved. U/S Edelman explained
that post-September 11, the U.S. had to tighten its visa
procedures, and we are now working on achieving a better
balance between security and access. (Comment. Following the
meeting with U/S Edelman, King Abdullah raised the visa issue

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with Ambassador Oberwetter directly. End Comment.)


14. (S) The King wrapped up the meeting by asking U/S
Edelman to send his regards to President Bush, VP Cheney,
CJCS General Pace, and General Abizaid. The Crown Prince
sends his regards to President Bush, VP Cheney, Secretary
Rumsfeld and Secretary Rice. He said that he hoped Secretary
Rumsfeld would visit the Kingdom sometime soon.


15. (S) Comment: The overall tone of both meetings was
positive, with both the King and Crown Prince emphasizing the
historical strength of our relationship and our efforts to
improve our friendship. They were clearly pleased with our
willingness to engage Iran, and seemed to appreciate U/S
Edelman's acknowledgment that President Bush's decision was
partially the result of consulting with our allies. Neither
the King nor Crown Prince mentioned Israel's nuclear
programs, a subject that the senior SAG leadership typically
raises when USG interlocutors discuss Iran, nor did they push
back when U/S Edelman pointed out that Israel and the Kingdom
share a common strategic threat from Iran. The Saudis
perceive a growing Iranian threat, both on the nuclear side
and through Iran's influence in Iraq. Consequently, Post
anticipates the King and Crown Prince will continue to
welcome senior level consultations as the regional security
situation evolves. End Comment.


16. (U) U/S Edelman and Mr. Coulter cleared this cable.
OBERWETTER