ENTHUSIASTIC SHOURA COUNCIL ASKS SENATOR NELSON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 009173

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/25/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR PHUM KISL IZ SA
SUBJECT: ENTHUSIASTIC SHOURA COUNCIL ASKS SENATOR NELSON
FOR GREATER CONGRESSIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH SAUDIS

REF: RIYADH 8524

RIYADH 00009173 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Charge D'Affaires Michael Gfoeller for reasons 1.4 (b) a
nd (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY. Enthusiastic Majlis Al Shoura members
acknowledged the positive U.S. - Saudi bilateral relationship
but asked Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) during a meeting on
December 17 for increased engagement by members of Congress
with the Council. Meeting participants agreed that any
enhanced Saudi engagement with Iraq needs to be with all
sects -- not just the Sunnis. Most Council members expressed
concern about a nuclear-armed Iran, although there was some
debate as to whether Israel or Iran is the root of the
current problems in the Middle East. There was general
consensus that regional problems must be addressed
collectively and that constructive dialogue is a necessity.
END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) met on December 17 with
Majlis Al Shoura members Bandar Al Aiban, Chair of the
Foreign Affairs Committee, Abdulrahman Al Zamil, Chair of the
Saudi-American Friendship Committee, Usamah Al Kurdi,
Abdulrahman Al Saif, Abdelaziz Al Orayer, and Mohammed Al
Hulwah. This enthusiastic group warmly welcomed Senator
Nelson, who explained he was in Saudi Arabia at the request
of CIA head General Hayden to seek Saudi assistance in
efforts to stabilize Iraq.


3. (C) Al Zamil opened the discussion by requesting greater
engagement on the part of congressional committees with
Council committees. He emphasized that, although the Council
is appointed by the King, it represents the Saudi people. He
said the ruling family is "legitimate," but that the real
work -- program development -- is done by the "elites." Al
Aiban said that the weakest link in the U.S.- Saudi
relationship is the congressional link. He hoped that there
would be more exchanges in both directions in the future. Al
Kurdi noted that there is much room for improvement in U.S.-
Saudi relations, saying more exposure between the Council and
the U.S. Congress is needed. He said the U.S. needs to do a
better job of connecting these two representative bodies. He
emphasized the importance of members of Congress publicly
acknowledging that the relations between the two countries
are "excellent" and "important," adding, "there is no
alternative to collective dialogue, especially on regional
issues."


4. (C) Al Orayer, who is from the Eastern Province, expressed
hope that the U.S. would correct the "mistakes" it had made
in Iraq and praised Senator Nelson's recent meeting with
Syrian President Bashar Al Asad as a "breakthrough." Al
Zamil added that based on his interactions with the Syrian
business elite, it is clear to him they want ties with the
U.S. Many, he said, were educated in the U.S., and want good
relations with the Americans.


5. (C) Al Kurdi continued that Iraq must not be addressed in
the context of the Sunni-Shi'a dynamic, but rather as a
unified entity. Addressing Iraq in sectarian terms, he
insisted, only exacerbates the problems there. Al Zamil said
the SAG "clearly" told America that if the Kingdom supported
Iraq's Sunnis, it would be accused of terrorism. He
emphasized the strong tribal connections that extend across
the region's borders, and suggested engagement by both Syria
and Saudi Arabia on Iraq would be helpful.


6. (C) Al Kurdi agreed, stating there is no alternative to
dialogue with Syria and Iran. Senator Nelson noted the
criticism aroused by his visit to Syria and conveyed that
President Al Asad had told him he wants to cooperate on
border issues with Iraq. The senator indicated that many in
the SAG appear to be reluctant to engage with Syria because
they see it as a "vassal of Iran." He repeated his statement
to Al Asad that a nuclear-armed Iran will be a threat to all
Arabs. Al Aiban stated that he is "absolutely alarmed" at
the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran. "God forbid if there
was an accident," he said, "it would make this hell."

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7. (C) Al Zamil disagreed, saying most Arabs do not see Iran
as a threat. Most, he claimed, see a nuclear-armed Israel as
the problem. He stated that Iran does not need nuclear
weapons to be a threat to the Kingdom due to its geographic
proximity. The issue, he said, is Israel versus Arabs and
Muslims, not Iran and Syria. He identified former President
Carter as a "good man," describing Carter's new book,
"Palestine: Peace, not Apartheid," as truthful and fair. Al
Aiban agreed that the Israel/Palestine issue is at the root
of the Middle East's problems, saying that it is due to the
region's negligence that Hamas had become what it is today.


8. (C) Al Kurdi insisted that regional issues must be
addressed collectively, saying it is unacceptable to "pick
and choose what country can or cannot do something." He used
as an example of positive collective engagement the recent
Gulf Cooperation Council announcement that it will undertake
a nuclear program for peaceful purposes. He pointed to the
Makkah Conference on Reconciliation in Iraq (reftel) as
another example of what can be accomplished when regional
players work together.


9. (C) Al Kurdi told Senator Nelson that it is becoming
increasingly difficult to be a friend of the U.S. In part,
he said, this is due to the unpopularity of President Bush.
It is also, he claimed, because Americans took a combative
approach to the events of 9/11 and went "running with guns
blazing." Al Hulwah suggested that the Democrats' approach
to Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine is that of "no
approach." Senator Nelson countered that there is broad,
bipartisan consensus regarding both Palestine and Lebanon.
However, he said, there are differences of opinion regarding
how to best deal with Syria, Iran, and Iraq. Americans want
stability in Iraq, he stated, but have "no appetite for
further American casualties."


10. (C) Al Aiban recounted how he bumped into late Senator
Paul Wellstone (D-MN) shortly after 9/11, who told him (Al
Aiban) to "do whatever it takes" to keep the U.S. out of
Iraq. "We all agree on the importance of stability in Iraq,"
said Al Aiban, "but our 'friends' have given Iraq to Iran on
a golden platter." Al Aiban echoed the sentiments of his
Council colleagues that it is necessary to focus on all of
Iraq's sects. To do otherwise, he stated, would be a "moral
injustice." He continued that the Iraqi constitution is not
reflective of the will of the people because it was drafted
by "the few behind closed doors." He also insisted that
federalism would not work in Iraq because "it is not America"
and all Iraq's people must be assured that they have a stake
in the country.


11. (U) CODEL NELSON HAS NOT REVIEWED THIS MESSAGE.

GFOELLER