SAUDI MOI HEAD SAYS IF U.S. LEAVES IRAQ, SAUDI

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 009175 SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D COPY PARA 7 ADDED. SIPDIS DEPT PLEASE PASS TO NEA/I AND NEA/ARP FOR SWALKER/BSHUKAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/25/2026 TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR PTER KISL IZ SA SUBJECT: SAUDI MOI HEAD SAYS IF U.S. LEAVES IRAQ, SAUDI ARABIA WILL STAND WITH SUNNIS REF: RIYADH 7097 RIYADH 00009175 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Charge D'Affaires Michael Gfoeller for reasons 1.4 (b) a nd (d). 1.(S) SUMMARY. Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Naif bin Abdul Aziz told Senator Bill Nelson (D-Fl) on December 16 that the U.S. should not leave Iraq until its sovereignty has been restored, otherwise it will be vulnerable to the Iranians. He said the Saudis will not support one Iraqi group over the others and that the Kingdom is working for a united Iraq. However, he warned that, if the U.S. leaves precipitously, the Saudis will stand with the Sunnis. Naif lauded cooperation with U.S. intelligence agencies, but complained about anti-Muslim bias on the part of Americans. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (S) Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Naif bin Abdul Aziz told Senator Bill Nelson (D-Fl) on December 16 that he had just finished meeting with the Iranian ambassador to the Kingdom, adding that the most important issue discussed was Iraq and the need for transparency with respect to any efforts there. Naif insisted that the U.S. and Saudi Arabia must agree on a policy approach for Iraq, adding that there is "no justification to leave Iraq as a playground for Iran." "We must respect its sovereignty," he said. ¶3. (S) Saudi Arabia does not interfere in Iraq's internal affairs, claimed Naif, even though the instability there directly impacts the Kingdom. Iraq is a "training ground" for terrorists, he said, who then come to Saudi Arabia. He acknowledged that the U.S. is doing its best to restore Iraq's sovereignty, saying this will improve the U.S.' public image in the region. In response to Senator Nelson's question about what more the Saudis could do to engage Iraq's Sunni leadership, Naif stated that Saudi Arabia currently does not have a role to play. He continued that, given a clear understanding between the USG and the SAG, "we could establish channels with the Sunnis to get them to engage." However, any role the SAG decides to undertake would not be "pro any group." He emphasized Iraq's diversity and said the Saudis would only facilitate a united Iraq. (NOTE: This message, as well as that of noninterference in Iraq's internal affairs, was a consistent theme in all of Senator Nelson's meetings. Each of his interlocutors emphasized that the Saudis would not support the Arab Sunnis to the exclusion of other groups and would not interfere in Iraq's internal affairs. END NOTE.) ¶4. (S) Naif told Senator Nelson that Saudi Arabia's position would be complicated by a precipitous U.S. withdrawal from Iraq, saying it would be unacceptable for the U.S. to remove Saddam Hussein and then leave the country "in a mess." Were that to happen, he claimed, the Saudis would exhaust all efforts to effect the unity of Iraq, including working with the Sunnis. He clearly asserted that there is no Saudi support for sectarian violence. He continued that the SAG has advised Iraq's Sunni leaders to unite with the government because Saudi Arabia will "stand with any group supporting a united Iraq." He also said the Saudis have contacts with Iran and are pushing the Iranians to leave Iraq. If they do not, he stated, there will be problems between the Arabs and Persians. Naif continued that it is the duty of the U.S. to remain in Iraq until it is united and sovereign. However, if the U.S. were to withdraw, said Naif, "Saudi Arabia would stand with the Sunnis -- as would some other countries." ¶5. (S) Senator Nelson acknowledged the cooperation between the Ministry of Interior, the CIA, and the FBI on intelligence matters. Naif said the "painful reality" is that terrorists are targeting the Kingdom, in part because of its relationship with the U.S., while there are some in the U.S. who think that Saudi Arabia is cooperating with the terrorists. He invited other members of Congress to visit RIYADH 00009175 002.2 OF 002 the Kingdom, explaining that it is important for the American people to understand the mutual cooperation and respect that exists between the two countries. Saudi Arabia itself, he said, has suffered greatly from terror acts, emphasizing that cooperation is the only way to achieve stability. ¶6. (S) Naif closed by alleging that anti-Muslim bias appears to be pervasive in the U.S. post-9/11. He complained about the difficulties many Saudis have in obtaining U.S. visas, questions on the supplemental forms for males that he claimed are insulting to many, and the difficulties many Saudis encounter upon entrance to the U.S. He also complained about the Homaidan Al Turki case (reftel),calling it another example of anti-Muslim bias. In a comment that surprised his U.S. interlocutors, Prince Naif asserted that Al Turki could not have sexually assaulted his Indonesian housemaid "because she is so ugly." Naif noted that mutual respect is key to facilitating the bilateral relationship. ¶7. (U) CODEL Nelson has not reviewed this message. GFOELLER