DUBAI RULER/UAE PM MOHAMMED BIN RASHID ON IRAQ,

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 ABU DHABI 001180

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
NOFORN

STATE FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ARP, T, ISN/FO, S/P, PM/FO
DOD/OSD FOR JESS KELSO, JOHN QUINN, JAMES ANDERSON
CENTCOM FOR CCJ5-FRANK RODRIGUEZ
NSC FOR RAMCHAND, ABRAMS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/16/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS PARM EAID IR IZ LE AF PK SY
AE
SUBJECT: DUBAI RULER/UAE PM MOHAMMED BIN RASHID ON IRAQ,
SYRIA, COUNTERPROLIFERATION

REF: A. ABU DHABI 1119


B. ABU DHABI 949

C. DUBAI 425

Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison, reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (S) Summary: On July 15, Ambassador met with UAE Vice
President, Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Dubai
Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum (MbR). MbR
complained about the Iranian influence in Iraq and voiced his
belief that the current situation in Iraq is a civil war
which will continue if the U.S. pulled out. Eventually, he
opined, the Iraqis "would learn to live with each other." He
told Ambassador that UAE President Khalifa's message to
President Bashar Al-Asad during Khalifa's July 15-16 visit to
Damascus would be that it was in Syria's interest to help
Iraq stabilize. He expressed concern about the situation in
Pakistan and the need to support President Musharraf's
efforts against Islamic extremists. MbR also explained that
the new MbR Foundation would be looking at education and
other long-term counter radicalization efforts. Ambassador
thanked MbR for the UAE's support to the U.S. military and
for counterproliferation efforts. She also stressed the
USG's interest in expeditious ratification of the UAE's
export control law. End Summary.


2. (S) On July 15 Ambassador, DATT, and Econchief met with
MbR and his sons Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed and Sheikh
Maktoum bin Mohammed. UAE Commander Air Force and Air
Defense Major General Mohammed bin Suwaidan al Qamzi, and
Chief of Dubai State Security BG Mohammed Al-Qamzi also
attended the meeting. (Note: MG Suwaidan is the senior-most
officer in the UAE's military from the Emirate of Dubai. End
Note.)

Iraq
--------------


3. (S/NF) Ambassador asked MbR for his assessment of the
results of Iraqi National Security Advisor Mowaffak
Al-Rubaie's recent visit to the UAE were (ref a). BG
Al-Qamzi stated that the visit "had not led to any progress."
Al-Rubaie, he asserted, focused his efforts on trying to
convince the UAE "not to support the Sunnis in Iraq." He
said Al-Rubaie took the attitude that UAE actions were
hostile, and had "indirectly" justified the Iranian influence
in Iraq as a matter of religion. MbR (reiterating a
commonly-heard complaint from UAE leaders) stated Iraqi PM
Al-Maliki and Al-Rubaie were both influenced by Iran.
Al-Qamzi noted that recent Iranian statements about the
failure of U.S. policy in Iraq demonstrated their influence
in Iraq.


4. (S) Ambassador presented MbR with a copy of the Initial
Benchmark Assessment Report to Congress on Iraq, noting this
is an interim report and the final report is due to Congress
in September. Quoting the President, Ambassador stressed
that beginning to withdraw before "our commanders tell us we
are ready would be dangerous for Iraq, the region, and for
the United States." Nations throughout the Middle East have
a stake in a stable Iraq, she added. MbR, who appears to
anticipate a U.S. withdrawal, explained he thought the civil
war in Iraq would continue and the U.S. presence was
"delaying it." However, eventually the Iraqis would learn to
live together, he said. MbR also suggested Iraqi "tribes,"
both Sunni and Shia, would if strengthened be able to drive
foreign fighters and Al-Qaeda out of Iraq.

President Khalifa's Visit to Syria
--------------


5. (S) MbR told Ambassador that he had just met with UAE
President Khalifa that morning. MbR added they developed
Khalifa's message to Syrian President Bashar Al-Asad, which
would be two-fold. The first point, MbR stressed, would be
that "Syria is still an Arab country." As such, it should

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not tie itself so closely to Iran. The second point would be
that Syria has a strong influence on Iraq and on controlling
the border between the two countries. It should "try to
help." MbR stated an Iraqi collapse would be bad for both
the Gulf States and the Syrians. MbR went on to complain
that U.S. statements identifying Iran, Iraq, and Syria as the
regional "bad guys" provided Iran and Syria an incentive to
work together to "save face" with their own publics. (Note:
President Khalifa departed for Damascus July 15 on an
official two-day visit. End Note.)

MBR Foundation and Counter Radicalization
--------------


6. (C) Ambassador told MbR that news of the new foundation's
USD 10 billion endowment was well received in Washington,
where it is hoped that, in the long term, the foundation's
program could help counter extremism. MbR said that over
time the budget would grow. The goal was to take young
people to the best universities in the U.S. and Europe and
give them skills and hope for the future. MbR stated that
the foundation would concentrate its initial efforts on Iraq
and Afghanistan.

Pakistan and Extremism
--------------


7. (C) MbR turned the conversation to Pakistani President
Musharraf's actions against extremists at Lal Mosque in
Islamabad. Al-Qamzi stated that Musharraf needed to be
careful to prevent the Islamists from coming to power. MbR
opined that Musharraf "needs help" and stressed the need to
control Islamic extremists, citing the UAE's efforts to reach
out to its own citizens who might have such tendencies. He
said that "we know who they are and we talk to them" to
explain that terrorist acts would hurt not only themselves,
but also their country and their families. MbR further
commented the UAE had helped Musharraf avert one
assassination plot and would continue to work with the
Pakistani authorities to avoid others. MbR stated it was not
a matter of if, but when, Musharraf is killed by terrorists
or radicals.

Lebanon
--------------


8. (C) Ambassador thanked MbR for the support the UAE
provides to the Lebanese Armed Forces and for the UAE's
coordination with the U.S. on this matter. MbR stressed the
UAE would continue to support the Lebanese government, which
needed a chance to deliver security to its people. MbR also
said he saw TV pictures of UAE helicopters operating in
Lebanon, commenting wryly that neither the Lebanese nor the
Emiratis had had the opportunity to paint over the UAE tail
markings.

Counter-Proliferation, Export Controls
--------------


9. (S) Ambassador stressed USG appreciation for the UAE's
cooperation on counterproliferation issues, including
stopping two transshipments from China to Iran. Al-Qamzi
noted that the UAEG continued to hold two Chinese origin
containers that were shipped in clear violation of UNSCRs
1737 and 1747. He added the Chinese authorities had
complained but the UAEG's Ministry of Foreign Affairs had
responded, clearly laying out its case. Ambassador also
urged MbR to push for rapid ratification of the export
control law by the rulers of the individual emirates, noting
that Cabinet and Federal National Council approval had
already taken place.

Mil-Mil Cooperation
--------------


10. (SBU) Ambassador thanked MbR and MG Suwaidan for the

ABU DHABI 00001180 003 OF 003


UAEG's support for the U.S. military in Jebel Ali and
Fujairah ports and Al-Dhafra Air Base. She also noted our
intention to transition from Fujairah's civil airport to the
Minhad air station in accordance with the UAE's desire, and
stated that we will need to seek occasional exceptions to
this policy in the future. MbR briefly consulted with MG
Suwaidan about the UAEG decision to have U.S. military forces
stop using civil fields.


11. (S) Ambassador also raised USG concerns about the Dubai
Diamond Exchange and irregularities with the Kimberly Process
(septel).
SISON