Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ABUDHABI702
2007-04-26 15:39:00
SECRET
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

CENTCOM COMMANDER ADMIRAL FALLON APRIL 24 MEETING

Tags:  PREL PARM IZ IR AF PK SY LE IS AE 
pdf how-to read a cable
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PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHAD #0702/01 1161539
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 261539Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8841
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0338
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 0581
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 0867
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 1600
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0372
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0552
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 0212
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 04 ABU DHABI 000702 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

JERUSALEM FOR USSC GEN DAYTON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2017
TAGS: PREL PARM IZ IR AF PK SY LE IS AE
SUBJECT: CENTCOM COMMANDER ADMIRAL FALLON APRIL 24 MEETING
WITH ABU DHABI CROWN PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN ZAYED

Classified By: Ambassador Michele Sison, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 04 ABU DHABI 000702

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

JERUSALEM FOR USSC GEN DAYTON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2017
TAGS: PREL PARM IZ IR AF PK SY LE IS AE
SUBJECT: CENTCOM COMMANDER ADMIRAL FALLON APRIL 24 MEETING
WITH ABU DHABI CROWN PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN ZAYED

Classified By: Ambassador Michele Sison, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (S) Summary. On April 24 Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and
Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh
Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MbZ) hosted CENTCOM Commander
Admiral William J. Fallon for an introductory lunch, in what
was the Admiral's first visit to the UAE since assuming
command. Regional security issues dominated the
conversation. Admiral Fallon expressed thanks for UAE
cooperation on military and security issues and urged a more
pro-active role with regard to Iraq. MbZ spoke in caustic
terms of Iran President Ahmadinejad, stating that Iran was
eternally dissembling, fixated on acquiring nuclear weaponry
with "a very clear agenda" in Iraq and destabilizing
intentions in Lebanon. MbZ was also highly critical of the
Iraq Prime Minister, volunteering that he didn't "see much
light on the horizon with Al Maliki and his government." He
expressed worries about the Taliban resurgence in
Afghanistan and doubts about Pakistan President Musharraf's
ability to control extremists in his country. MbZ was dismissive of
Syria's President, characterizing Bashar Al Asad as an unsophisticated
liar. MbZ conveyed strong assurances of UAE support and friendship.
Also present were UAE Commander of Special Operations, Major
General Juma Ahmed Al Bawardi Al Falasi, and MbZ's Director
of International Affairs, Yousef Mana Al Otaiba, and Advisor
Jack W. McGuinness (Colonel, USA ret.). End Summary. 2. (S)
On April 24, CENTCOM Commander Admiral William Fallon was
hosted at a lunchtime meeting by Abu Dhabi Crown Prince
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MbZ),Deputy Supreme
Commander UAE Armed Forces. Admiral Fallon conveyed
greetings from DepSec Defense Gordon England and thanked MbZ
for the UAE's cooperation on military and security issues.
Admiral Fallon said that, 5 weeks into his position as
CENTCOM Commander, he was visiting the region in order to

benefit from the advice of regional leadership. MbZ
expressed appreciation for the visit, commenting that there
were many issues in which the U.S. and the UAE were intimately
involved.

IRAN - ATTEMPT AT DIALOGUE A FACADE


3. (S) MbZ opened by talking about Iran, remarking that many
in the region felt a dialogue with Iran should be launched.
His own view is that any attempt at dialogue with Iran would
be a faade, implying that the Iranians' normal way of
engaging was to dissemble and to bargain as if in a bazaar.
For nearly 30 years, he said, Iran had followed a determined
"Islamic" line and they were now regressing to a Persian way
of life in the 21st century while faced with complicated
contemporary problems. With vast oil and gas wealth and
abundant water supply ("300 rivers" from which to generate
hydroelectric power),Iran was lost in dreams of its 5,000
year history and visions of a new Persian Empire. Admiral
Fallon concurred that Iran had a provocative approach to the
world, noting that Iran was clearly involved in antagonizing
international opinion and working to destabilize its
neighbors on either side, Iraq and Afghanistan.


4. (S) MbZ went on to castigate Iranian President Ahmadinejad, Ayatolla
Khamenei's own choice, a fanatic committed to a Persian revolutionary
destiny, which includes meddling in Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq
and Afghanistan. MbZ recalled the Iranian hand in its "25
year" support for Hezbollah and its role in the 1994 bombings
of the Jewish cultural center in Argentina and the Israeli
embassy in London. "Definitely," he said, "they have an
agenda, a long term strategy, and they are willing to be
patient and follow that strategy." Continuing to disparage
Ahmadinejad, MbZ stated that the Iranian president hadn't
changed his basic views since he was a 20 year old
hostage-taker. According to MbZ, King Abdullah of Saudi
Arabia, who had taken "a respected position against the
Shi'a," had Ahmadinejad correctly pegged with his comment:
"I saw him looking into my eyes and lying." MbZ described
Iran as a rich country, very different from poverty-stricken
North Korea, but which was nonetheless completely fixated on
its first priority -- acquiring a nuclear weapon. MbZ
remarked that the UAE thinks carefully about its future and its
interests, and is not in a position to sacrifice $16 Billion in annual

ABU DHABI 00000702 002 OF 004


trade with Iran -- all the while realizing that this same neighbor and
major trading partner is "dangerous."


5. (S) MbZ recalled an Abu Dhabi dinner many years before with
Rafsanjani's brother Mohammed, who was close to Ahmadinejad, in which i
was related that Iran would not rest until it acquired Weapons of
Mass Destruction and the ability to launch missiles that
would go straight to Washington. For the Iranian leadership
the appeal to national pride was a calculated effort to
divert the Iranian people from their real problems. MbZ
compared the typical Muslim extremist frame of mind to the
Western perspective: "In the West you want to live a full
life, but in the East many Muslim fanatics want to die and go
to heaven."

IRAQ -- UAE LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN PRIME MINISTER AL MALIKI


6. (S) Ambassador asked about reports that Iraqi PM Al Maliki
would be visiting the UAE. MbZ indicated that the visit had
been postponed but might occur sometime next week, but
volunteered that he "didn't see much hope in investing in
Iraq," concluding: "I really don't see much light on the
horizon with Al Maliki and his government."


7. (S) MbZ shed further light on PM Al Maliki's only previous
visit to the UAE (July 3, 2006) from which the UAE had
gleaned many negative reports. MbZ griped that Al Maliki
sent his Defense Minister to the February 2007 International
Defense Exhibition (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi rather than come
himself. The message that came with the Iraqi minister was
that Al Maliki was unhappy about UAE funding directed to the
Sunnis as well as negative media coverage in the UAE. MbZ
said the UAE sent back a counter message inviting Al Maliki
"to fly over and talk to us." Complaining that Al Maliki had
not even called anyone in the UAE since the July visit, MbZ
held out some possibility that "better communication" might
help to "repair bridges." (Note: Foreign Minister Abdullah
later informed Ambassador that UAEG had asked Al Maliki to
come next week as Comoros President, Japanese PM, and
Uruguayan President were coming to Abu Dhabi this week.
However, Al Maliki said he could not come the week of April

30. Thus, it appears that Al Maliki will not meet UAEG before the May
3 Iraq Compact meeting. End note.)


8. (S) According to MbZ, the Iraq issue comes back in the end
to Iran, which has been a problem in Iraq for generations:
"Iran has had sleeper cells in Iraq for 400 years -- not just
since 9/11." Iran, MbZ said, is planning for the long term,
the "Big Terror" and "has a very clear agenda." Lamenting
the human cost of the War on Terror, MbZ said, "America has
paid a big price for its beliefs -- with many body bags."
MbZ drew attention to the "Faces of the Fallen" in American
newspapers, "youth who sacrificed everything" -- expressing
regret that many had died "for nothing" as victims of bombs
and IEDs without being able to fight back. MbZ asked the
Admiral what would happen if America withdrew, agreeing that
Iran would be joyous and the resulting instability would be
bad news for the region. Admiral Fallon responded, "War is
not pretty. We owe it to those who died to make our best
efforts," indicating that a few months would be needed to see
results from the Baghdad Security Plan, pointing out that there is
little violence in 14 of Iraq's 18 provinces and that
even Anbar province is starting to turn around. MbZ asked
whether the Al Maliki government would fall and what would
happen then. Admiral Fallon responded that Al Maliki's fall
would "bring us back to square one," noting that one of the
great problems in Iraq, which otherwise has much potential,
is the factional leadership pushing their own agendas. The
challenge, said the Admiral, is get Iraqis to move beyond
their special interests and for their leaders to open their
eyes and become bigger men.9. (S) Discussion shifted to
foreign fighters in Iraq, MbZ commenting that he was not
surprised to learn that many were coming from North Africa.
MbZ also criticized the negative role of the media in Iraq,
rhetorically asking: "How many good things that have
happened in Iraq are ever covered by the media?" The Admiral
urged the UAE not only to attend and participate in the Iraq
Compact, but also to host a future conference and to reach

ABU DHABI 00000702 003 OF 004


out proactively to the Iraqi leadership, which vitally needs the
support of its neighbors.


TALIBAN -- AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN


10. (S) Discussion shifted to the destabilizing effects of
the Taliban resurgence and the willingness of extremists to
return Afghanistan to a medieval Muslim state. Admiral
Fallon cited the Afghan Government's need to win the
confidence of its people and the necessity for President
Musharraf to do more to control the tribes and prevent
Taliban from crossing the Pakistan border from Quetta and
other points. MbZ described the Taliban as "totally
obsessed" and expressed contempt for their "so-called Muslim
values." Ambassador reminded principal interlocutors of UAE
efforts to bring Karzai and Musharraf together.11. (S) MbZ
said that Pakistan, from his point of view, with its 150
million people, "120 nuclear bombs and 20,000 Taliban
schools," was ultimately more important than Afghanistan and
urged the U.S. to ensure that Musharraf understood that
point. Maintaining that the UAE has excellent relations with
Pakistan (which has 700,000 expats in the UAE),and with
Musharraf personally, MbZ asked how come the
Pakistani President can sleep at night with thousands of
madrasas in his backyard while MbZ himself can't sleep for
thinking of "the one Taliban madrasa" in the UAE. According
to MbZ, Musharraf has not sized up his own situation
adequately nor has he calculated the impact of extremism on
Pakistan's future. MbZ decried the funding for the Taliban
coming from charities throughout the Muslim world, indicating
that he would not be surprised to learn of money coming from
the UAE. Ambassador reminded the Crown Prince of the April
25 meeting of the U.S.-UAE Joint Terrorism Finance
Coordinating Committee, in which this issue would be directly
addressed. MbZ vowed complete support for efforts to choke
off funds for Muslim radical organizations like the Taliban.


LEBANON & SYRIA, ISRAEL & THE PALESTINIANS



12. (S) Admiral Fallon asked MbZ's views on the Syria-Iran
connection, and how Syria had let Iran gain such a foothold
in Lebanon. Syria, said MbZ, sees Lebanon as part of Syria,
and Asad believes it will work to his advantage to have Iran
involved in Lebanon: "The Syrians are not that
sophisticated, and Bashar Al Asad is a liar. We are not
dealing with a sophisticated person." Yet, MbZ said he still
favors engaging with Syria, noting that Damascus went out of
its way to receive U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
"Engaging Syria," he declared, "is not a bad idea. We need
to play more politics."


13. (S) Noting the UAE's $150 million contribution to Lebanon last year
MbZ said that Iran is pumping in excess of $150 million every month to
destabilize the country. Taking a swipe at the Israeli lobby, MbZ said
"Sometimes the policy of Washington is managed by Tel Aviv,"
qualifying the statement by suggesting that "Tel Aviv's
interests could still be served by a Washington-managed
policy," and concluding "Washington needs to see the whole region with
a larger vision."

MBZ: "WE'RE IN THE SAME BOAT" -- "WAY FORWARD NOT EASY"


14. (S) Admiral Fallon thanked the Crown Prince for the UAE's
proposed financial assistance to professionalize the
Palestinian Security Forces. MbZ countered, without being
specific, that "the U.S. could help the UAE with the Israelis
and the Egyptians." Ambassador noted that USSC General
Dayton would visit Abu Dhabi and meet again with Sheikh Hazza
on May 6. MbZ assured Admiral Fallon that the UAE and the
U.S. are "in the same boat" and expressed the hope that the
Admiral would be a frequent visitor. "A lot is going on,"
MbZ said, "but rest assured that we are choosing our friends
based on very clear decisions and understanding that the way
forward is not going to be easy."


ABU DHABI 00000702 004 OF 004



15. (U) Admiral Fallon has reviewed this message.
SISON