ABU DHABI CROWN PRINCE MEETS WITH SENATOR LIEBERMAN

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 000910 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/RA NSC FOR ABRAMS, RAMCHAND WHITE HOUSE FOR OVP - KARAM, KAVICH E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2017 TAGS: PREL PTER IR IZ SA AE SUBJECT: ABU DHABI CROWN PRINCE MEETS WITH SENATOR LIEBERMAN Classified By: Ambassador Michele Sison, reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). ¶1. (S) Summary. Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MbZ) received U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman at his Palace in Abu Dhabi on May 29. MbZ encouraged increased communication and planning in face of a "resurgent" Persian Empire in Iran. He stated that "everyone" in the region is willing to work with the U.S. to address Iranian aggression but want assurances that they will not be left alone to face Iran when U.S. priorities shift in the future. MbZ offered the Senator his recommendation on how to achieve internal security in Iraq by removing U.S. forces from the cities and concentrating on securing the borders. Noting that Guantanamo has become a recruiting tool for terrorists, MbZ puzzled at the West's willingness to allow radical dialogue to continue within their own countries, and stated that the UAE deters extremism by constraining its imams and the school curriculum. MbZ suggested that the U.S consider appointing a special envoy to Saudi Arabia. End Summary. -------------- Iran -------------- ¶2. (C) MbZ repeatedly emphasized to the Senator the need for joint planning and cooperation to address the growing threat of what he termed a "new Persian Empire." Noting that Iran has been a regional threat "since the time of artillery," MbZ said "we have to stop them before they have missiles. . . Shehab IV (missiles) can't reach D.C., but we know it can reach us and everyone else in the region." Asking if the U.S has a two year/five year plan for Iran, MbZ stated that everyone in the region wants to cooperate with the U.S., but "we want some level of assurance that we will not be left holding the bag when U.S. priorities change in the future." ¶3. (C) Senator Lieberman asked if aggressive tactics such as a blockade would work. MbZ replied that it was not necessary to move to that level yet, stating that "we have a couple of years still, but we need to start planning now." MbZ stated "I am willing to risk 16 billion dollars in trade for long-term security for my children and grand-children," but added that such risks cannot be made casually and therefore "have to be made in accordance with a plan." ¶4. (C) MbZ pointed out three areas where he feels the U.S. should concentrate its efforts: maintaining pressure on banks and financial institutions; monitoring informal fund transfers through Shi'a networks; and using oil refineries as leverage -- noting that Iran imports 40% of its gasoline. MbZ stated that Iran's personalities may change, but the strategic goals are set. Comparing Iran to a train, MbZ said Ahmadinejad (or any other president) could no more change the path that Iran has set than an engineer can change the tracks before him. "What we are seeing now," MbZ explained, "is a new Persia that is pursuing the shortest route to regain its power and prestige -- and that is through nuclear power." MbZ also added that Iran is not likely to use its military capabilities in early strikes against the UAE or Israel, but would be most willing to use them against Saudi Arabia -- because of the Wahabis -- or perhaps Pakistan. -------------- Iraq -------------- ¶5. (C) Responding to the Senator's probing on efforts to stabilize Iraq, MbZ offered his personal opinion of how the U.S. could refocus their efforts to be more productive. First, he said, the U.S. does not need to secure cities such as Baghdad; this is an enormous effort that is largely counterproductive. In order to secure Iraq, he continued, the U.S. should concentrate light forces outside of cities, and focus on securing the borders and training Iraqi security forces to operate within the cities. "Let them kill themselves," he concluded, "sometimes it needs to happen. . . focus on establishing a solid core and minimizing outside influence." Free from outside influences, MbZ postulated that Iraq would eventually find an equilibrium. -------------- Saudi Arabia -------------- ¶6. (S) MbZ also volunteered suggestions regarding the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia. Describing internal political communication within the Saudi government as ABU DHABI 00000910 002 OF 002 "broken," MbZ opined that the paths of communication to King Abdullah are "too heavily filtered." Stating that one cannot trust a message passed through the Saudi Embassy in Washington to accurately convey the words of the King. MbZ recommended that the U.S. appoint a "special envoy" to Saudi Arabia -- someone who travels to Saudi on a regular basis and speaks directly with the King. He stated that if this proposal were couched in terms of the nature of the "special relationship" the U.S. has with the Kingdom, the Saudis would receive it well. -------------- Combating Extremism -------------- ¶7. (S) Senator Lieberman emphasized the need of like-minded countries to work together to combat extremism. MbZ shared his view that the biggest challenges are in education and raising a new generation that has an international focus. Lieberman asked if MbZ worried about Al Qaeda; MbZ responded "big time." MbZ said that the UAE "caught" more than 200 citizens and over 600 foreigners for suspected terrorist links. MbZ stated that the UAE security service is "97% effective" in gathering desired information, and has done so without the use of physical torture. MbZ said that the UAE engages their detainees in dialogue, and over time convinces them of the wrongness of their philosophies -- noting that they almost always eventually they cooperate. On the other hand, he complained, Guantanamo has become a recruiting tool for the terrorists. ¶8. (C) Acknowledging the West's emphasis on personal freedoms such as speech and religion, MbZ wondered whether at some point, when a Western government recognized a religious zealot sowing seeds of dissension and unrest, it might be able to act. MbZ explained that in the UAE, individuals wishing to serve as imams require a license (permit). "If you can't license them, you at least have to monitor them, so that even if you can't prevent bad things from happening, at least they won't be a surprise," he summarized. -------------- Free Trade Agreement -------------- ¶9. (C) MbZ told Senator Lieberman that negotiating an FTA remains important to the UAE but that significant concerns still exist. Explaining that the UAE population is almost 80% foreign, and that the private work force is even more disproportionately foreign, MbZ stated that the UAE faces "unique challenges." Senator Lieberman stated that new Trade Promotion Authority legislation may include requirements for International Labor Organization (ILO) compliance and inquired if that would pose a problem for the UAE. MbZ said the theory of ILO compliance is fine, but that "the practice is often unfair." MbZ said that the UAE already treats its foreign workers "better than most countries including the U.S." and made a comparison of illegal alien labor in Texas and labor camps in the UAE. ¶10. (U) Senator Lieberman has cleared this message. SISON