AMBASSADOR STRESSES CUTTING OFF FOREIGN FIGHTERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001056 SIPDIS SIPDIS NOFORN STATE FOR NEA/ARP, EB/ESC/TFS, S/CT FOR MONOSSON; NSC FOR KIFAYAT, TREASURY FOR A/S PATRICK O'BRIEN, DANIEL HARRIS, AND BENJAMIM DAVIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/03/2027 TAGS: EFIN IZ KU PREL PTER ECON PGOV KTFN SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR STRESSES CUTTING OFF FOREIGN FIGHTERS REF: A. STATE 92339 ¶B. EMBASSY KUWAIT DIPNOTE 307 DATED 22-MAY-2007 ¶C. KUWAIT 808 Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C/NF) The Ambassador met 3 July with MFA Under Secretary Khalid Al-Jarallah to emphasize the importance of cutting off foreign fighters going to Iraq. The Ambassador emphasized that the foreign fighters make up a majority of the suicide bombers and thus have a disproportionate destabilizing influence. The Ambassador noted that we are raising the matter directly with the Syrian Government and providing specific suggestions. Al-Jarallah agreed that the foreigners are doing great harm and the supply needs to be cut. The Ambassador mentioned the case of Jaber Al-Jalahmah, the Kuwaiti jihadist and U.S.-designated terrorist facilitator, who was detained and questioned by Kuwaiti security last week. The Ambassador said it was important to keep up the pressure on Kuwaiti supporters and facilitators of volunteers for jihad in Iraq, as well as to maintain Arab government pressure on the Syrians to prevent their entry and transit. (The Embassy will continue to follow up this issue with other GOK officials.) ********************************************* * For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ ********************************************* * LeBaron