Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KUWAIT1124
2007-07-16 11:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
FM'S CHIEF OF STAFF EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT U.S.
how-toVZCZCXRO3508 OO RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHKU #1124 1971137 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 161137Z JUL 07 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9617 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD IMMEDIATE 0940
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001124
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2016
TAGS: ECON ELAB PGOV PHUM PREL KU TIP
SUBJECT: FM'S CHIEF OF STAFF EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT U.S.
WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ, OPTIMISM ON TIP
REF: KUWAIT 1099 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Charge D'Affaires Timothy A. Lenderking for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001124
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2016
TAGS: ECON ELAB PGOV PHUM PREL KU TIP
SUBJECT: FM'S CHIEF OF STAFF EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT U.S.
WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ, OPTIMISM ON TIP
REF: KUWAIT 1099 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Charge D'Affaires Timothy A. Lenderking for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)
1. (C/NF) Dr. Ahmed Nasser Mohammed Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Shaykh Dr. Mohammed
Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah's Chief of Staff, told Charge during
a July 15 office call that Kuwait viewed the prospect of an
"early" U.S. withdrawal from Iraq with great concern. He
said such a withdrawal would be bad for the U.S. image in the
region and bad for regional security. While understanding
American domestic political pressures and the need for the
GOI to demonstrate results, Shaykh Ahmed said a withdrawal or
drawdown of U.S. forces in the near future would embolden
Iraqi insurgents and provide an opportunity for terrorists to
claim victory. "We stand shoulder to shoulder" with the
U.S., Shaykh Ahmed said, and an American "defeat" in Iraq
would be a defeat for Kuwait as well.
2. (C/NF) Shaykh Ahmed noted that Kuwait continued to be a
voice of moderation within GCC in its attitude toward the
Maliki government in Iraq. "This is a new Iraq," Shaykh
Ahmed said, "and that is what we are trying to tell our Gulf
neighbors, some of whom do not share our sense of optimism"
about the future of Iraq. He said Iraq must not be allowed
to return to tyranny, whether military domination or
strong-man rule. Most of the Iraqis we talk to, he said,
oppose the withdrawal of U.S. forces.
3. (C/NF) Shaykh Ahmed added that progress on Middle East
peace would contribute substantially toward lessening
tensions both in Iraq and throughout the region.
TIP
---
4. (C/NF) Charge raised trafficking in persons, reiterating
the importance of Kuwait's taking concrete steps to address
concerns spelled out in the recent TIP report. Charge noted
the urgency of action in light of the upcoming 60-day review
slated for mid-August. Charge noted that progress in the
following priority areas would be especially meaningful:
establishing a shelter for trafficking victims, carrying out
prosecutions, taking steps to pass an anti-TIP law, issuing a
decree banning the withholding of passports from domestic
laborers, raising awareness, and directing social workers to
work with women arrested in brothels. Charge said the
Minister of Social Affairs and Labor (MOSAL) appeared to be
"taking the bull by the horns," based on a July 9 meeting
with the Ambassador, and while this expression of commitment
and activism was welcome, the key was concrete action.
5. (C/NF) Shaykh Ahmed said Kuwait was a transparent society
and a democracy and could not condone trafficking in persons
and the abuses associated with domestic labor in Kuwait. He
believed MOSAL Minister Shaykh Sabah Al-Khalid was serious
about taking action against TIP abuses and anticipated we
would be seeing positive changes very quickly.
********************************************* *
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/
********************************************* *
Lenderking
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2016
TAGS: ECON ELAB PGOV PHUM PREL KU TIP
SUBJECT: FM'S CHIEF OF STAFF EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT U.S.
WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ, OPTIMISM ON TIP
REF: KUWAIT 1099 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Charge D'Affaires Timothy A. Lenderking for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)
1. (C/NF) Dr. Ahmed Nasser Mohammed Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Shaykh Dr. Mohammed
Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah's Chief of Staff, told Charge during
a July 15 office call that Kuwait viewed the prospect of an
"early" U.S. withdrawal from Iraq with great concern. He
said such a withdrawal would be bad for the U.S. image in the
region and bad for regional security. While understanding
American domestic political pressures and the need for the
GOI to demonstrate results, Shaykh Ahmed said a withdrawal or
drawdown of U.S. forces in the near future would embolden
Iraqi insurgents and provide an opportunity for terrorists to
claim victory. "We stand shoulder to shoulder" with the
U.S., Shaykh Ahmed said, and an American "defeat" in Iraq
would be a defeat for Kuwait as well.
2. (C/NF) Shaykh Ahmed noted that Kuwait continued to be a
voice of moderation within GCC in its attitude toward the
Maliki government in Iraq. "This is a new Iraq," Shaykh
Ahmed said, "and that is what we are trying to tell our Gulf
neighbors, some of whom do not share our sense of optimism"
about the future of Iraq. He said Iraq must not be allowed
to return to tyranny, whether military domination or
strong-man rule. Most of the Iraqis we talk to, he said,
oppose the withdrawal of U.S. forces.
3. (C/NF) Shaykh Ahmed added that progress on Middle East
peace would contribute substantially toward lessening
tensions both in Iraq and throughout the region.
TIP
---
4. (C/NF) Charge raised trafficking in persons, reiterating
the importance of Kuwait's taking concrete steps to address
concerns spelled out in the recent TIP report. Charge noted
the urgency of action in light of the upcoming 60-day review
slated for mid-August. Charge noted that progress in the
following priority areas would be especially meaningful:
establishing a shelter for trafficking victims, carrying out
prosecutions, taking steps to pass an anti-TIP law, issuing a
decree banning the withholding of passports from domestic
laborers, raising awareness, and directing social workers to
work with women arrested in brothels. Charge said the
Minister of Social Affairs and Labor (MOSAL) appeared to be
"taking the bull by the horns," based on a July 9 meeting
with the Ambassador, and while this expression of commitment
and activism was welcome, the key was concrete action.
5. (C/NF) Shaykh Ahmed said Kuwait was a transparent society
and a democracy and could not condone trafficking in persons
and the abuses associated with domestic labor in Kuwait. He
believed MOSAL Minister Shaykh Sabah Al-Khalid was serious
about taking action against TIP abuses and anticipated we
would be seeing positive changes very quickly.
********************************************* *
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/
********************************************* *
Lenderking