Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KUWAIT1717
2007-12-13 07:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
DEPUTY CHIEF OF KUWAIT NATIONAL GUARD ON CURRENT
how-toVZCZCXRO0581 RR RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHKU #1717 3470717 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 130717Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0419 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001717
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR S/CT, DS/ATA, NEA/ARP
ENERGY FOR KOLEVAR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2017
TAGS: ASEC EPET KCIP KU PGOV PINR PTER
SUBJECT: DEPUTY CHIEF OF KUWAIT NATIONAL GUARD ON CURRENT
STATE OF POLITICS AND CEIP
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, Alan G. Misenheimer, for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001717
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR S/CT, DS/ATA, NEA/ARP
ENERGY FOR KOLEVAR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2017
TAGS: ASEC EPET KCIP KU PGOV PINR PTER
SUBJECT: DEPUTY CHIEF OF KUWAIT NATIONAL GUARD ON CURRENT
STATE OF POLITICS AND CEIP
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, Alan G. Misenheimer, for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)
1. (C) On December 10, Charge d'Affaires, Defense Attache
and Poloff met with Shaykh Mish'al Al-Ahmed Al Sabah, Deputy
Chief of the Kuwait National Guard (KNG). Shaykh Mish'al is
the half-brother of both the current and former Amirs as well
as the Crown Prince, and is considered to be one of the top
three decision-makers in the royal family. During the
meeting Shaykh Mish'al responded to questions regarding the
current tensions between the government and National Assembly
and Critical Energy Infrastructure Protection (CEIP).
2. (C) Shaykh Mish'al addressed the issue of the current
tensions between the government and the National Assembly
warily. His bottom line was that the Amir would take into
account everything he is seeing and hearing and make a
decision based on the good of the country. Shaykh Mish'al
gave no indication of when this might happen but did say that
the Amir's decision would be a constitutional one, meaning
that if the National Assembly is dissolved, elections must be
called within two months. Shaykh Mish'al did not give his
personal opinion directly but he emphasized that a strong
government is needed, one that would not let a legislative
body get in the way of moving the country forward. He also
noted that since Kuwait's constitution was written, times
have changed and the constitution should be amended to
reflect these changes: a pattern that many western
democracies have followed.
3. (C) Charge briefed Shaykh Mish'al on the U.S. CEIP
initiative. He declined to offer advice on the long-pending
question of whether the Interior Ministry or National
Security Bureau would take the lead on the GOK side, but
welcomed USG guidance and assistance on CEIP. Shaykh Mish'al
made an energetic pitch for additional training for the KNG
in terms of operations and planning. Post will continue to
press the issue of CEIP with the Ministry of Interior and
National Security Bureau, the organization most likely to
lead on the program.
********************************************* *
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/
********************************************* *
MISENHEIMER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR S/CT, DS/ATA, NEA/ARP
ENERGY FOR KOLEVAR
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2017
TAGS: ASEC EPET KCIP KU PGOV PINR PTER
SUBJECT: DEPUTY CHIEF OF KUWAIT NATIONAL GUARD ON CURRENT
STATE OF POLITICS AND CEIP
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, Alan G. Misenheimer, for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)
1. (C) On December 10, Charge d'Affaires, Defense Attache
and Poloff met with Shaykh Mish'al Al-Ahmed Al Sabah, Deputy
Chief of the Kuwait National Guard (KNG). Shaykh Mish'al is
the half-brother of both the current and former Amirs as well
as the Crown Prince, and is considered to be one of the top
three decision-makers in the royal family. During the
meeting Shaykh Mish'al responded to questions regarding the
current tensions between the government and National Assembly
and Critical Energy Infrastructure Protection (CEIP).
2. (C) Shaykh Mish'al addressed the issue of the current
tensions between the government and the National Assembly
warily. His bottom line was that the Amir would take into
account everything he is seeing and hearing and make a
decision based on the good of the country. Shaykh Mish'al
gave no indication of when this might happen but did say that
the Amir's decision would be a constitutional one, meaning
that if the National Assembly is dissolved, elections must be
called within two months. Shaykh Mish'al did not give his
personal opinion directly but he emphasized that a strong
government is needed, one that would not let a legislative
body get in the way of moving the country forward. He also
noted that since Kuwait's constitution was written, times
have changed and the constitution should be amended to
reflect these changes: a pattern that many western
democracies have followed.
3. (C) Charge briefed Shaykh Mish'al on the U.S. CEIP
initiative. He declined to offer advice on the long-pending
question of whether the Interior Ministry or National
Security Bureau would take the lead on the GOK side, but
welcomed USG guidance and assistance on CEIP. Shaykh Mish'al
made an energetic pitch for additional training for the KNG
in terms of operations and planning. Post will continue to
press the issue of CEIP with the Ministry of Interior and
National Security Bureau, the organization most likely to
lead on the program.
********************************************* *
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/
********************************************* *
MISENHEIMER