CENTCOM COMMANDER FALLON MEETS WITH AMIR AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000500 SIPDIS NOFORN SIPDIS NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/04/2017 TAGS: PREL MARR IZ IR KU SUBJECT: CENTCOM COMMANDER FALLON MEETS WITH AMIR AND SENIOR GOK OFFICIALS Classified By: CDA Matt Tueller for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary. New CENTCOM Commander William J. Fallon discussed Iraq, Iran and bilateral military cooperation with the Amir of Kuwait, the Prime Minister, Defense Minister and Armed Forces Chief of Staff on April 3. The Government of Kuwait (GOK) message on Iraq was one of continued support for U.S. and Iraqi efforts to increase stability in Iraq. The GOK officials stated Iraqis must shoulder responsibility to solve the security problem and Iraqi leaders must ridge their differences to find a way to cooperate and reach a political modus vivendi. Admiral Fallon said that some initial progress was being made in Baghdad and in western Iraq and agreed that a political solution was essential. The GOK confirmed the offer it made to the GOI to host an expanded Iraq neighbors meeting. Fallon expressed interest in helping Kuwait meet its additional military training needs but cautioned that U.S. ground forces have many demands on them right now. End summary. Meeting with Prime Minister -------------- ¶2. (C) In the first meeting of his April 3 visit to Kuwait, U.S. CENTCOM Commander Admiral William J. Fallon discussed the security situation in Iraq with Prime Minister Shaykh Nasser Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah. The PM said that the security problem in Iraq was an &internal issue8 and that Iraq must "stand up and resolve the matter." He also asserted that the insurgents' only aim was to create instability. He said that the only help Kuwait could provide was to control its border with Iraq and to provide humanitarian assistance. He explained that the GOK also often receives and welcomes Iraqi visitors, representing all Iraqi ethnic groups. ¶3. (C) The PM said the governments of Syria and Iran have agendas in Iraq and their primary aim is to sow instability. He noted that Iraq had expelled 200,000 persons into Iran in 1969 and that at least three quarters of them have now returned to Iraq bringing with them a significant increase in Iranian influence. While raising concern about Iranian intentions in Iraq, the PM stressed that there must be peace with Iran, urging efforts be made to contain rather than confront Iran. ¶4. (C) Admiral Fallon said the new U.S. strategy in Iraq sought to confront extremists, create areas of security, and to empower Iraqi security forces. Fallon noted there has been some initial progress on improving security in western Iraq and in Baghdad. He also said current Iraqi political leaders have been strongly urged to cooperate and in principle, acknowledge that it is necessary. Emphasizing the importance of finding a political solution, Admiral Fallon explained that his message to Iraqi leaders was to "sit down and reach an agreement." ¶5. (C) Admiral Fallon said Iran's involvement in Iraq consists of large amounts of financial support, sending lots of people into Iraq, smuggling weapons, and providing training in the construction and use of explosively formed projectiles (EFPs). ¶6. (C) Responding to Admiral Fallon's inquiry about Kuwait's willingness to host an expanded Iraq neighbors meeting, the PM said that "Iraq requested it and Kuwait could not refuse." He elaborated that the request had come from Iraqi President Jalal Talabani to the Amir and the Amir had responded positively. Foreign Minister Shaykh Mohammed Al-Sabah interjected that he had spoken with Secretary Rice the previous evening on this topic and that the USG was aware of Kuwait's position. Meeting with Armed Forces Chief of Staff -------------- ¶7. (C) Admiral elaborated on many of the same issues in an open discussion with Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Fahad Al-Amir and his senior military leaders. Al-Amir said that Kuwait is, and will remain, a strong supporter of the U.S. presence in the region as long as the bilateral military relationship continues to be a partnership". He cautioned that if only U.S. interests receive serious consideration, the relationship would be more "difficult." Admiral Fallon acknowledged that each country has its own interests but, as in the past, we should look for areas of collaboration. The Admiral thanked Kuwait for its KUWAIT 00000500 002 OF 002 enormous daily support of Coalition efforts in Iraq and said that the U.S. "couldn't do it without Kuwait" and that the U.S. "doesn't take Kuwait for granted." ¶8. (C) In response to Al-Amir's observation that military training exercises with the U.S. had been decreasing, Admiral Fallon said he would like to hear more about Kuwait's training needs, noting he hoped training levels could return to a higher level, but the near-term reality would likely involve more sea and air training than land forces training. Turning to the region, Admiral Fallon commented that the government of Bahrain had told the U.S. that "it must stay." Meeting with Minister of Defense -------------- ¶9. (U) Admiral Fallon had a brief side meeting with Defense Minister Shaykh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah while waiting for his meeting for the Amir and discussed some of the issues related to the security situation in Iraq covered in the earlier meetings. Admiral Fallon and the MinDef agreed that a political solution in Iraq was essential to success. Meeting with the Amir -------------- ¶10. (C) Admiral Fallon concluded his visit with a meeting with the Amir of Kuwait, Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Also attending were Crown Prince Shaykh Nawaf Al-Ahmad, Defense Minister Jaber Mubarak, Armed Forces Chief of Staff Al-Amir, Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah and National Security Bureau President Shaykh Ahmed Fahed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah. The Amir opened the meeting recalling his comment to President Bush in September, 2006 that a U.S. military withdrawal from Iraq would be extremely dangerous for the region. He said his advice to the President had been that U.S. forces should aim to give Iraqi security forces a leading role, with the U.S. withdrawing to the outskirts of cities and standing by to assist the Iraqis as needed. Otherwise, the Iraqis would remain dependent on the U.S. and would not take on the role that they needed to in order for the situation to improve. He regarded the Baghdad Security Plan as giving an important role to Iraqis and therefore a step in the right direction. He repeated that the lack of security was an Iraqi problem and that Iraqis "should be leaders and solve it." The Amir expressed hope that the upcoming Iraq "neighbors plus" meeting that Kuwait is prepared to host would be part of the solution. ¶11. (C) The Amir said he was pleased to see Iran, Syria and the U.S. talking at the previous Iraq neighbors meeting in Baghdad. He hoped that diplomacy would be used to resolve differences between Iran and the international community. With respect to the nuclear issue, the Amir said Iran had full rights to develop nuclear power for peaceful purposes, even though this raised significant environmental concerns for neighbors. However, his message to President Ahmadinejad was that he had to develop the wisdom to act in a way that did not increase the danger to his own country. ¶12. (U) The meeting closed with Fallon noting the U.S. and Kuwait had a special relationship and the Amir responding "it will continue to be so." ¶13. (U) This cable has been cleared by Admiral Fallon. ********************************************* * 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/ ********************************************* * Tueller