Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MANAMA302
2007-04-02 12:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
Cable title:  

CROWN PRINCE AND ADMIRAL FALLON DISCUSS REGIONAL

Tags:  PREL MARR MOPS BA IZ IR REGION OFFICIALS 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1744
OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHMK #0302/01 0921247
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 021247Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6662
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 000302 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS BA IZ IR REGION OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: CROWN PRINCE AND ADMIRAL FALLON DISCUSS REGIONAL
AFFAIRS

Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.

-------
Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 000302

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS BA IZ IR REGION OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: CROWN PRINCE AND ADMIRAL FALLON DISCUSS REGIONAL
AFFAIRS

Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
.

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. (C) Crown Prince Shaikh Salman told CENTCOM Commander
Admiral Fallon March 23 that Bahrain was proud to work with
the United States in the coalition maritime task forces and
noted that it took Bahrain's participation to get Saudi
Arabia to join. In response to Admiral Fallon's comments
about the need for Arab support for Iraq's Sunnis in Anbar
province, the CP said that the Bahraini government wants to
work with the whole Iraqi government, not just with one
faction such as the Sunnis, and push it to rise to its
responsibilities to all of the country's citizens. He
suggested that ending the de-Baathification program would
send a good signal. He thought a "grand gesture" by the U.S.
on the Palestinian issue would engender Sunni support. He
warned of a resurgent Iran and said Iran's "tentacles" in the
region must be severed. Bahrain would do all it could to
help contain Iran. Shaikh Salman thanked Admiral Fallon for
the Defense Department's support for the Bahrain School and
requested that he weigh in with the Navy to allow its
dependents to return to Bahrain. End Summary.

--------------
U.S. Always Welcome in Gulf Region
--------------


2. (C) In their introductory meeting, Crown Prince Shaikh
Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa told CENTCOM Commander Admiral
Fallon March 23 that Bahrain is proud to work side-by-side
with the United States in the coalition maritime task forces
(CTFs) in the Gulf and Arabian Sea. The Bahraini Navy had
extended its deployment in CTF-152 by two months and,
following a break, would rejoin the mission. He asserted
that Iran should not be able to form coalitions better than
the U.S. and its allies in the region. He claimed that it
took Bahrain's participation in the task force to motivate
Saudi Arabia to join. The CP said that during his
just-completed trip to India, he had been asked about the
role of the United States in the Gulf region. He said he

told the Indians that the United States is always welcome in
the Gulf because it has brought security and stability to the
countries of the region.

--------------
Security and Economic Growth in Iraq
--------------


3. (C) Admiral Fallon explained to the CP that Iraq is his
top priority. Our new commander on the ground, General
Petraeus, will focus on security matters, but also seek ways
to stimulate economic growth and political reconciliation.
He said that Al Qaeda terrorists had found common cause with
Sunni insurgents in the west of Iraq. The U.S. would welcome
the support of our friends in the region to drive a wedge
between local Sunnis and Al Qaeda elements. The Crown Prince
replied that the GOB wants to work with the whole Iraqi
government and push it to rise to its responsibilities to all
Iraqi citizens. Bahrain cannot just work with Iraq's Sunnis
or else it could be accused of promoting a sectarian divide.
The GOB would prefer to try to blur the lines between Sunnis,
Shias, and Kurds.


4. (C) Shaikh Salman stressed that there should be political
space for all communities inside Iraq. Ending the
de-Baathification program would be a way to show good will.
He also warned of Iranian-backed Shia Iraqis carrying out the
policies of a resurgent Iran. Admiral Fallon agreed that
Iran was meddling in Iraq and said the U.S. will try to put
an end to this support for violence in Iraq. The CP said he
believes that sometimes people have to be allowed to sort out
their issues, and then there can be engagement with whatever
government emerges.


5. (C) Defense Minister General Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al
Khalifa, who accompanied the CP, offered that winning
people's hearts and minds takes a long time and requires
collective action. If the Iraqi government does not try to
bring in all its citizens, it will not succeed. A future
Iraqi government, he said, might do better. The Crown Prince
added that a way to engender Sunni support is for the United
States, preferably President Bush, to make a "grand gesture"
on the Palestinian issue similar to what President Reagan did
during the Cold War in urging Gorbachev to "tear down this
wall." This would bring about major changes in the Arab
world.

MANAMA 00000302 002 OF 002



--------------
Severing Iran's "Tentacles"
--------------


6. (C) The Crown Prince said that Iran is like an octopus
with its tentacles extended. These tentacles need to be
severed. If there is progress on the Palestinian issue,
Syria can be convinced to engage with Israel. At that point,
there would be tremendous pressure on Syria to end its role
as liaison between Iran and Hizballah, as well as its
informal "alliance" with Iran. In the CP's view, Iran's
welayat al-faqih (rule of the jurisprudent) system of
government is "on its last legs." Some Iranian leaders have
acknowledged that this form of government is not the best
thing for the country or the people. But the regime will not
crumble, he said. Rather, it needs to be cut from its
sources of support. Iran must be contained, and Bahrain will
do all it can to help.


7. (C) Commenting on his trip to India, the CP observed that
the military seemed to be the most organized group in the
country. Admiral Fallon said the U.S. wants to capitalize on
its improved relations with India to promote greater
Indian-Pakistani reconciliation. Shaikh Salman said that
India would like to have a stronger presence in the Arab
world, but he thought this should wait until its relations
with Pakistan were better. India and Pakistan have a long
history between them, and their rapprochement should not be
rushed.

--------------
Defeating Extremism
--------------


8. (C) The Crown Prince said that stability was necessary to
address the challenges in the region. Stating that
democratic reform would not happen quickly and could cause
massive instability, he suggested that the U.S. should accept
a slower pace of reform in the region. One spark could allow
extremists on all sides to become empowered. The moderates
need to be in control and build bridges within society. The
GOB was facing challenges of rising sectarianism,
underemployment, housing shortages, and a tense regional
environment. Working in concert with the United States and
regional countries, there can be stability in the area. The
ideology of extremism has to be defeated, he said.


9. (C) The CP thanked Admiral Fallon for the Defense
Department's long-standing support for the Bahrain School.
To ensure the school's long-term future the Navy should
consider allowing its dependents to return to Bahrain in the
near future. NAVCENT Commander, Vice Admiral Cosgriff,
pointed out that force protection was an important factor in
determining whether to permit dependents to return and said
that he would seek the CP's help to demonstrate to Washington
this is under control. Admiral Fallon commented that he
would positively transmit the CP's request to the CNO.


10. (U) Admiral Fallon cleared this cable.


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