Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MANAMA343
2007-04-15 05:26:00
SECRET
Embassy Manama
Cable title:  

MARINE CORPS COMMANDANT DISCUSSES IRAN, IRAQ,

Tags:  PREL PGOV MASS MCAP BA BILAT OFFICIALS 
pdf how-to read a cable
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OO RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHMK #0343/01 1050526
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 150526Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6711
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 000343 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV MASS MCAP BA BILAT OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: MARINE CORPS COMMANDANT DISCUSSES IRAN, IRAQ,
BAHRAINI MILITARY WITH MINISTER OF DEFENSE

Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

-------
Summary
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S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 000343

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV MASS MCAP BA BILAT OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: MARINE CORPS COMMANDANT DISCUSSES IRAN, IRAQ,
BAHRAINI MILITARY WITH MINISTER OF DEFENSE

Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

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


1. (S) Minister of Defense General Shaikh Khalifa Al Khalifa
told Marine Corps Commandant General James Conway April 5,
that he had received intelligence about an Iranian submarine
that had entered Saudi waters recently, but when the
information was passed to the Saudis, they did not act on it.
General Khalifa said that the region had been able to bear
Iran's "meddling fingers," referring to its support of
various terror groups, but if Iran were to develop a nuclear
device, the region would experience a nuclear arms race. In
Iraq, the Minister pointed to the need for efforts on several
fronts beyond the military, including public relations,
social services, and mediation between religious groups. He
also identified two areas in which the Marine Corps could
provide assistance to the Bahraini military: 1) by making
available M-60 spare tank parts, and 2) by encouraging
contact between the administration and students of the Marine
Corps Staff College and Bahrain's newly opened Military Staff
College. End summary.

--------------
Iran Unpredictable
--------------


2. (S) In a meeting April 5 with Marine Corps Commandant
General James Conway, Minister of Defense General Shaikh
Khalifa Bin Ahmed Al Khalifa stated that he had received
intelligence about an Iranian submarine that had entered
Saudi waters recently. Bahrain informed the Saudi
government, but according to the Minister, the Saudis did not
take the information seriously. The Minister characterized
the Iranian leadership as being fragile inside but wanting to
outwardly present a false front of strength at the highest
levels. He said that Iran will always have its "meddling
fingers" abroad, supported by a healthy budget at the Iranian
president's disposal to channel funds to terror groups in
Lebanon, Iraq and beyond.


3. (C) General Khalifa said that if the nuclear issue with

Iran does not escalate, the region can live with the status
quo, but if Iran succeeds in building a nuclear weapon, there
will be a nuclear arms race in the region. He expressed hope
that Iran would not develop a weapon, but said that Iran
points to other countries in the region, such as Pakistan and
Israel, which have nuclear weapons, and wonders why it should
not be allowed to develop them. The Minister pointed to
South Africa as an example of a country that abandoned its
nuclear weapons program, hoping that Iran would do the same.
"Adding members to the (nuclear) club will be a nightmare for
us in the region and for the rest of the world." He said,
"Most frightening is that regimes such as Iran's do not have
a strong system of government accountability, so if it were
to develop a weapon, it would only take a small number of
people to make the decision to use it. We have seen this
happen before; both Iraq and Iran have used chemical weapons."

--------------
Progress in Iraq
--------------


4. (C) When asked about the progress in Iraq, General Conway
described signs in Anbar province that segments of the Sunni
population were banding together against Al Qaida in Iraq
(AQI). He said he was encouraged by early signs of success
of the "surge" in Baghdad and hoped this success would
contribute also to operations in Anbar. The Minister
acknowledged the complexity of the situation and commented on
the need for a comprehensive effort, including public
relations, social services, and mediation between religious
groups. General Khalifa stressed the importance of increased
Iraqi involvement in the overall effort, while recognizing
that Iraqi forces are not up to full strength yet and that
loyalty to local militias, rather than to the central
government, is a considerable problem.

--------------
Areas of Need for Bahraini Military
--------------


5. (C) In discussing Bahrain's military readiness, General
Khalifa requested assistance for Bahrain's fleet of 160 M-60
tanks. He said that he had mentioned this request
previously, but had been encouraged to consider purchasing
M-1 tanks. He said that with recent budget reductions and
parliament's increasing oversight of the budget, it was

MANAMA 00000343 002 OF 002


unlikely the army would be able to consider a purchase of M-1
tanks in the near future. In the meantime, he said the
military was having some trouble finding spare parts and
wondered if the Marine Corps would consider making parts
available to Bahrain. General Conway said that he would look
into this possibility.


6. (C) The Minister also mentioned the Bahraini Military
Staff College that opened this year with its first batch of
students. He said that the Staff College could benefit from
contact with both students and members of the administration
from the Marine Corps Staff College (MCSC) and asked General
Conway for his support. The Minister said that Bahrain would
like to look to the the MCSC as a model for its Staff College
and requested that more formal contacts be established.
General Conway welcomed the engagement.

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