Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MANAMA356
2007-04-15 14:34:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Manama
Cable title:
KING HAMAD DISCUSSES REGIONAL AFFAIRS WITH NAVCENT
how-toVZCZCXRO6056 OO RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHMK #0356/01 1051434 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 151434Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6726 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 000356
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/2017
TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR BA IR IZ REGION OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: KING HAMAD DISCUSSES REGIONAL AFFAIRS WITH NAVCENT
COMMANDER
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 000356
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/2017
TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR BA IR IZ REGION OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: KING HAMAD DISCUSSES REGIONAL AFFAIRS WITH NAVCENT
COMMANDER
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
- - - -
Summary
- - - - -
1. (C) King Hamad told NAVCENT/FIFTH FLEET Commander Vice
Admiral Cosgriff April 11 that Bahrain was proud of the
long-term U.S. naval presence and was happy to work with the
United States in the Combined Maritime Force to defeat common
enemies. The King expressed concern about threats from Iran
and the recent detainment of British sailors. He called for
an integrated early warning system linked with the U.S.
forces and an enhanced Bahraini Coast Guard to protect its
shores from small boats and helicopters launched by Iran. On
Iraq, he discounted PM Maliki's leadership labeling him too
close to Iran and attributed FM Zebari's perceived detachment
to his desire for a strong independently operating Kurdistan.
The Gulf countries' fear is from southern Iraq and
Iranian-backed forces that could march further south. Vice
Admiral Cosgriff reiterated the U.S. commitment to defend our
friends and interests in the region and to a strong
government and security in Iraq. King Hamad closed the
meeting inquiring about U.S. reaction to the idea of a GCC
naval command based in Bahrain, a proposal he planned to put
on the table for discussion at the upcoming May 27-28 Gulf
Summit consultative meeting in Riyadh.
- - - - - - - - -
Close Cooperation
- - - - - - - - -
2. (C) In their introductory meeting, King Hamad bin Isa Al
Khalifa told NAVCENT/FIFTH FLEET Commander Vice Admiral
Cosgriff April 11 that Bahrain was proud of the U.S. Navy's
efforts in the region, its presence in Bahrain and the
friendship engendered between the two nations. The role you
play is important, enemies must be defeated and we are part
of that effort with our participation in the coalition
maritime task forces. Admiral Cosgriff underscored Bahrain's
importance in the region, and as part of the coalition.
Declaring commitment to "defend our friends and our interests
in the Gulf" the Admiral added that while we are not trying
to provoke, we cannot let our friends be menaced.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Iranian Threat to Bahrain
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
3. (C) The King expressed his concern about the recent
detainment of British sailors by Iranian forces, wondering if
Gulf countries need to switch tactics. Bahrain worried about
the threat from helicopters and small boats because they are
difficult to detect and Iran has many of them. We have
capabilities, the King said, but having adequate time is the
issue. We depend on your early warning system, and linking
it into our system is key. King Hamad added that the
Bahrainis are planning exercises to drill for contingencies
if small boats approach their coast. Iran will say that they
are not attacking Bahrain, but the U.S. that is in Bahrain.
But we know it is really us. He stated the need for a strong
coast guard to protect Bahrain's shallow waters. We can't
fight them on the coast, they would be in the midst of the
population. We think Bahrain's battle with Iran would have to
be in the sea or air. The King called on Bahraini and
coalition forces to work together "just as we went into
Kuwait under General Schwarzkopf."
4. (C) Admiral Cosgriff noted that coalition interaction
further south in the Gulf tended to be with the Iranian navy
who were mostly professional in their dealings with coalition
ships. In the northern Gulf, the IRGC is "less than polite."
The Admiral stated that coalition sailors boarded ships on
the basis of intercepting smuggling to Iraq, not as an
affront to Iran. "Now we have to prepare our people to
anticipate that reaction."
- - - - - -
And In Iraq
- - - - - -
5. (C) Turning to Iraq, the King stated that unlike
previous times under Saddam, Iraq is incapable of invading
Iran. Now it is the opposite, and we worry about the influx
of large numbers of Iranians in Iraq, and their potential to
invade Kuwait. He indicated the Kuwaiti leadership had sent
a message recently urging the need to meet and discuss
security of the Gulf, meaning Kuwait. Withdrawal of the U.S.
from Iraq is worrying us, and staying in Iraq is worrying
Americans. A strong government in Iraq to show resolve
MANAMA 00000356 002 OF 002
against Iran and keep it in check is good for us. The King
disparaged the leadership of Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki and
other ministers around him labeling them "half Iranian."
Acknowledging a need for a mix in the government, he pointed
to former PM Ayad Allawi as an example of a strong Shia
leader who is not viewed as a friend of Iran. King Hamad said
the Kurdish leadership is also problematic. Foreign Minister
Zebari does not care if things go worse, he even wants it,
because if it does, this is good from his perspective for
Kurdistan, which is basically operating independently.
President Talabani is the same, he added. The Iranians are in
Iraq because they feel the Iran-Iraq war is not over and
their presence there is a continuation of that war. For the
Gulf countries, he concluded, our battle is in the South
against the "Khomeinis" there who threaten us. Vice Admiral
Cosgriff stated that Iraq is a major focus for CENTCOM
Commander Admiral Fallon. While he acknowledged that
American politics do have an impact, the Admiral reiterated
the U.S. commitment to a strong government and security in
Iraq.
- - - - - - - - - -
GCC Naval Command
- - - - - - - - - -
6. (C) King Hamad asked Admiral Cosgriff his reaction to
the idea of a GCC naval command formed in Bahrain which can
learn from the Fifth Fleet and eventually be linked to the
U.S. naval presence in the region. He pointed to the
scheduled May 27-28 Gulf Summit consultative and follow-up
meeting in Riyadh as a venue to introduce this new idea in
preparation for further discussion at the annual GCC Summit
meeting in December. The Admiral responded that it is a good
idea, noting that a GCC command and coalition forces were not
mutually exclusive.
********************************************* ********
Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/
********************************************* ********
MONROE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/2017
TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR BA IR IZ REGION OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: KING HAMAD DISCUSSES REGIONAL AFFAIRS WITH NAVCENT
COMMANDER
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
- - - -
Summary
- - - - -
1. (C) King Hamad told NAVCENT/FIFTH FLEET Commander Vice
Admiral Cosgriff April 11 that Bahrain was proud of the
long-term U.S. naval presence and was happy to work with the
United States in the Combined Maritime Force to defeat common
enemies. The King expressed concern about threats from Iran
and the recent detainment of British sailors. He called for
an integrated early warning system linked with the U.S.
forces and an enhanced Bahraini Coast Guard to protect its
shores from small boats and helicopters launched by Iran. On
Iraq, he discounted PM Maliki's leadership labeling him too
close to Iran and attributed FM Zebari's perceived detachment
to his desire for a strong independently operating Kurdistan.
The Gulf countries' fear is from southern Iraq and
Iranian-backed forces that could march further south. Vice
Admiral Cosgriff reiterated the U.S. commitment to defend our
friends and interests in the region and to a strong
government and security in Iraq. King Hamad closed the
meeting inquiring about U.S. reaction to the idea of a GCC
naval command based in Bahrain, a proposal he planned to put
on the table for discussion at the upcoming May 27-28 Gulf
Summit consultative meeting in Riyadh.
- - - - - - - - -
Close Cooperation
- - - - - - - - -
2. (C) In their introductory meeting, King Hamad bin Isa Al
Khalifa told NAVCENT/FIFTH FLEET Commander Vice Admiral
Cosgriff April 11 that Bahrain was proud of the U.S. Navy's
efforts in the region, its presence in Bahrain and the
friendship engendered between the two nations. The role you
play is important, enemies must be defeated and we are part
of that effort with our participation in the coalition
maritime task forces. Admiral Cosgriff underscored Bahrain's
importance in the region, and as part of the coalition.
Declaring commitment to "defend our friends and our interests
in the Gulf" the Admiral added that while we are not trying
to provoke, we cannot let our friends be menaced.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Iranian Threat to Bahrain
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
3. (C) The King expressed his concern about the recent
detainment of British sailors by Iranian forces, wondering if
Gulf countries need to switch tactics. Bahrain worried about
the threat from helicopters and small boats because they are
difficult to detect and Iran has many of them. We have
capabilities, the King said, but having adequate time is the
issue. We depend on your early warning system, and linking
it into our system is key. King Hamad added that the
Bahrainis are planning exercises to drill for contingencies
if small boats approach their coast. Iran will say that they
are not attacking Bahrain, but the U.S. that is in Bahrain.
But we know it is really us. He stated the need for a strong
coast guard to protect Bahrain's shallow waters. We can't
fight them on the coast, they would be in the midst of the
population. We think Bahrain's battle with Iran would have to
be in the sea or air. The King called on Bahraini and
coalition forces to work together "just as we went into
Kuwait under General Schwarzkopf."
4. (C) Admiral Cosgriff noted that coalition interaction
further south in the Gulf tended to be with the Iranian navy
who were mostly professional in their dealings with coalition
ships. In the northern Gulf, the IRGC is "less than polite."
The Admiral stated that coalition sailors boarded ships on
the basis of intercepting smuggling to Iraq, not as an
affront to Iran. "Now we have to prepare our people to
anticipate that reaction."
- - - - - -
And In Iraq
- - - - - -
5. (C) Turning to Iraq, the King stated that unlike
previous times under Saddam, Iraq is incapable of invading
Iran. Now it is the opposite, and we worry about the influx
of large numbers of Iranians in Iraq, and their potential to
invade Kuwait. He indicated the Kuwaiti leadership had sent
a message recently urging the need to meet and discuss
security of the Gulf, meaning Kuwait. Withdrawal of the U.S.
from Iraq is worrying us, and staying in Iraq is worrying
Americans. A strong government in Iraq to show resolve
MANAMA 00000356 002 OF 002
against Iran and keep it in check is good for us. The King
disparaged the leadership of Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki and
other ministers around him labeling them "half Iranian."
Acknowledging a need for a mix in the government, he pointed
to former PM Ayad Allawi as an example of a strong Shia
leader who is not viewed as a friend of Iran. King Hamad said
the Kurdish leadership is also problematic. Foreign Minister
Zebari does not care if things go worse, he even wants it,
because if it does, this is good from his perspective for
Kurdistan, which is basically operating independently.
President Talabani is the same, he added. The Iranians are in
Iraq because they feel the Iran-Iraq war is not over and
their presence there is a continuation of that war. For the
Gulf countries, he concluded, our battle is in the South
against the "Khomeinis" there who threaten us. Vice Admiral
Cosgriff stated that Iraq is a major focus for CENTCOM
Commander Admiral Fallon. While he acknowledged that
American politics do have an impact, the Admiral reiterated
the U.S. commitment to a strong government and security in
Iraq.
- - - - - - - - - -
GCC Naval Command
- - - - - - - - - -
6. (C) King Hamad asked Admiral Cosgriff his reaction to
the idea of a GCC naval command formed in Bahrain which can
learn from the Fifth Fleet and eventually be linked to the
U.S. naval presence in the region. He pointed to the
scheduled May 27-28 Gulf Summit consultative and follow-up
meeting in Riyadh as a venue to introduce this new idea in
preparation for further discussion at the annual GCC Summit
meeting in December. The Admiral responded that it is a good
idea, noting that a GCC command and coalition forces were not
mutually exclusive.
********************************************* ********
Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/
********************************************* ********
MONROE