Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ABUDHABI1419
2008-12-18 08:03:00
SECRET
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:  

MBZ OFFERS COUNTER PIRACY SUPPORT

Tags:  PTER PBTS PHSA MOPS AE 
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VZCZCXRO9305
PP RUEHDE
DE RUEHAD #1419 3530803
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 180803Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1890
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
INFO RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 0118
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0213
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0080
RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 8081
S E C R E T ABU DHABI 001419 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2018
TAGS: PTER PBTS PHSA MOPS AE
SUBJECT: MBZ OFFERS COUNTER PIRACY SUPPORT

Ref: A) ABU DHABI 1405, B) STATE 129941

Classified by Ambassador Richard Olson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

S E C R E T ABU DHABI 001419

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2018
TAGS: PTER PBTS PHSA MOPS AE
SUBJECT: MBZ OFFERS COUNTER PIRACY SUPPORT

Ref: A) ABU DHABI 1405, B) STATE 129941

Classified by Ambassador Richard Olson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (S) On December 14, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince (and Deputy Supreme
Commander of the UAE Armed Forces) Mohammed bin Zayed (MbZ) discussed
regional naval issues with OSD Assistant Secretary for International
Security Affairs Mary Beth Long in Abu Dhabi. MbZ said the UAE
wanted to assist in the fight against piracy with "a ship" and hoped
to coordinate deployment with the U.S. He wryly compared pirates to
extremists captured in Afghanistan and suggested they should not be
dealt with softly. Recognizing legal complications for the U.S. in
dealing with persons under control (PUC),MbZ did not offer a
particular alternative yet was not convinced that rehabilitating the
pirates was possible -- this reminded him of the Guantanamo dilemma.
(He made reference to an unrepentant extremist settling down "in a
little mosque in a village" to mobilize a "gang" with Osama-like
stories of grandeur, suggesting that neither extremists nor pirates
should be released easily.)


2. (S) MbZ also offered his "humble opinion" that if the U.S. Navy
were not in the Gulf now, "you will have to deal with one oil
producer" (as Iran would control the region).

OLSON