AIR FORCE SECRETARY WYNNE AND MBZ DISCUSS SHARED

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 000160

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/05/2018
TAGS: PREL PTER MCAP MOPS MASS IR AE
SUBJECT: AIR FORCE SECRETARY WYNNE AND MBZ DISCUSS SHARED
EARLY WARNING AND EXTREMISM

Classified by Charge d'Affaires Martin Quinn, reasons 1.4 (B)
and (D).


1. (S) Summary: When Secretary of the Air Force Wynne met
with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince (and Deputy Supreme Commander of
the UAE Armed Forces) Mohammed bin Zayed (MbZ) February 3,
MbZ focused on Shared Early Warning and communication links
as critical to defend against Iran. He pressed for advance
consultation on U.S. military planning. His
characteristically harsh assessment of extremists led him to
the conclusion that they cannot be allowed to get the upper
hand in Muslim societies. Secretary Wynne was joined by
CENTAF Commander Lt Gen North; MbZ was joined by Chief of
Staff Lt Gen Hamad Thani and International Affairs Director
Yousef al-Otaiba. End summary.


2. (C) Secretary Wynne opened the conversation by relaying
keen interest in alternative fuels and environmental
protection (having just visited an Abu Dhabi exhibit on a
future "Masdar City" using alternative energy sources),to
which MbZ commended efforts that set a high standard which
motivates others to follow. He and Lt Gen North praised the
partnership of the Air Warfare Center at Al Dhafra Air Base
as a high quality training opportunity for allied air forces.

Urgent about SEW
--------------


3. (S) MbZ honed in on Shared Early Warning (SEW) early in
the conversation, stating that this "long-standing" issue had
been lingering for too many years. He said Washington seemed
to anticipate the GCC coming together on a SEW architecture
when in fact "in this part of the world we don't get
together." He called for urgent sharing on a bilateral basis
to ensure close cooperation if Iran were to provoke a
conflict. He complemented SecDef's comments (in Bahrain late
last year) about fixing a date and moving on with SEW among
those who were ready to play ball. MbZ said he could not
wait for Saudi Arabia or others to get on board; "this is my
#1 security need."


4. (S) Showing great interest in U.S. plans to extend the
life of the A-10 aircraft, MbZ said he sought platforms
capable of "dropping smart weapons 24/7." He discussed
communication linkages (Link 16 in particular) at some
length, noting his demand of General Schwarzkopf that his
pilots be linked to allied forces prior to Desert Storm. He
said he could not send pilots without a link "to know what
I'm shooting," reminiscing about the six UAE personnel
welcomed awkwardly into a Saudi operations center with 1,000
Americans and 500 Saudis. In spite of that uncertain start,
his pilots were flying sorties northward within a few days.
If Iran (he named President Ahmedinejad in particular) were
to threaten, the UAE would not have the luxury of deciding
whether to respond, he said, but would have to defend itself.
Sometimes one must "go across the border" in self defense,
he added, citing again the need to coordinate data among
allies.

Seeking consultations on U.S. plans
--------------


5. (S) MbZ pressed for advance warning of U.S. intentions in
the region, particularly relating to Iran. "I am not a
politician," he said, but please ask "if you need anything."
He agreed that he would rather be in the cockpit than in the
cabin if turbulence were to hit.

Extremism will not lead this region
--------------


6. (S) Citing the dangers of extremism, MbZ philosophized
that we live in an important time in history -- one in which
he sees a simple equation: "Either they lead or they
follow." He sought a Middle East in which issues like
opening a public beach were not questioned. Tolerance and
moderation should be the norm. (He was glad that at least
the UAE is not still in the phase of debating whether women
should drive.) MbZ declared that Islam was being hi-jacked
by extremists. Reminded of the Roman Catholic Inquisition,
MbZ said Islam should learn from that historical period; the
West paid a high cost in blood and treasure, "how can we not
learn from it?"


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7. (S) U.S. policy in the region is bound to face detractors
in the Middle East, said MbZ, and "will be blamed"
regardless. The President's January 13 speech in Abu Dhabi,
for example, was chided by editorial writers for not
mentioning the UAE islands occupied by Iran; criticism would
have been worse if the speech had mentioned them, MbZ opined.
The extremists (represented by what he sarcastically called
"our favorite station" of al-Jazeera) will twist anything to
suit their needs. MbZ stressed that the Islam he knows
advises people not to harm anything, and even to assist a cat
if it is sick or injured. He vowed not to let the extremists
"kill wisdom and humanity" as taught by the Quran. "What
sort of religion is that? Not mine, definitely." He vowed
again that evil men (whom he referred to as subhuman) would
not be permitted to "get in front and lead."
QUINN