Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KUWAIT1196
2008-12-15 15:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
KUWAIT QUESTIONS SECDEF'S CALL FOR IRAQI GCC
how-toVZCZCXRO6598 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK DE RUEHKU #1196 3501515 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 151515Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2463 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 1334 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001196
SIPDIS
NEA/ARP, NEA/I
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR IZ KU
SUBJECT: KUWAIT QUESTIONS SECDEF'S CALL FOR IRAQI GCC
MEMBERSHIP
REF: DECEMBER 13 MANAMA DIALOGUE SPEECH BY SECDEF GATES
Classified By: Ambassador Deborah K. Jones for reasons 1.4 b and d
No to Iraqi GCC Membership...
------------------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001196
SIPDIS
NEA/ARP, NEA/I
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR IZ KU
SUBJECT: KUWAIT QUESTIONS SECDEF'S CALL FOR IRAQI GCC
MEMBERSHIP
REF: DECEMBER 13 MANAMA DIALOGUE SPEECH BY SECDEF GATES
Classified By: Ambassador Deborah K. Jones for reasons 1.4 b and d
No to Iraqi GCC Membership...
--------------
1. (C) Office Director to the Foreign Minister -- and son of
the Prime Minister -- Shaykh Dr. Ahmed Al-Nasser Al-Mohammed
Al Sabah shared with Ambassador during a December 14
conversation Kuwaiti anxiety over and general opposition to
SecDef Gates' call (ref speech) for Iraqi inclusion in the
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). While Shaykh Ahmed
acknowledged that increased Iraqi integration would benefit
the region as a whole, he opined that such integration was
best pursued under a separate security architecture "as
envisioned by UNSCR 598," for example. "Adhering Iraq to the
GCC," as he put it, would lead to other unintended
consequences. Iraq already had access to Arab and regional
fora such as the Arab League and OIC, and there was also room
for dialogue along the GCC 3 model already established. Full
GCC membership, however, was a different story altogether.
...because it might offend Iran?
--------------
2. (C) Comment: Although Shaykh Dr. Ahmed did not say so
explicitly, Kuwait's underlying concern with the notion of
Iraq's integration into the GCC is perhaps a wish to avoid
provoking Iran, thus the allusion to UNSCR 598. Having
observed the Russian Bear react to NATO expansion with a
heavy paw in Georgia, in their analysis, the Kuwaitis have no
desire to arouse the Persian Simurgh. At the same time,
there is no love lost between Kuwait and Iraq's Malliki
government and even less trust; in the view of many here,
these are merely Shi'a in sheep's clothing, awaiting the
departure of US forces to show their true nature and the
opportunity to expand their influence throughout the Gulf.
In Kuwait's ideal world, both Iran and Iraq would remain
indefinitely under close UNSC scrutiny. End comment.
********************************************* *
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
********************************************* *
JONES
SIPDIS
NEA/ARP, NEA/I
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR IZ KU
SUBJECT: KUWAIT QUESTIONS SECDEF'S CALL FOR IRAQI GCC
MEMBERSHIP
REF: DECEMBER 13 MANAMA DIALOGUE SPEECH BY SECDEF GATES
Classified By: Ambassador Deborah K. Jones for reasons 1.4 b and d
No to Iraqi GCC Membership...
--------------
1. (C) Office Director to the Foreign Minister -- and son of
the Prime Minister -- Shaykh Dr. Ahmed Al-Nasser Al-Mohammed
Al Sabah shared with Ambassador during a December 14
conversation Kuwaiti anxiety over and general opposition to
SecDef Gates' call (ref speech) for Iraqi inclusion in the
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). While Shaykh Ahmed
acknowledged that increased Iraqi integration would benefit
the region as a whole, he opined that such integration was
best pursued under a separate security architecture "as
envisioned by UNSCR 598," for example. "Adhering Iraq to the
GCC," as he put it, would lead to other unintended
consequences. Iraq already had access to Arab and regional
fora such as the Arab League and OIC, and there was also room
for dialogue along the GCC 3 model already established. Full
GCC membership, however, was a different story altogether.
...because it might offend Iran?
--------------
2. (C) Comment: Although Shaykh Dr. Ahmed did not say so
explicitly, Kuwait's underlying concern with the notion of
Iraq's integration into the GCC is perhaps a wish to avoid
provoking Iran, thus the allusion to UNSCR 598. Having
observed the Russian Bear react to NATO expansion with a
heavy paw in Georgia, in their analysis, the Kuwaitis have no
desire to arouse the Persian Simurgh. At the same time,
there is no love lost between Kuwait and Iraq's Malliki
government and even less trust; in the view of many here,
these are merely Shi'a in sheep's clothing, awaiting the
departure of US forces to show their true nature and the
opportunity to expand their influence throughout the Gulf.
In Kuwait's ideal world, both Iran and Iraq would remain
indefinitely under close UNSC scrutiny. End comment.
********************************************* *
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/
********************************************* *
JONES