Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KUWAIT14
2008-01-04 09:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
KUWAIT MFA U/S: SYRIA AND IRAN
how-toVZCZCXRO4556 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK DE RUEHKU #0014 0040938 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 040938Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0512 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 1088 RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 3090 RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0513 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000014
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS KDRG KPAL ETRD ECON KU IR SY
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MFA U/S: SYRIA AND IRAN
REF: A. KUWAIT 1655
B. BAGHDAD 4136
Classified By: CDA Misenheimer for reasons 1.4 b and d
Lebanon: Syria has all of the cards.
------------------------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 000014
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS KDRG KPAL ETRD ECON KU IR SY
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MFA U/S: SYRIA AND IRAN
REF: A. KUWAIT 1655
B. BAGHDAD 4136
Classified By: CDA Misenheimer for reasons 1.4 b and d
Lebanon: Syria has all of the cards.
--------------
1. (C) In a December 31 CDA call on MFA U/S Khaled Suliman
Al-Jarallah, the U/S discussed preparation for the January
11-12 POTUS visit and relevant Kuwait-Iraq border issues
(reported septels). Jarallah also expressed deep concern
over the political situation in Lebanon and said that "all of
the cards" are in Syria's hands. He added that strong
pressure must be maintained on Syria and that Syria may yet
be a source of a positive outcome in Lebanon. So far, he
lamented, Syria has chosen to play a negative role,
especially in terms of dallying with General Aoun and
Hezbollah. To date, he added, Syria's cooperation with
Hezbollah and Aoun have only empowered these negative
elements and led to the state of play seen today in Lebanon.
Charge stressed that Lebanon is a high priority concern for
the USG.
Iran: Reading the NIE
--------------
2. (C) Jarallah commented positively in response to the
December release of the National Intelligence Estimate and
welcomed the report that Iran was currently not pursuing a
nuclear weapons program. He agreed with CDA that the NIE
contains much negative information on Iran's policies and
intentions, but aptly summarized the public's selective
reaction: "The bad news on Iran is both expected and
accepted, so the unexpected element of good news naturally
attracts all the attention."
********************************************* *
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/
********************************************* *
MISENHEIMER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS KDRG KPAL ETRD ECON KU IR SY
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MFA U/S: SYRIA AND IRAN
REF: A. KUWAIT 1655
B. BAGHDAD 4136
Classified By: CDA Misenheimer for reasons 1.4 b and d
Lebanon: Syria has all of the cards.
--------------
1. (C) In a December 31 CDA call on MFA U/S Khaled Suliman
Al-Jarallah, the U/S discussed preparation for the January
11-12 POTUS visit and relevant Kuwait-Iraq border issues
(reported septels). Jarallah also expressed deep concern
over the political situation in Lebanon and said that "all of
the cards" are in Syria's hands. He added that strong
pressure must be maintained on Syria and that Syria may yet
be a source of a positive outcome in Lebanon. So far, he
lamented, Syria has chosen to play a negative role,
especially in terms of dallying with General Aoun and
Hezbollah. To date, he added, Syria's cooperation with
Hezbollah and Aoun have only empowered these negative
elements and led to the state of play seen today in Lebanon.
Charge stressed that Lebanon is a high priority concern for
the USG.
Iran: Reading the NIE
--------------
2. (C) Jarallah commented positively in response to the
December release of the National Intelligence Estimate and
welcomed the report that Iran was currently not pursuing a
nuclear weapons program. He agreed with CDA that the NIE
contains much negative information on Iran's policies and
intentions, but aptly summarized the public's selective
reaction: "The bad news on Iran is both expected and
accepted, so the unexpected element of good news naturally
attracts all the attention."
********************************************* *
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/
********************************************* *
MISENHEIMER