Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KUWAIT537
2008-05-14 14:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:
KUWAIT MINDEF: STRONG TIES DESPITE FMS IRRITANTS;
how-toVZCZCXRO4223 PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR DE RUEHKU #0537/01 1351429 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 141429Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1430 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000537
SIPDIS
NEA/ARP, NEA/I
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2018
TAGS: PGOV PTER MASS MARR MOPS KU
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MINDEF: STRONG TIES DESPITE FMS IRRITANTS;
CONCERNS OVER TERRORISM AND IRAN
REF: A. KUWAIT 508
B. KUWAIT 502
C. KUWAIT 499
D. KUWAIT 294
E. KUWAIT238
Classified By: Ambassador Deborah K. Jones for reasons 1.4 b and d
Summary
---------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000537
SIPDIS
NEA/ARP, NEA/I
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2018
TAGS: PGOV PTER MASS MARR MOPS KU
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MINDEF: STRONG TIES DESPITE FMS IRRITANTS;
CONCERNS OVER TERRORISM AND IRAN
REF: A. KUWAIT 508
B. KUWAIT 502
C. KUWAIT 499
D. KUWAIT 294
E. KUWAIT238
Classified By: Ambassador Deborah K. Jones for reasons 1.4 b and d
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Ambassador used her introductory call on Kuwait
MinDef Shaykh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al Sabah to thank him
for the unparalleled support Kuwait provides to our military
forces and their efforts in Iraq and the broader war on
terrorism. The Ambassador noted that we were looking at ways
to improve our bilateral mil-mil training. Shaykh Jaber
expounded at length on terrorism and its root cause-poverty,
and regional Iranian influence. He raised delays in
receiving pricing and availability data of military
equipment, specifically the C-130J, and noted a recent GCC
decision to establish a 'rapid deployment' special forces
brigade under the umbrella of the Peninsula Shield. End
summary.
Indispensable Support
--------------
2. (C) The Ambassador began the meeting by thanking the
MinDef for the indispensable support provided by the GOK to
our troops here and in Iraq and Afghanistan; there were good
historical reasons for this relationship and it remained the
cornerstone of our bilateral relations. The Ambassador
acknowledged Kuwaiti interest in expanding our bilateral
mil-mil training program and said we were now in the planning
stages.
Military Role in Combating Terror
--------------
3. (C) Shaykh Jaber responded with a long commentary on
terrorism and its roots, which he attributed to education and
poverty, and the undue influence of Iran throughout the
region. Ambassador noted the ongoing debates within the GOK
with respect to former GTMO detainee Abdallah Al-Ajmi (ref A,
C) and shared with MinDef the paradigm of combating terrorism
described earlier to GOK security services by visiting S/CT
Coordinator Dell Dailey; in this pyramid of approaches and
solutions, 'kill or capture' represented only fifteen percent
of our effort; the bulk consisted of bringing about societal
changes, and in this regard militaries could play a role in
terms of forging national identity and secure discipline and
purpose for young people.
FMS: "Too Slow"
--------------
4. (C) Turning to the US-Kuwaiti bilateral relationship, the
Mindef complained about delays in pricing and availability
information for C-130Js, while welcoming more bilateral
training. (Note: Prior to OIF, U.S. maneuver units were
frequently based in Kuwait and exercised with Kuwait military
units. End note.) He added that GCC defense ministers, in a
recent meeting in Doha, had agreed to establish a rapid
deployment special forces brigade under the umbrella of the
Peninsula Shield.
5. (C) Queried regarding the potential impact of a recent
GOK decision to buy out, its occasionally long-in-tooth
and billet general officer ranks, the MinDef said he had
disagreed with this step, but believed they would meet their
staffing requirements.
Camp Bucca/Khor Abdullah
--------------
6. (C) Ambassador also raised the need for progress on Khor
Abdullah salvage operations and the issue of a border
crossing near Camp Bucca, and informed MinDef that she would
pursue these matters further at a subsequent meeting with the
Minister of Interior.
Traffic Altercation
--------------
7. (C) The Ambassador advised the MinDef that an
investigation was continuing into the alleged traffic
altercation between U.S. military troops and Kuwaiti
KUWAIT 00000537 002 OF 002
Nationals (ref B),and that the matter was being treated very
seriously; U.S. troops were grateful for the hospitality they
received here and did not wish to jeopardize it. The MinDef
offered his assurance that this incident would not damage our
strong bilateral relationship.
Request for Support of Kuwait Air Force HQ Move
-------------- --
8. (C) While departing, MinDef's staff approached OMCK Chief
to clarify that a broad request for support by MinDef
referred specifically to moving Mubarak Airbase (along with
the Kuwait Air Force HQ and the U.S. Military's Aerial Port
of Debarkation) to a new location known as West Mubarak
Airbase to make way for civil aviation expansion at the
current location.
********************************************* *
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: 2018
TAGS: PGOV PTER MASS MARR MOPS KU
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MINDEF: STRONG TIES DESPITE FMS IRRITANTS;
CONCERNS OVER TERRORISM AND IRAN
REF: A. KUWAIT 508
B. KUWAIT 502
C. KUWAIT 499
D. KUWAIT 294
E. KUWAIT238
Classified By: Ambassador Deborah K. Jones for reasons 1.4 b and d
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Ambassador used her introductory call on Kuwait
MinDef Shaykh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al Sabah to thank him
for the unparalleled support Kuwait provides to our military
forces and their efforts in Iraq and the broader war on
terrorism. The Ambassador noted that we were looking at ways
to improve our bilateral mil-mil training. Shaykh Jaber
expounded at length on terrorism and its root cause-poverty,
and regional Iranian influence. He raised delays in
receiving pricing and availability data of military
equipment, specifically the C-130J, and noted a recent GCC
decision to establish a 'rapid deployment' special forces
brigade under the umbrella of the Peninsula Shield. End
summary.
Indispensable Support
--------------
2. (C) The Ambassador began the meeting by thanking the
MinDef for the indispensable support provided by the GOK to
our troops here and in Iraq and Afghanistan; there were good
historical reasons for this relationship and it remained the
cornerstone of our bilateral relations. The Ambassador
acknowledged Kuwaiti interest in expanding our bilateral
mil-mil training program and said we were now in the planning
stages.
Military Role in Combating Terror
--------------
3. (C) Shaykh Jaber responded with a long commentary on
terrorism and its roots, which he attributed to education and
poverty, and the undue influence of Iran throughout the
region. Ambassador noted the ongoing debates within the GOK
with respect to former GTMO detainee Abdallah Al-Ajmi (ref A,
C) and shared with MinDef the paradigm of combating terrorism
described earlier to GOK security services by visiting S/CT
Coordinator Dell Dailey; in this pyramid of approaches and
solutions, 'kill or capture' represented only fifteen percent
of our effort; the bulk consisted of bringing about societal
changes, and in this regard militaries could play a role in
terms of forging national identity and secure discipline and
purpose for young people.
FMS: "Too Slow"
--------------
4. (C) Turning to the US-Kuwaiti bilateral relationship, the
Mindef complained about delays in pricing and availability
information for C-130Js, while welcoming more bilateral
training. (Note: Prior to OIF, U.S. maneuver units were
frequently based in Kuwait and exercised with Kuwait military
units. End note.) He added that GCC defense ministers, in a
recent meeting in Doha, had agreed to establish a rapid
deployment special forces brigade under the umbrella of the
Peninsula Shield.
5. (C) Queried regarding the potential impact of a recent
GOK decision to buy out, its occasionally long-in-tooth
and billet general officer ranks, the MinDef said he had
disagreed with this step, but believed they would meet their
staffing requirements.
Camp Bucca/Khor Abdullah
--------------
6. (C) Ambassador also raised the need for progress on Khor
Abdullah salvage operations and the issue of a border
crossing near Camp Bucca, and informed MinDef that she would
pursue these matters further at a subsequent meeting with the
Minister of Interior.
Traffic Altercation
--------------
7. (C) The Ambassador advised the MinDef that an
investigation was continuing into the alleged traffic
altercation between U.S. military troops and Kuwaiti
KUWAIT 00000537 002 OF 002
Nationals (ref B),and that the matter was being treated very
seriously; U.S. troops were grateful for the hospitality they
received here and did not wish to jeopardize it. The MinDef
offered his assurance that this incident would not damage our
strong bilateral relationship.
Request for Support of Kuwait Air Force HQ Move
-------------- --
8. (C) While departing, MinDef's staff approached OMCK Chief
to clarify that a broad request for support by MinDef
referred specifically to moving Mubarak Airbase (along with
the Kuwait Air Force HQ and the U.S. Military's Aerial Port
of Debarkation) to a new location known as West Mubarak
Airbase to make way for civil aviation expansion at the
current location.
********************************************* *
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