Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KUWAIT696
2008-06-18 11:21:00
SECRET
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:  

NSB ACKNOWLEDGES INCREASED AL QAEDA ACTIVITY AND

Tags:  PTER PGOV KDRG PREL KTFN KU 
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VZCZCXRO2234
PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHKU #0696/01 1701121
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 181121Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1692
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 1251
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000696 

SIPDIS

NEA/ARP, NEA/I

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2018
TAGS: PTER PGOV KDRG PREL KTFN KU
SUBJECT: NSB ACKNOWLEDGES INCREASED AL QAEDA ACTIVITY AND
CALLS FOR ENHANCED BILATERAL COOPERATION

Classified By: CDA Alan G. Misenheimer for reasons 1.4 b and d

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000696

SIPDIS

NEA/ARP, NEA/I

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2018
TAGS: PTER PGOV KDRG PREL KTFN KU
SUBJECT: NSB ACKNOWLEDGES INCREASED AL QAEDA ACTIVITY AND
CALLS FOR ENHANCED BILATERAL COOPERATION

Classified By: CDA Alan G. Misenheimer for reasons 1.4 b and d


1. (S) Summary: Kenneth Wainstein, President Bush's
Assistant for Homeland Security and Counter-terrorism
(APHSCT),met with the President of the National Security
Bureau (NSB),Ahmed Al-Fahd on 11 June. The principals
discussed the recent increase in Al-Qaeda-related activity in
Kuwait, ongoing efforts to staunch the flow of fighters and
funds into Iraq, and the need for enhanced counter-terrorism
cooperation. End summary.

Regional Support for the Al-Maliki Government
--------------


2. (S) On June 11, APHSCT Wainstein and his delegation,
accompanied by DCM and Embassy notetaker, met with Shaykh
Ahmed Al-Fahd Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al Sabah, the President of
the GOK's National Security Bureau, and his deputy, Shaykh
Thamer Al-Ali Al-Sabah Al-Salem Al Sabah. Shaykh Ahmed
indicated that he had read President Bush's letter to the
Amir of Kuwait, which noted USG concern about the presence of
known terrorists in Kuwait and called for intensified
counter-terrorism measures by the GOK in cooperation with the
USG. The NSB chief welcomed the letter, commenting that
bilateral CT cooperation was already strong but could
certainly be improved.


3. (S) Shaykh Ahmed noted that he had just returned from the
Group of Six meeting in Saudi Arabia, and reported that the
Saudi and Emirati governments had made pledges to upgrade
their formal cooperation with the government of Nouri
Al-Maliki in Iraq. Shaykh Ahmed added that he expected the
Egyptian government to follow the lead of Kuwait, Saudi
Arabia and UAE and increase its cooperation with the Iraqi
government in the near future. He claimed that his
government has long been supportive of the Al-Maliki
government, and, in particular, expressed strong support for
the recent crackdown on illegal militias in southern Iraq.

Increased Al Qaeda-related Activity in Kuwait
--------------


4. (S) Shaykh Ahmed stated that the NSB has noted an
increase in terrorist-related activity in Kuwait in recent

months. He said that Al-Qaeda had increased its efforts to
raise funds and to recruit volunteers in Kuwait, pointing to
the reported involvement of up to three Kuwaiti citizens in
suicide bombings in Mosul and northern Iraq in recent weeks.



5. (S) Shaykh Ahmed insisted that fundraising for terrorist
activities in Kuwait is not taking place in any formal or
legal manner, but rather in the form of small, ad hoc
donations that are extremely difficult to detect and
interdict. He noted that it typically costs between $3,500
and $4,000 to send a volunteer to Iraq or Pakistan, and that
such sums were easily raised in Kuwait, given the relatively
large salaries paid to most of the Kuwaiti workforce. He
stated that Syria is the principal conduit for volunteers and
funds flowing to Iraq for Al-Qaeda activities, adding that
all support for illegal Shi'a militias is being channeled
through Iran.


6. (S) Shaykh Ahmed urged the USG to investigate the role of
small foreign currency exchange outfits in Jordan, many of
which, he claimed, divert approximately 20% of their
transactions, value to Iraq for terrorist purposes. He
acknowledged the likelihood that similar transactions are
being undertaken in certain Kuwaiti foreign currency exchange
outlets, but asserted that Kuwaiti authorities are closely
monitoring the situation.


7. (S) When asked about the role of the Syria-based Abu
Ghadiya network, both Ahmed and Thamer sidestepped the issue.
They suggested that it is difficult to pinpoint individuals
given the major role played by elements of the Syrian
intelligence services in facilitating the movement of
terrorists and related financing into Iraq.

Claims of Inadequate Intelligence Sharing
--------------


8. (S) Ahmed Al-Fahd and his deputy both commented on what
they perceived to be inadequacies in the sharing of
intelligence between USG and Kuwait. Shaykh Ahmed said that
the USG is often not forthcoming, and that cooperation with
the British government was "much better" in this regard.

KUWAIT 00000696 002 OF 002


Shaykh Thamer was outspoken in his criticism, claiming that
this has been a recurring problem for several years.
(Comment: This is a familiar theme with Ahmed Al-Fahd and
Thamer. It is not supported by the facts. End comment.)

Counter-Terrorism Legislation
--------------


9. (S) When asked about counter-terrorism legislation,
Shaykh Ahmed said that a draft bill is with the Cabinet, and
that he expects the Government to lobby for the bill in the
Parliament in the near future. "This will come," he said.
The USG delegation expressed concern that inadequacies in
existing legislation undermine efforts to combat terrorism,
pointing to the ability of former GTMO detainee Abdullah
Al-Ajmi to sue the GOK to return his passport, which he then
reportedly used to travel to Iraq prior to undertaking a
suicide bombing mission. Shaykh Ahmed and Shaykh Thamer
acknowledged the problems with the existing legal framework,
but added that the GOK intelligence services have the
wherewithal to control potential troublemakers regardless of
court decisions.


10. (C) The participants of the meetings, which took place
at the office of the NSB President included:

U.S.
Kenneth Wainstein, Assistant to the President for Homeland
Security and Counterterrorism
DCM Alan Misenheimer
Nicholas Rasmussen, Senior Director for Combating Terrorism,
NSC
John Duncan, Director for Combating Terrorism, NSC
Kate Gladney, Assistant to Mr. Wainstein
Ludovic Hood (notetaker)

NSB
Shaykh Ahmed Al-Fahd Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al Sabah, NSB President
Shaykh Thamer Al Sabah, NSB deputy head
Other NSB staff, names not provided


11. (U) This cable has been cleared by APHSCT Wainstein.

********************************************* *
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