Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KUWAIT701
2008-06-19 03:26:00
SECRET
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:  

APHSCT WAINSTEIN MEETS WITH KUWAITI PRIME MINISTER

Tags:  PREL PTER KTFN SY PINS 
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VZCZCXRO2803
PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHKU #0701/01 1710326
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 190326Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1702
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 3191
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 000701 

SIPDIS

TREASURY FOR KRISTEN HECHT, BRIAN GRANT, AND AMANDA EDWARDS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2028
TAGS: PREL PTER KTFN SY PINS
SUBJECT: APHSCT WAINSTEIN MEETS WITH KUWAITI PRIME MINISTER
AND FOREIGN MINISTER ON TERRORISM, URGING INCREASED
COOPERATION

REF: A. KUWAIT 808

B. KUWAIT 508

Classified By: Ambassador Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

Summary
--------

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 000701

SIPDIS

TREASURY FOR KRISTEN HECHT, BRIAN GRANT, AND AMANDA EDWARDS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/12/2028
TAGS: PREL PTER KTFN SY PINS
SUBJECT: APHSCT WAINSTEIN MEETS WITH KUWAITI PRIME MINISTER
AND FOREIGN MINISTER ON TERRORISM, URGING INCREASED
COOPERATION

REF: A. KUWAIT 808

B. KUWAIT 508

Classified By: Ambassador Jones for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

Summary
--------------


1. (S) Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and
Counterterrorism (APHSCT) Kenneth Wainstein accompanied by
AMB Jones met on June 11 with Kuwaiti Prime Minister (PM)
Shaykh Nasser Al Sabah and Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr.
Mohammed Al Sabah. APHSCT Wainstein shared a letter from
President Bush praising the Government of Kuwait,s (GOK)
important role in the global war on terrorism, inviting the
Prime Minister to Washington and stressing the need for
increased cooperation to combat terrorism and terrorist
financing. On the Revival of Islamic Heritage Society
(RIHS),APHSCT Wainstein spoke of the imminent U.S.
designation and offered to send an informed USG official to
discuss the details of the case with an appropriate GOK
interlocutor. The PM praised the GOK's close cooperation
with the USG on counterterrorism and encouraged closer
coordination. In contrast to the PM, Dr. Mohammed pushed
back on both RIHS and Guantanamo (GTMO),citing "lack of
evidence" for illegal RIHS activities. He argued that both
the designation and continued detentions at GTMO would be
major factors fueling, rather than combating, extremism. End
Summary.

Increased Cooperation Needed
--------------


2. (S) APHSCT Wainstein and delegation accompanied by AMB
Jones and notetaker met on June 11 with Kuwaiti PM Shaykh
Nasser Al Mohammed Al Ahmed Al Sabah and Deputy Prime
Minister and Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Sabah Al
Salem Al Sabah. APHSCT Wainstein shared a letter from the
President thanking the GOK for its important role in the
global war on terrorism, inviting the Prime Minister to
Washington for further discussions and encouraging increased
cooperation to disrupt terrorism, terrorist financing, and
facilitation in Kuwait. He requested additional exchanges of
information through more formalized and regular meetings
between the USG and GOK to help "connect the dots" on

terrorism cases. The PM responded that in his opinion,
cooperation was excellent. He added that the GOK has a
firmer grasp on terrorism than in the past and that the
situation is now "controllable."

Stopping Extremist Ideology, RIHS, and GTMO
--------------


3. (S) APHSCT Wainstein spoke about the Saudi rehabilitation
program and asked what the Kuwaitis were
doing to combat extremist ideology and rehabilitate
terrorists. He acknowledged that the world can,t "arrest
its way out of the problem of terrorism" and needs to work
better to win hearts and minds. The PM said that it is
extremely difficult to change the beliefs of people who are
brainwashed, but that Kuwait is better off now than it was
8-10 years ago, partly due to good cooperation with the USG.
He urged continued support, but stressed the need to share
facts, not "talk." (Note: He is likely referring to the
GOK,s concerns with USG information shared on charities,
including RIHS, and terrorist financiers. The GOK frequently
reiterates its need for more robust information. End note.).
Dr. Mohammed expanded on the PM,s comments, adding that he
sees three main reasons as to why people turn to extremism:
the continued detention of people at GTMO; the poor and
destitute conditions in many countries which he labeled
"Al-Qaeda's most effective recruitment tool;" and actions to
close Arab and Islamic charities, like RIHS. He urged the
closure of GTMO and the speedy return of the four remaining
Kuwaiti detainees. Dr. Mohammed argued strenuously that the
designation of RIHS would be counterproductive as the costs
in terms of reducing the poverty that provides a candidate
pool for Al- Qaeda recruitment, would outweigh the benefits
of catching those "relatively few" diverted funds. He
stressed the importance of expanding legitimate charitable
giving to counter extremism.


4. (S) APHSCT Wainstein acknowledged Dr. Mohammed's
concerns, but stated that the USG would proceed with the
designation of RIHS. He stressed the long history of RIHS

KUWAIT 00000701 002 OF 003


and the USG's efforts to share information with the GOK on
numerous occasions in the past (Ref A). To address the GOK's
concerns, APHSCT Wainstein offered to send a USG official to
walk through the RIHS information with an appropriate GOK
interlocutor. However, he acknowledged that the two
governments may simply have to agree to disagree. On GTMO,
APHSCT Wainstein expressed the President's desire to close
the detention facility. He said that some cases would be
brought to a military court and other prisoners may be
repatriated. However, he noted the continued USG concern
with the GOK's apparent lack of ability and will to monitor
former GTMO detainees, citing Ajmi's suicide attack in Mosul
and his reported recruitment of two other Kuwaitis to join
him in the attacks (Ref B). Dr. Mohammed suggested it was
Ajmi's GTMO detention that caused him to return to Kuwait
radicalized. APHSCT Wainstein rejected that assertion and
made clear that the USG could not agree to the repatriation
of the final GTMO detainees without adequate assurances of
incarceration or active and effective monitoring.

Terrorist Financing
--------------


5. (S) APHSCT Wainstein inquired into the status of the
draft terrorist financing law and stressed the importance of
robust terrorism and terrorism financing legislation to
confront extremism. Shaykh Nasser said that the law remains
in draft, but that financing is "very controllable." He said
that the Central Bank of Kuwait plays a strong role in
combating and disrupting terrorism financing and "watches
every penny." You can be assured, he said, that money is not
going to terrorists. However, he noted that the problem was
monitoring cash, specifically cash couriers. (Note: Kuwait
does not have an outbound cash declaration or disclosure
requirement. GOK officials suggest that this will be
included in any amended terrorist financing law. End note.).
APHSCT Wainstein commended the GOK on hosting conferences
and workshops on anti-money laundering and counterterrorist
financing and offered USG assistance to develop Kuwait,s
financial investigative capabilities.

Pakistani Support for Violence in Afghanistan
-------------- --------------


6. (S) The PM turned the conversation to Pakistan's role in
supporting violence and terrorism in Afghanistan. He
inquired into American, Afghan, and Pakistani efforts to stop
the flow of funds into Afghanistan. In Peshawar, he said,
even receiving USD 10 can go a long way towards a terrorist
attack. APHSCT Wainstein acknowledged that attacks can be
cheap and stressed that the USG is looking at funding to dry
up sources, but also better understand terrorist networks.
He added that cash couriers remain a
significant funding source for the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. USG
efforts to address the movement of cash have included working
on source countries and donors, targeting flights and
passengers traveling to Pakistan and also working to regulate
hawalas. APHSCT Wainstein said that Pakistan was another
case where the GOK and USG needed to work together to disrupt
funding and facilitation networks.

East Africa, Yemen, and Iran
--------------


7. (S) The PM expressed concern about the recent conflict
between Eritrea and Djibouti and asked whether the USG had
any information on Al-Qaeda networks in either country. NSC
Senior Director Rasmussen responded that this is an area of
concern to the USG, especially Eritrea, and that the USG is
monitoring the flow of money and weapons from East Africa.
On Yemen, the PM expressed his concern about the lack of
government control in Yemen, particularly in the north, and
the increased instability in the country. APHSCT Wainstein
mentioned that he will be traveling to Yemen after Kuwait.
Yemen, he said, remains a country of significant concern due
to the ungoverned area in the north and the potential for
this region to be used as a staging ground, by Al-Qaeda or
others, for attacks in Yemen or in the region. He added the
USG,s concern about high profile targets, including former
GTMO detainees, who escaped from Yemeni prison. On Iran, the
PM expressed his concern with Iran,s nuclear intentions, but
stressed his desire to "sit, sit, sit and talk, talk, talk"
rather than engage in any military action. APHSCT Wainstein
expressed the President,s concerns about a nuclear Iran and
stressed the USG,s desire to resolve the conflict

KUWAIT 00000701 003 OF 003


peacefully.


8. (S) Comment: The PM did not initially raise GTMO and
RIHS. He left the discussion to Dr. Mohammed, who took a
more assertive tone on these issues. The PM supported Dr.
Mohammed,s comments, but continued to play the role of good
cop, praising the strong USG-GOK relationship and raising
mutual areas of concern: cash couriers and support for
terrorism in Afghanistan. End comment.


9. (S) The participants of the meetings, which took place at
Kuwait National Assembly, included:

U.S.
Ambassador Deborah K. Jones
Kenneth Wainstein, Assistant to the President for Homeland
Security and Counterterrorism
Nicholas Rasmussen, Senior Director for Combating
Terrorism, NSC
John Duncan, Director for Combating Terrorism, NSC
Kate Gladney, Aide to Mr. Wainstein
Danny Harris (notetaker)

GOK
Kuwaiti Prime Minister Shaykh Nasser Al Mohammed Al Ahmed Al
Sabah
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr.
Mohammad Sabah Al Salem Al Sabah
Deputy Chief of the National Security Bureau Shaykh Thamer
Ali Al Sabah
Assistant Undersecretary at the Premier's Office Shaykh
Fahad Jaber Al Mubarak Al Hamad Al Sabah


10. (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