Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KUWAIT735
2008-06-26 16:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:  

PETRAEUS DISCUSSES IRAQ SECURITY, KUWAIT-IRAQ

Tags:  PGOV PREL MARR MOPS KU IZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4077
RR RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHKU #0735/01 1781605
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 261605Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1753
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 1259
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 000735 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR MOPS KU IZ
SUBJECT: PETRAEUS DISCUSSES IRAQ SECURITY, KUWAIT-IRAQ
RELATIONS WITH AMIR

REF: A. KUWAIT 701 B. KUWAIT 148 C. KUWAIT 77

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 000735

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/25/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR MOPS KU IZ
SUBJECT: PETRAEUS DISCUSSES IRAQ SECURITY, KUWAIT-IRAQ
RELATIONS WITH AMIR

REF: A. KUWAIT 701 B. KUWAIT 148 C. KUWAIT 77

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


1. (C) SUMMARY: During his June 25 visit to Kuwait, Gen.
Petraeus, accompanied by the Ambassador met with the Amir and
Crown Prince (together) and had a separate meeting with the
PM, MinDef and FM. At both meetings Gen. Petraeus briefed on
the current security situation in Iraq and asked for
assistance in cutting off funding for and stemming the flow
of foreign fighters from Syria. The Amir stated that Syria
is ready for dialogue with Arab countries and suggested the
U.S. begin a dialogue as well. The Amir expressed
satisfaction that Maliki,s visit to Tehran was "not
successful" and said he was happy that Iran demonstrated it
did not regard Iraq as a friend. The Amir told Gen. Petraeus
that the GOK was waiting for project proposals from the GOI
in order to spend the USD 60 million the GOK has already
released, asking Gen. Petraeus to urge Maliki to "tell us
what they want." During the meeting with the PM, MinDef and
FM, the PM and FM inquired about the status of the Iraqi Army
and expressed concern over continued oil smuggling to
neighboring countries. Gen. Petraeus specifically pressed
the issue of Kuwaiti links to funding of foreign fighter
networks in Syria; however, the PM did not address the issue
directly. Prior to the meetings, the Kuwait Armed Forces
Chief of Staff directly requested that Gen. Petraeus not
raise Kuwaiti funding of terrorist elements directly with the
Amir, suggesting this remains an extremely sensitive topic.
END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Commanding General MNF-I, David Petraeus, accompanied
by the Ambassador, met June 25 with the Amir, Shaykh Sabah
Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah and the Crown Prince, Shaykh Nawaf
Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah. Following the Amir,s meeting,
Gen. Petraeus had a combined meeting with the Prime Minister
(PM),Shaykh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah,
First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Shaykh
Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al Sabah and Deputy Prime Minister

and Foreign Minister (FM),Shaykh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem
Al Sabah. In both meetings, Gen. Petraeus provided
comprehensive overviews of recent progress in Iraq and the
improving security situation, while cautioning that
significant challenges remain. Gen. Petraeus urged greater
Kuwaiti engagement, including the permanent posting of their
Ambassador to Baghdad.

--------------
AMIR: THE U.S. SHOULD ENGAGE WITH SYRIA
--------------


3. (C) Reiterating points made during his previous meeting
with the Amir in February (Ref B),Gen. Petraeus asked the
Amir to use Kuwait's influence over Syria to encourage the
SARG to distance itself from Iran and to be more vigilant
about stopping the flow of foreign fighters into Iraq. The
Amir responded that was "Syria is now ready for good
relations with Arab countries," adding he hoped the U.S.
would begin a dialogue with Syria as well.


4. (C) The Amir noted in the decline violence, successes in
Basrah and Sadr City and the current operation in Maysan. He
said it appeared foreign fighters had left Iraq to fight in
Afghanistan, after referring obliquely to Abdullah Saleh
Al-Ajmi (Kuwaiti former Guantanamo detainee) who went through
Syria to Iraq and reportedly carried out a suicide attack in
Mosul in late April.


--------------
IRAN SHOWS IT IS NOT IRAQ,S FRIEND
--------------


5. (C) On Iran, the Amir said he was happy Maliki's visit to
Tehran was "not successful" and that "Iran did not look at
Iraq as a friend." Gen. Petraeus stressed that it was a
crucial time for Iraq's Arab neighbors to reinforce Iraq's
Arab identity to counter increased Iranian influence. The
Amir indicated that the decreasing Iranian influence and
progress on the Palestinian/Israeli conflict (which he said
played an important role in what would happen in Iraq) made
him very optimistic about Iraq's future. The Amir stated "we
are optimistic Iraq will come out of this dark tunnel very
soon."

-------------- --
KUWAITI AID TO IRAQ AND EXCHANGE OF AMBASSADORS
-------------- --

6. (C) The Amir discussed Kuwait's USD 500 million pledge to
Iraq and the already dispersed USD 60 million (Ref C). He
stated the USD 60 million that has been transferred (from the

KUWAIT 00000735 002 OF 003


GOK to the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development) was to
be used for hospitals and schools but "has not been touched."
The Amir asserted that the GOK would never give cash to the
GOI, although he noted they have never requested cash,
because "it would not help them right now." The Amir asked
Gen. Petraeus to urge Maliki to develop projects for the
money, stating "they have to tell us what they want and we
will do it."


7. (C) Gen. Petraeus asked when a Kuwaiti Ambassador would
be sent to Iraq. The Amir reiterated that the GOK had named
their Ambassador, Gen. (Ret) Ali Al-Mo'min, and was waiting
(per an agreement with the GOI) for the Iraqis to name theirs
before sending Al-Mo'min to Baghdad. Gen. Petraeus explained
that negotiations had recently concluded between the GOI and
Tawafaq for the inclusion of the Sunni coalition in the
government, and because of this he expected ministers and
ambassadors to be appointed soon.

--------------
STRENGTHENING KUWAIT-IRAQ RELATIONS
--------------


8. (C) The Amir stated that "we have good relations with all
Iraqis, Sunni and Shia" and told Gen. Petraeus that he had
met the previous day with Shaykh Ahmad Abu Risha (Iraqi Sahwa
(Awakening) Congress leader) and his delegation. He said
that the Awakening Councils have helped stabilize Iraq, and
appealed to Gen. Petraeus to urge Maliki to "be just and fair
with all groups." The Amir noted that Maliki's last visit to
Kuwait in April was encouraging and helped to strengthen the
relationship between the two countries.

--------------
PM, FM CONCERNS: IA REFORM, OIL SMUGGLING
--------------


9. (C) In a follow-on meeting, the PM remarked that "we see
the internal security getting better and better"; however,
things tend to go well for a period of time in Iraq and then
"something explodes" and the situation deteriorates. He
expressed hope that the situation would stabilize quickly so
that Iraq could begin to enjoy economic prosperity. The PM
also told Gen. Petraeus that he congratulated PM Nouri
Al-Maliki during his visit in April on the well trained ("by
the U.S.") Iraqi Army (IA) and Iraqi Security Forces (ISF)
that are now helping to secure Iraq.


10. (C) Both the PM and the FM were especially interested in
the current status of the IA and inquired about the size of
the armed forces, Iraqi military equipment and capabilities
and asked if both the IA and ISF were becoming more inclusive
in terms of incorporating former Baathists and Kurds. Gen.
Petraeus responded affirmatively and added that two of the
four four-star generals in Iraq were former Baathists and
that there were a number of high-ranking Kurds in the IA and
ISF; he also briefed on the current capacity of the IA. The
FM sought details regarding ongoing sectarian feuding in
Baghdad and how Iraqi and U.S. troops were managing it.


11. (C) The FM inquired about the continued level of
smuggling, specifically oil smuggling, occurring in Iraq.
Both the PM and FM voiced concern that too much Iraqi oil was
being smuggled out of the country to neighboring Jordan and
Syria. The PM shared a rumor he heard that the GOI was
investing its budget surplus in the U.S. Gen. Petraeus said
that the GOI has improved its ability to spend all of its
budget during the fiscal year and denied that any surplus was
being invested in the U.S.

--------------
FUNDING FOREIGN FIGHTERS
--------------


12. (C) Gen. Petraeus pressed the issue of Kuwaiti links to
the funding of the foreign fighter network in Syria (Abu
Ghadiya) and asked for GOK support to cut off the funding.
The PM deflected Gen. Petraeus' several assertions by
questioning how Al-Qaeda could receive funding without being
detected.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


13. (C) Gen. Petraeus and delegation were met prior to the
meetings by the Chief of Staff (COS),LTG Fahed Al-Amir who
accompanied the delegation to both meetings. LTG Al-Amir
inquired beforehand about the topics that the General planned
to raise and specifically asked that Gen. Petraeus not raise
with the Amir our concerns regarding Kuwaiti sources of

KUWAIT 00000735 003 OF 003


funding for terrorist elements. This is clearly an extremely
sensitive topic for the Amir, who remains frustrated by his
inability to spring the four remaining Kuwaitis in
Guantanamo. While his traditional strong pitch for their
immediate transfer has been tempered by embarrassment over
the reported suicide bombings in Mosul, we understand from
sources close to the Amir that he was disturbed by the
contents of the President's June 6 letter (delivered via the
PM, by APHSCT Ken Wainstein earlier this month).


14. (U) U.S. Participants:

Ambassador Deborah K. Jones
Commanding General, MNF-I, Gen. David Petraeus
Commanding General, ARCENT, LTG James Lovelace
Chief, Office of Military Cooperation - Kuwait, BGen Charles
Hudson
Chief, Commander's Initiative Group, MNF-I, COL Michael Bell
Cultural Advisor, Sadi Othman


15. (U) This cable was not cleared by Gen. Petraeus.

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