PROMINENT KUWAITI MP SEES OPENING TO SYRIA;

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000937

SIPDIS

NEA/ARP, NEA/I, NEA/IR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/02/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR SY IR KU
SUBJECT: PROMINENT KUWAITI MP SEES OPENING TO SYRIA;
BELIEVES AMIR WILL DISSOLVE PARLIAMENT

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


1. (C) Summary: Mohammed Jassem Al-Sager, a prominent
Kuwaiti Member of Parliament (MP) who met with Syrian
President Bashar Assad during a late August visit to
Damascus, told the Ambassador he perceived an opportunity to
drive a wedge between Syria and Iran and move the former
closer to the international community. Al-Sager
characterized the Iranian regime as the "most dangerous on
the planet" and criticized the U.S. for "standing by" as
Hizbollah paralyzed Lebanon earlier this summer. On domestic
politics, Al-Sager noted continuing tensions between Kuwait's
parliament and its weak executive branch, which be believes
will cause the Amir to dissolve parliament shortly after it
reconvenes in late October. With Kuwait's Prime Minister
scheduled to visit Washington in mid-September, Al-Sager's
observations provide useful background on some of the issues
that will preoccupy the PM and his delegation. End Summary.

Opportunity to Woo Syria Away From Iran
--------------


2. (C) Ambassador on August 28 met with Mohammed Jassem
Al-Sager, Member of Parliament (MP) and Chairman of
Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, for an exchange of
views at his private offices in downtown Kuwait. After
introductory courtesies, Al-Sager discussed his late August
trip to Syria, where he met with President Bashar Assad.
Al-Sager decried what he described as U.S. passivity in the
face of Hizbollah's blatant domination of Lebanon (while
acknowledging his own government's notably silent public
posture). Al-Sager stressed his belief it is in U.S.
interests to distance Syria from Iran to the extent it can in
view of the fact that Syria is financing Iran,s aggressive
activities and, in return, Iranian investment in Syria is
&huge.8 Al-Sager commented that, on the basis of having met
with Assad only four days earlier, he believes &it would not
be impossible to separate him from the Iranians.8 Al-Sager
said he believes that a &large package8 of assistance from
the West could encourage Syria to move away from its alliance
with Iran and back into the fold of the international
community. Al-Sager also opined that he thought an Assad-led
government was a better option for Syria (and its neighbors)
than one led by Islamists, and agreed with the notion that
the establishment of formal bilateral ties between Lebanon
and Syria weakened Hizbollah. Al-Sager commented that the
Iranian regime, which he characterized as a coalition between
Shia and Sunni fundamentalists, is the &most dangerous on
the planet.8 He charged the Iranians with having helped
fund violence in Algeria and with providing ongoing support
for Hamas. He also suggested that the Iranians are involved
in subversive activities in Kuwait, including having targeted
his own electoral bid.


3. (C) The Ambassador noted that concerns within the USG over
Syria allowing its territory to be used as a transit point
for foreign fighters into Iraq renders it difficult for the
USG to warm up to Syria. She noted that evidence that some
Kuwaitis have financed or otherwise contributed to this
activity and that the GOK has not been sufficiently energetic
in shutting down these activities has cast negative attention
on Kuwait as well.


4. (C) Al-Sager, in response to a query from the Ambassador,
said he believes USG regional priorities for a new
administration should include the following:

-- finalize peace in Iraq
-- &wipe out8 Al-Qaeda
-- stop Iran
-- rein in Israel.

Kuwaiti Politics Marked By Tension Between Parliament and Amir
-------------- --------------


5. (C) Al-Sager also discussed internal Kuwaiti politics,
remarking that the present government is weak and indecisive.
MP,s &smell blood8 he noted and government-parliament
relations are marked by very poor relations between the
National Assembly (Parliament) Speaker and the Prime
Minister. These tensions will probably cause the Amir to
dissolve the National Assembly soon after it reconvenes in
October. Notwithstanding the weakness of the ruling
family/government, Al-Sager did not believe that any major
changes or &corrections8 are likely or desirable in the
immediate future. There are no viable alternatives, he
believes, even from within the family.


KUWAIT 00000937 002 OF 002



6. (C) In response to a query from the Ambassador over the
chances that Parliament will pass a law criminalizing
terrorist finance this year, Al-Sager stated categorically
that such a bill will not pass; only 3 to 4 MPs would support
the bill (himself included) and the government is too weak to
push it through over the existing opposition. According to
Al-Sager, MPs fear that overt support for the bill would
damage their support among voters, who are generally
sympathetic to funding activities they believe challenge
"Zionist" ambitions.

Possible MP Visit to Washington
--------------


7. (C) In response to the Ambassador's query, Al-Sager said
no parliamentarians would accompany the Prime Minister to
Washington late this month because "the Constitution
prohibits it." However, he requested the Ambassador,s
assistance in arranging high-level contacts when he visits
Washington in late October/early November. The Ambassador
said she would welcome facilitating meetings between Kuwaiti
MPs and USG officials and members of Congress at some point
in the future when the U.S. is not so focused on the
presidential elections.


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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/
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JONES