Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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08RIYADH1150 | 2008-07-26 14:39:00 | SECRET//NOFORN | Embassy Riyadh |
VZCZCXRO6836 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHROV DE RUEHRH #1150/01 2081439 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 261439Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8852 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD IMMEDIATE 0692 RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS IMMEDIATE 5316 RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH IMMEDIATE 9643 RUEHRH/CHUSMTM RIYADH SA IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/COMUSCENTAF SHAW AFB SC IMMEDIATE RHRMAKS/COMUSNAVCENT IMMEDIATE RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUMICEA/USCINCCENT INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE |
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 RIYADH 001150 |
1. (S/NF) SUMMARY. The SAG has long been active in stemming the flow of Saudis attempting to enter Iraq as foreign fighters, and has been highly cooperative in broadly addressing this issue with the USG. END SUMMARY. 2. (S/NF) The SAG shares the overall USG policy objective of establishing a stable Iraq. The issue of stopping foreign fighters originating in Saudi Arabia has been raised repeatedly, both directly and indirectly with the SAG as part of various initiatives over the past several months (Reftel A). This message has been delivered by U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker and Multi National Force-Iraq CG GEN David Petraeus when they met with Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz and other Saudi notables in April, and by GEN Petraeus again in June; by S/I Ambassador David Satterfield in May with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Chief of General Intelligence Prince Muqrin Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Assistant Minister of Interior for National Security Prince Mohamed bin Naif (MBN); and by U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ford Fraker with Prince Saud al-Faisal over the course of the past few months (Reftels B to F). In all these discussions, the SAG has uniformly responded affirmatively regarding its counter-terrorism efforts to prevent the flow of foreign fighters, as well as the flow of funds for terrorist financing (Reftels G and H). 3. (S/NF) The Saudis agree on stemming foreign fighters originating in Saudi Arabia from entering Iraq. Limiting Saudis' travel to Iraq is part of the SAG's multifaceted deradicalization/rehabilitation program (Reftels I and J) which utilizes humane procedures. A Saudi law has been passed making it illegal for Saudis to travel abroad for jihad. MOI has made known through the Saudi tribal system that if a family member or tribal sheikh notifies MOI that one of its young men is planning to go abroad for jihad and is turned in before he travels, he will not be prosecuted. Instead he will be entered into the SAG's rehabilitation program, which will allow him to eventually reunited with his family/tribe without stigma. The Saudi Grand Mufti has condemned foreign fighters and issued a fatwa that those who travel to Iraq to participate in the insurgency are going against Islam. The result is this Saudi deradicalization/rehabilitation program has seen dramatic success in the Kingdom. 4. (S/NF) MBN always uses this program to showcase Saudi counter-terrorism efforts. Riyadh GRPO and LEGATT work closely on a daily basis with the Saudi Ministry of Interior on counter-terrorism efforts, which include keeping wayward Saudis from going off to become foreign fighters. DOD and Post staff personally met with several Guantanamo returnees in December 2007 who were being rehabilitated, including one Saudi who was disfigured from a botched truck bomb attempt in Baghdad in 2005 (Reftel J). RIYADH 00001150 002 OF 002 5. (S/NF) Saudi Arabia has long taken a hard line with Syria (Reftels F and K) primarily because of the SARG's close working relationship with Iran and role in fomenting instability in Lebanon. This hard policy line has translated into restricting Saudi travel to Syria. MOI also closely scrutinizes Saudis, especially young males, returning from there. Likewise, the Saudi Arabian government has criticized the SARG in the Arab League and through its bilateral channels for Syrian support of Hizbollah in Lebanon and for Syrian actions it views as regionally destabilizing, including support of the Iraqi insurgency. 6. (S/NF) Regarding the individuals identified in OBJ Massey (Sinjar Records - Reftel A), Riyadh GRPO has reported back through its channels the specific results of these investigations and resultant follow-up. 7. (S/NF) COMMENT. Saudi Arabia has conducted a highly effective CT campaign within the Kingdom. From 2003 to early 2006, Al Qaeda was carrying out high-profile, violent attacks in Saudi Arabia in an effort to topple the Al-Saud monarchy, take control of Islam's two holiest sites - Mecca and Medina, and establish an extremist regime with control of Saudi oil resources. The SAG reacted fiercely to this threat. Besides actual kinetic operations conducted against local extremists, the Saudi counter-terrorism campaign has also included defeating extremist ideology through its multifaceted deradicalization/rehabilitation program and strict monitoring of travel by young Saudi males. Along these lines, the SAG is keenly aware of the negative global view, which it is strongly seeking to avoid, that would arise if Saudi Arabia were seen as a pool of foreign fighters - hence its strong efforts to limit the flow of Saudis as foreign fighters to Iraq. The outcome has been a significant victory in the war against Al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia, with the subsequent result of a drastic decrease in the ability of radicalized Saudis being able to travel abroad as foreign fighters. END COMMENT. GFOELLER |