Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08RIYADH1616
2008-10-28 12:22:00
SECRET
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:
U/S EDELMAN,S OCTOBER 17-18, 2008 DISCUSSIONS IN
how-toO 281222Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9451 INFO GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE AMCONSUL JEDDAH IMMEDIATE NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE JOINT STAFF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
S E C R E T RIYADH 001616
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/21/2018
TAGS: PARM PREL SA LE YM
SUBJECT: U/S EDELMAN,S OCTOBER 17-18, 2008 DISCUSSIONS IN
RIYADH
Classified By: PM Scott McGehee for reasons 1.4(b)
S E C R E T RIYADH 001616
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/21/2018
TAGS: PARM PREL SA LE YM
SUBJECT: U/S EDELMAN,S OCTOBER 17-18, 2008 DISCUSSIONS IN
RIYADH
Classified By: PM Scott McGehee for reasons 1.4(b)
1. (S) Summary. During October 18 meetings in Riyadh at the
General Intelligence Presidency and the Ministry of the
Interior, U/S Edelman appealed for Saudi assistance for
Lebanon and Yemen, encouraged Saudi Arabia to support a
regional Gulf missile defense architecture, and discussed
Saudi mediation efforts in Afghanistan. End summary.
2. U/S Edelman met with Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud,
Director of the General Intelligence Presidency during the
morning of October 18, and with Prince Mohammed bin Nayif,
Deputy Minister of the Interior later in the day. Ambassador
Fraker attended both meetings. Others accompanying U/S
Edelman were Christopher Straub, Deputy Assistant Secretary
for the Middle East, Department of Defense, Major General
Robert Allardice, Director of Strategy, Plans and Policy,
U.S. Central Command, Scott McGehee, Counselor for
Political-Military Affairs, U.S. Embassy Riyadh, Colonel Ivar
Tait, Defense Attach, U.S. Embassy Riyadh, and Daniel Lally,
Missile Defense Agency.
--------------
Countering Iranian Activities in Lebanon
--------------
3. (C) During his meeting with Prince Muqrin U/S Edelman
reported that the USG was focused on countering Iranian
activities in Lebanon by bolstering the capabilities of the
Lebanese government and armed forces. To this end, the U.S.
has recently provided $410 million in military assistance to
the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and has set up a joint
military committee to work with the Lebanese. U/S Edelman
said that during his just-concluded visit to Beirut, he
assured the military leadership that the U.S. commitment to
support Lebanon will continue through the upcoming season of
political change in America.
4. (S) U/S Edelman said that USG is looking to Saudi Arabia
and its other allies in the region to actively support
Lebanon in its efforts to contain the impact of Iranian
activities and influence in the country. In this regard,
Saudi financial assistance to the LAF for the acquisition of
additional helicopters to improve their air lift and strike
capabilities is very important.
5. (S) Prince Muqrin said that Saudi Arabia welcomes the U.S
support for the LAF, and that Saudi Arabia has extended some
assistance, "but not much." As specific Lebanese needs are
identified to the SAG, he would be an advocate to
provide assistance, but noted that the GIP is not directly in
the loop on approval of such assistance.
6. (C) Prince Muqrin said that Saudi Arabia is concerned
about Iranian activities not only in Lebanon, but everywhere,
specifically mentioning Bahrain, central Africa and southeast
Asia. On Iran,s nuclear activities, he noted that "Sheikh
Qaradawi said it right -- all should be concerned about
nuclear developments in Iran." The Saudi view is that all
nations have the right to a peaceful nuclear program, but
Iran does not have the right to do what it is doing. "We tell
them, if they have nothing to hide, let people in." Saudi
Arabia does not want to see Iran in possession of any WMD
capability.
--------------
Gulf Missile Defense Architecture
--------------
7. (S) In light of the growing Iranian missile threat, U/S
Edelman reported that the USG has been examining how the Gulf
countries could enhance missile defenses and has developed a
proposal for a regional defensive system. After
Dan Lally provided an overview, U/S Edelman emphasized that
to be effective, the defensive system protecting the Gulf
states needed to be based on a linked regional architecture.
The same degree of effectiveness will not be possible were
each country to rely on independent systems. Edelman also
informed Prince Muqrin that Secretary Gates would be
presenting this missile defense concept at the upcoming ISS
conference in Bahrain. Prince Muqrin,s questions during the
brief focused on missile flight times between Iran and Saudi
Arabia, and the time required for the proposed system to
detect and respond.
--------------
Mediation with the Taliban
--------------
8. (S) In response to U/S Edelman,s request for Prince
Muqrin,s assessment of the mediation possibilities in
Afghanistan, the Prince said that Saudi Arabia would not
serve as a mediator unless invited to do so, which would
require an official letter from Mullah Omar. Muqrin said that
during his recent meeting with Taliban officials he was "not
diplomatic with them." He told them that Saudi mediation
would come with conditions: that the Taliban be willing to
lay down arms, accept that Afghanistan is for all Afghanis,
agree that once a deal is struck that there would be no
quibbling or backsliding, and that no talks would be held in
Saudi Arabia. Any exchanges would remain in intelligence
channels up to the point that an agreement is reached, and
"then they can have their photo opportunity" with the Saudi
political leadership. Prince Muqrin added that the Pakistanis
would need to be brought into the process, not just at the
end, and cautioned that the SAG is still evaluating whether
such mediation could succeed.
--------------
Saudi Concerns About Yemen
--------------
9. (C) U/S Edelman opened his meeting at the Ministry of
Interior with Deputy Minister Mohammed bin Nayif (MBN) by
describing USG concerns that Al-Qaida could grow stronger in
Yemen due to the instability there. He urged that the
Saudis consider assistance to help the Yemeni military
increase its mobility by procuring a number of M113 armored
personnel carriers. He also asked for MBN,s assessment of
the ability of President Saleh to adopt the Saudi model of
terrorist rehabilitation.
10. (C) MBN agreed that conditions in Yemen could indeed be
attractive to Al-Qaida. He observed that Afghanistan is "not
a natural place for Al-Qaida," and that they may be getting
nervous about the growing prospects for peace there. Al-Qaida
operatives in Yemen know that it is easy to travel to Saudi
Arabia under the pretext of making the Hajj or Umra to Mecca,
and easy to arrange to meet others while there. MBN said that
Saudi Arabia is working directly with Yemen to improve
conditions in the Yemeni border area that Al-Qaida,
smugglers, and criminals might exploit. A joint Saudi-Yemeni
council has been set up, presided by Crown Prince Sultan and
Yemen,s Prime Minister, to decide where development projects
should be allocated. Virtually all projects will be in the
mountain areas near the border -- the concept is to give the
inhabitants better lives so that they have "something to
lose" if they cooperate with Al-Qaida or criminal elements.
11. (C) On the Saudi rehabilitation program, MBN commented
that there are limits to the number of Yemenis that can be
brought into the Saudi system. If it became widely known in
Yemen that Yemenis were being rehabilitated in Saudi
Arabia, it could cause great problems for Ali Abdullah Saleh.
--------------
Critical Infrastructure Program
--------------
12. (C) U/S Edelman described USG efforts to begin training
for the MOI Facilities Protection Force. MBN expressed
consternation that he had 35,000 men he needed to train and
equip, and that when he turned to the USG to do this work, he
expected that things would move quickly. "Time counts," he
said, "I thought you would jump on it." U/S Edelman assured
MBN that he would carry that message back to State and DOD
and encouraged MBN to continue this discussion during his
upcoming trip to Washington.
13. (U) This cable was cleared by Under Secretary Edelman.
RUNDELL
NNNN
End Cable Text
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/21/2018
TAGS: PARM PREL SA LE YM
SUBJECT: U/S EDELMAN,S OCTOBER 17-18, 2008 DISCUSSIONS IN
RIYADH
Classified By: PM Scott McGehee for reasons 1.4(b)
1. (S) Summary. During October 18 meetings in Riyadh at the
General Intelligence Presidency and the Ministry of the
Interior, U/S Edelman appealed for Saudi assistance for
Lebanon and Yemen, encouraged Saudi Arabia to support a
regional Gulf missile defense architecture, and discussed
Saudi mediation efforts in Afghanistan. End summary.
2. U/S Edelman met with Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud,
Director of the General Intelligence Presidency during the
morning of October 18, and with Prince Mohammed bin Nayif,
Deputy Minister of the Interior later in the day. Ambassador
Fraker attended both meetings. Others accompanying U/S
Edelman were Christopher Straub, Deputy Assistant Secretary
for the Middle East, Department of Defense, Major General
Robert Allardice, Director of Strategy, Plans and Policy,
U.S. Central Command, Scott McGehee, Counselor for
Political-Military Affairs, U.S. Embassy Riyadh, Colonel Ivar
Tait, Defense Attach, U.S. Embassy Riyadh, and Daniel Lally,
Missile Defense Agency.
--------------
Countering Iranian Activities in Lebanon
--------------
3. (C) During his meeting with Prince Muqrin U/S Edelman
reported that the USG was focused on countering Iranian
activities in Lebanon by bolstering the capabilities of the
Lebanese government and armed forces. To this end, the U.S.
has recently provided $410 million in military assistance to
the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and has set up a joint
military committee to work with the Lebanese. U/S Edelman
said that during his just-concluded visit to Beirut, he
assured the military leadership that the U.S. commitment to
support Lebanon will continue through the upcoming season of
political change in America.
4. (S) U/S Edelman said that USG is looking to Saudi Arabia
and its other allies in the region to actively support
Lebanon in its efforts to contain the impact of Iranian
activities and influence in the country. In this regard,
Saudi financial assistance to the LAF for the acquisition of
additional helicopters to improve their air lift and strike
capabilities is very important.
5. (S) Prince Muqrin said that Saudi Arabia welcomes the U.S
support for the LAF, and that Saudi Arabia has extended some
assistance, "but not much." As specific Lebanese needs are
identified to the SAG, he would be an advocate to
provide assistance, but noted that the GIP is not directly in
the loop on approval of such assistance.
6. (C) Prince Muqrin said that Saudi Arabia is concerned
about Iranian activities not only in Lebanon, but everywhere,
specifically mentioning Bahrain, central Africa and southeast
Asia. On Iran,s nuclear activities, he noted that "Sheikh
Qaradawi said it right -- all should be concerned about
nuclear developments in Iran." The Saudi view is that all
nations have the right to a peaceful nuclear program, but
Iran does not have the right to do what it is doing. "We tell
them, if they have nothing to hide, let people in." Saudi
Arabia does not want to see Iran in possession of any WMD
capability.
--------------
Gulf Missile Defense Architecture
--------------
7. (S) In light of the growing Iranian missile threat, U/S
Edelman reported that the USG has been examining how the Gulf
countries could enhance missile defenses and has developed a
proposal for a regional defensive system. After
Dan Lally provided an overview, U/S Edelman emphasized that
to be effective, the defensive system protecting the Gulf
states needed to be based on a linked regional architecture.
The same degree of effectiveness will not be possible were
each country to rely on independent systems. Edelman also
informed Prince Muqrin that Secretary Gates would be
presenting this missile defense concept at the upcoming ISS
conference in Bahrain. Prince Muqrin,s questions during the
brief focused on missile flight times between Iran and Saudi
Arabia, and the time required for the proposed system to
detect and respond.
--------------
Mediation with the Taliban
--------------
8. (S) In response to U/S Edelman,s request for Prince
Muqrin,s assessment of the mediation possibilities in
Afghanistan, the Prince said that Saudi Arabia would not
serve as a mediator unless invited to do so, which would
require an official letter from Mullah Omar. Muqrin said that
during his recent meeting with Taliban officials he was "not
diplomatic with them." He told them that Saudi mediation
would come with conditions: that the Taliban be willing to
lay down arms, accept that Afghanistan is for all Afghanis,
agree that once a deal is struck that there would be no
quibbling or backsliding, and that no talks would be held in
Saudi Arabia. Any exchanges would remain in intelligence
channels up to the point that an agreement is reached, and
"then they can have their photo opportunity" with the Saudi
political leadership. Prince Muqrin added that the Pakistanis
would need to be brought into the process, not just at the
end, and cautioned that the SAG is still evaluating whether
such mediation could succeed.
--------------
Saudi Concerns About Yemen
--------------
9. (C) U/S Edelman opened his meeting at the Ministry of
Interior with Deputy Minister Mohammed bin Nayif (MBN) by
describing USG concerns that Al-Qaida could grow stronger in
Yemen due to the instability there. He urged that the
Saudis consider assistance to help the Yemeni military
increase its mobility by procuring a number of M113 armored
personnel carriers. He also asked for MBN,s assessment of
the ability of President Saleh to adopt the Saudi model of
terrorist rehabilitation.
10. (C) MBN agreed that conditions in Yemen could indeed be
attractive to Al-Qaida. He observed that Afghanistan is "not
a natural place for Al-Qaida," and that they may be getting
nervous about the growing prospects for peace there. Al-Qaida
operatives in Yemen know that it is easy to travel to Saudi
Arabia under the pretext of making the Hajj or Umra to Mecca,
and easy to arrange to meet others while there. MBN said that
Saudi Arabia is working directly with Yemen to improve
conditions in the Yemeni border area that Al-Qaida,
smugglers, and criminals might exploit. A joint Saudi-Yemeni
council has been set up, presided by Crown Prince Sultan and
Yemen,s Prime Minister, to decide where development projects
should be allocated. Virtually all projects will be in the
mountain areas near the border -- the concept is to give the
inhabitants better lives so that they have "something to
lose" if they cooperate with Al-Qaida or criminal elements.
11. (C) On the Saudi rehabilitation program, MBN commented
that there are limits to the number of Yemenis that can be
brought into the Saudi system. If it became widely known in
Yemen that Yemenis were being rehabilitated in Saudi
Arabia, it could cause great problems for Ali Abdullah Saleh.
--------------
Critical Infrastructure Program
--------------
12. (C) U/S Edelman described USG efforts to begin training
for the MOI Facilities Protection Force. MBN expressed
consternation that he had 35,000 men he needed to train and
equip, and that when he turned to the USG to do this work, he
expected that things would move quickly. "Time counts," he
said, "I thought you would jump on it." U/S Edelman assured
MBN that he would carry that message back to State and DOD
and encouraged MBN to continue this discussion during his
upcoming trip to Washington.
13. (U) This cable was cleared by Under Secretary Edelman.
RUNDELL
NNNN
End Cable Text