Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08RIYADH582
2008-04-07 12:49:00
SECRET
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:
SAUDI FM ON SUPPORT FOR IRAQ
how-toVZCZCXRO5162 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHLH RUEHPW RUEHROV DE RUEHRH #0582 0981249 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 071249Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8152 INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUCNISL/ISLAMIC COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD IMMEDIATE 0643 RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH IMMEDIATE 9473 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 RUEHBC/REO BASRAH IMMEDIATE 0013 RUEHIHL/REO HILLAH IMMEDIATE 0013 RUEHKUK/REO KIRKUK IMMEDIATE 0012 RUEHMOS/REO MOSUL IMMEDIATE 0007 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUMICEA/USCINCCENT INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE
S E C R E T RIYADH 000582
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO S/I, NEA/ARP AND NEA/I; BAGHDAD
FOR AMB CROCKER AND MNF-I CG GEN PETRAEUS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/06/2018
TAGS: ASEC IR IZ MCAP MOPS PNAT PTER PGOV PREL SA
SUBJECT: SAUDI FM ON SUPPORT FOR IRAQ
REF: A. BAGHDAD 1007
B. SECSTATE 35471
C. SECSTATE 35473
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Gfoeller for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)
S E C R E T RIYADH 000582
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO S/I, NEA/ARP AND NEA/I; BAGHDAD
FOR AMB CROCKER AND MNF-I CG GEN PETRAEUS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/06/2018
TAGS: ASEC IR IZ MCAP MOPS PNAT PTER PGOV PREL SA
SUBJECT: SAUDI FM ON SUPPORT FOR IRAQ
REF: A. BAGHDAD 1007
B. SECSTATE 35471
C. SECSTATE 35473
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Gfoeller for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)
1. (S) The Ambassador delivered demarches on greater support
for the current Government of Iraq (Reftel B) and for support
against terrorism (Reftel C) to Saudi Foreign Minister Prince
Saud al-Faisal on April 6. Saud was receptive to the request
for greater support of the Nouri al-Maliki government, but
did not commit further. He did comment on the recent Iraqi
Army-led operation in Basra against the Jaysh al-Madhi (JAM)
and the Special Groups. Saud characterized this operation as
the "Shia Arabs" fighting the "Shia Iranians." He opined
that if Basra fell to full Sadrist control, this would lead
to "secession," which would spark an Iraqi civil war. The
result would lead to not only increased violence within Iraq,
but also draw Iraq's neighbors, including Saudi Arabia, into
the fighting. Saud also described the purpose of Iranian
President Ahmedinijad's recent visit to Iraq as
"encouragement for his foot soldiers," implying JAM.
Regarding the fight against terrorism, Saud responded that
the SAG was doing all it could to counter terrorism at every
level.
2. (S) When we asked if the SAG would accept a visit by
Ambassador Crocker and GEN Petraeus as they returned to Iraq
after their Congressional testimony, Saud said they would be
most welcome in the Kingdom and he would be eager to be
briefed by them on the current situation in Iraq, most
especially the recent operations in Basra. He added that
King Abdullah would most likely meet with them, too.
3. (S) COMMENT. The SAG has been distrustful of Maliki,
often calling him an agent of Iran. Saud's remarks about the
Maliki-directed Basra operation against JAM indicate he now
sees the GOI, under Maliki, fighting against Iran, not
working for it. While the Saudis have continually been
suspicious of the Shia-dominated GOI, they have made great
strides against terrorism in Saudi Arabia itself. Moreover,
the SAG for years has been preventing Saudis from directly
traveling to Iraq for jihad, as shown by the fact that
foreign fighters, including Saudis, enter Iraq through Syria,
but not from Saudi Arabia. The SAG and the Saudi religious
community openly speak out against all forms of jihad and
terrorism. They have striven to cut off any private funding
that supported terrorist operations in Iraq. The Saudis have
implemented an effective rehabilitation program for
Guantanamo returnees, including those who went to Iraq, to
wean them away from violence and Islamic extremism, while
also not alienating them, their families or their tribes.
4. (S) Post believes the upcoming visit by Amb Crocker and
GEN Petraeus to the Kingdom can encourage the Saudis to be
more supportive of our Iraq policy and open new avenues where
the Saudis, and perhaps the GCC led by the Saudis, could
effectively contribute to Iraq's stability and progress. END
COMMENT.
FRAKER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS TO S/I, NEA/ARP AND NEA/I; BAGHDAD
FOR AMB CROCKER AND MNF-I CG GEN PETRAEUS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/06/2018
TAGS: ASEC IR IZ MCAP MOPS PNAT PTER PGOV PREL SA
SUBJECT: SAUDI FM ON SUPPORT FOR IRAQ
REF: A. BAGHDAD 1007
B. SECSTATE 35471
C. SECSTATE 35473
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Gfoeller for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)
1. (S) The Ambassador delivered demarches on greater support
for the current Government of Iraq (Reftel B) and for support
against terrorism (Reftel C) to Saudi Foreign Minister Prince
Saud al-Faisal on April 6. Saud was receptive to the request
for greater support of the Nouri al-Maliki government, but
did not commit further. He did comment on the recent Iraqi
Army-led operation in Basra against the Jaysh al-Madhi (JAM)
and the Special Groups. Saud characterized this operation as
the "Shia Arabs" fighting the "Shia Iranians." He opined
that if Basra fell to full Sadrist control, this would lead
to "secession," which would spark an Iraqi civil war. The
result would lead to not only increased violence within Iraq,
but also draw Iraq's neighbors, including Saudi Arabia, into
the fighting. Saud also described the purpose of Iranian
President Ahmedinijad's recent visit to Iraq as
"encouragement for his foot soldiers," implying JAM.
Regarding the fight against terrorism, Saud responded that
the SAG was doing all it could to counter terrorism at every
level.
2. (S) When we asked if the SAG would accept a visit by
Ambassador Crocker and GEN Petraeus as they returned to Iraq
after their Congressional testimony, Saud said they would be
most welcome in the Kingdom and he would be eager to be
briefed by them on the current situation in Iraq, most
especially the recent operations in Basra. He added that
King Abdullah would most likely meet with them, too.
3. (S) COMMENT. The SAG has been distrustful of Maliki,
often calling him an agent of Iran. Saud's remarks about the
Maliki-directed Basra operation against JAM indicate he now
sees the GOI, under Maliki, fighting against Iran, not
working for it. While the Saudis have continually been
suspicious of the Shia-dominated GOI, they have made great
strides against terrorism in Saudi Arabia itself. Moreover,
the SAG for years has been preventing Saudis from directly
traveling to Iraq for jihad, as shown by the fact that
foreign fighters, including Saudis, enter Iraq through Syria,
but not from Saudi Arabia. The SAG and the Saudi religious
community openly speak out against all forms of jihad and
terrorism. They have striven to cut off any private funding
that supported terrorist operations in Iraq. The Saudis have
implemented an effective rehabilitation program for
Guantanamo returnees, including those who went to Iraq, to
wean them away from violence and Islamic extremism, while
also not alienating them, their families or their tribes.
4. (S) Post believes the upcoming visit by Amb Crocker and
GEN Petraeus to the Kingdom can encourage the Saudis to be
more supportive of our Iraq policy and open new avenues where
the Saudis, and perhaps the GCC led by the Saudis, could
effectively contribute to Iraq's stability and progress. END
COMMENT.
FRAKER