(U) KUDOS FOR REPORTING ON SHIA POLITICAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 105276 NOFORN E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/30/2033 TAGS: PINR PGOV PINS BA SUBJECT: (U) KUDOS FOR REPORTING ON SHIA POLITICAL SOCIETY IN BAHRAIN (C-NE8-01198) REF: A. MANAMA 000313 ¶B. MANAMA 000336 Classified By: SUZANNE MCCORMICK, DIR., INR/I. REASON: 1.4(C). (C/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS GREATLY APPRECIATE REF EMBASSY REPORTING ON BAHRAIN'S AL-WIFAQ POLITICAL SOCIETY. REF A REVEALED PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN DETAILS SURROUNDING THE QUESTIONING OF TWO CABINET MINISTERS AND THE REASONS FOR WIFAQ'S WALKOUT ON THE FINAL SESSION OF THE COUNCIL OF REPRESENTATIVES (COR) BEFORE THE SUMMER HIATUS, AS WELL AS OTHER DETAILS ABOUT THE POLITICAL SOCIETY. REF B GAVE DETAILED BACKGROUND ABOUT OTHER PROMINENT MEMBERS OF WIFAQ WHO ARE CONSIDERED POTENTIAL SUCCESSORS TO THE CURRENT WIFAQ LEADER. BOTH OF THESE REPORTS WERE BENEFICIAL IN HELPING ANALYSTS GAIN GREATER DEPTH OF UNDERSTANDING OF CURRENT EVENTS IN BAHRAIN AS WELL AS THE SHIA POLITICAL SOCIETY. ANALYSTS WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW WIFAQ AND ITS ROLE IN THE POLITICAL SYSTEM, AS WELL AS THE SHIA OPPOSITION IN BAHRAIN IN GENERAL. THANKS, AND REGARDS FROM WASHINGTON. RICE