Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MANAMA141
2009-03-10 10:07:00
SECRET
Embassy Manama
Cable title:
BAHRAIN: KING ON REGIONAL SECURITY, IRAN,
how-toVZCZCXRO4955 PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK DE RUEHMK #0141 0691007 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 101007Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8516 INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
S E C R E T MANAMA 000141
SIPDIS
BAGHDAD FOR AMBASSADOR ERELI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2039
TAGS: PREL MARR AF AEC IR MO BA
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: KING ON REGIONAL SECURITY, IRAN,
AFGHANISTAN AND PIRACY
REF: MANAMA 117
Classified By: CDA Christopher Henzel for reason 1.4 (b) and (d)
S E C R E T MANAMA 000141
SIPDIS
BAGHDAD FOR AMBASSADOR ERELI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2039
TAGS: PREL MARR AF AEC IR MO BA
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: KING ON REGIONAL SECURITY, IRAN,
AFGHANISTAN AND PIRACY
REF: MANAMA 117
Classified By: CDA Christopher Henzel for reason 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (S) Summary: King Hamad encouraged the U.S. military to
base P-3s in Bahrain, asked that GCC governments be kept in
the loop on any U.S.-Iranian engagement, and commented on
Morocco's dispute with Iran. He reiterated offers of help in
Afghanistan and with anti-piracy efforts. End summary.
2. (SBU) King Hamad received NAVCENT and Fifth Fleet
commander Vice Admiral Bill Gortney and CDA March 8 at
Safriya Palace. Also joining the audience were Royal Court
Minister Khalid bin Ahmad, Minister of State for Defense
Muhammad bin Abdullah, and CDR Benjamin Snell, USN.
3. (S) The King, as jovial as he usually is with U.S.
visitors, spent an hour updating Admiral Gortney on his
recent meetings with Arab leaders, his March 2 meeting with
Secretary Clinton in Sharm al-Sheikh, and a March 3 phone
conversation with Secretary Gates.
4. (S) King Hamad had told Secretaries Clinton and Gates
that Bahrain was interested in deploying police in support of
coalition efforts in Afghanistan, and naval assets in support
of NAVCENT's anti-piracy efforts off Somalia. VADM Gortney
and CDA welcomed both offers and said the USG would be in
touch with the GOB for further discussions.
5. (S) The King expressed repeated appreciation for the U.S.
military presence in Bahrain. He was ready to positively
consider U.S. requests for new access. The King said he
underQood Navy P-3s currently based in Qatar may need more
flexibility and urged that they "reQrn to Bahrain." (Note:
The U.S. military moved P-3s from Bahrain to Qatar and Oman
several years ago for logistical reasons. End note.)
Admiral Gortney welcomed the King's offer.
6. (S) King Hamad was clearly happy with the Admiral's
report that NAVCENT and the GOB were making progress toward
deepening the channel off Hidd in order to make possible the
pier-side visit of a U.S. aircraft carrier. The King also
stated he was reserving land next to NAVCENT Headquarters in
Jufair should the U.S. Navy request it for the possible
expansion of the base.
7. (S) The King said he told Secretary Clinton that Bahrain
and other GCC governments welcomed U.S. efforts to engage
with Iran, but if regional issues were discussed, "we should
know." He urged that the USG keep the UAE's three islands on
the agenda of any talks with the Iranians. He suspected some
Arab leaders might imagine an Israeli strike could make the
Iranian nuclear file "go away," but Bahrain knew this was not
a realistic scenario, and therefore international efforts to
find a negotiated solution were essential. The King was proud
at the way so many Arab governments - and the U.S. - had
expressed support for Bahrain in its recent dispute with Iran
(reftel),noting that Morocco had recently broken relations
with Iran chiefly because the Iranian Ambassador in Rabat
"was up to nonsense;" the Iranian comments about Bahrain had
been the last straw for the GOM.
8. (S) Comment: Bahrain's Foreign Minister pronounced his
country's public dispute with Iran over on February 25 after
the Iranian Interior Minister paid a fence-mending visit; the
FM made his own visit to Tehran February 26. However, the
Bahraini leadership's private suspicion of the Iranians is
clearly as deep as ever.
********************************************* ********
Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/
********************************************* ********
HENZEL
SIPDIS
BAGHDAD FOR AMBASSADOR ERELI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/10/2039
TAGS: PREL MARR AF AEC IR MO BA
SUBJECT: BAHRAIN: KING ON REGIONAL SECURITY, IRAN,
AFGHANISTAN AND PIRACY
REF: MANAMA 117
Classified By: CDA Christopher Henzel for reason 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (S) Summary: King Hamad encouraged the U.S. military to
base P-3s in Bahrain, asked that GCC governments be kept in
the loop on any U.S.-Iranian engagement, and commented on
Morocco's dispute with Iran. He reiterated offers of help in
Afghanistan and with anti-piracy efforts. End summary.
2. (SBU) King Hamad received NAVCENT and Fifth Fleet
commander Vice Admiral Bill Gortney and CDA March 8 at
Safriya Palace. Also joining the audience were Royal Court
Minister Khalid bin Ahmad, Minister of State for Defense
Muhammad bin Abdullah, and CDR Benjamin Snell, USN.
3. (S) The King, as jovial as he usually is with U.S.
visitors, spent an hour updating Admiral Gortney on his
recent meetings with Arab leaders, his March 2 meeting with
Secretary Clinton in Sharm al-Sheikh, and a March 3 phone
conversation with Secretary Gates.
4. (S) King Hamad had told Secretaries Clinton and Gates
that Bahrain was interested in deploying police in support of
coalition efforts in Afghanistan, and naval assets in support
of NAVCENT's anti-piracy efforts off Somalia. VADM Gortney
and CDA welcomed both offers and said the USG would be in
touch with the GOB for further discussions.
5. (S) The King expressed repeated appreciation for the U.S.
military presence in Bahrain. He was ready to positively
consider U.S. requests for new access. The King said he
underQood Navy P-3s currently based in Qatar may need more
flexibility and urged that they "reQrn to Bahrain." (Note:
The U.S. military moved P-3s from Bahrain to Qatar and Oman
several years ago for logistical reasons. End note.)
Admiral Gortney welcomed the King's offer.
6. (S) King Hamad was clearly happy with the Admiral's
report that NAVCENT and the GOB were making progress toward
deepening the channel off Hidd in order to make possible the
pier-side visit of a U.S. aircraft carrier. The King also
stated he was reserving land next to NAVCENT Headquarters in
Jufair should the U.S. Navy request it for the possible
expansion of the base.
7. (S) The King said he told Secretary Clinton that Bahrain
and other GCC governments welcomed U.S. efforts to engage
with Iran, but if regional issues were discussed, "we should
know." He urged that the USG keep the UAE's three islands on
the agenda of any talks with the Iranians. He suspected some
Arab leaders might imagine an Israeli strike could make the
Iranian nuclear file "go away," but Bahrain knew this was not
a realistic scenario, and therefore international efforts to
find a negotiated solution were essential. The King was proud
at the way so many Arab governments - and the U.S. - had
expressed support for Bahrain in its recent dispute with Iran
(reftel),noting that Morocco had recently broken relations
with Iran chiefly because the Iranian Ambassador in Rabat
"was up to nonsense;" the Iranian comments about Bahrain had
been the last straw for the GOM.
8. (S) Comment: Bahrain's Foreign Minister pronounced his
country's public dispute with Iran over on February 25 after
the Iranian Interior Minister paid a fence-mending visit; the
FM made his own visit to Tehran February 26. However, the
Bahraini leadership's private suspicion of the Iranians is
clearly as deep as ever.
********************************************* ********
Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/
********************************************* ********
HENZEL