YEMEN: A/S SHAPIRO’S DISCUSSION WITH PRINCE MITEB

C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 001502 STATE FOR POL/MIL AFFAIRS:A/S SHAPIRO E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2014 TAGS: MARR MASS SA SUBJECT: YEMEN: A/S SHAPIRO’S DISCUSSION WITH PRINCE MITEB BIN ABDULLAH, ASSISTANT DEPUTY COMMANDER OF THE SAUDI ARABIAN NATIONAL GUARD Classified By: Ambassador James B. Smith for reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (U) Summary: Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs Andrew Shapiro met on October 24 with Prince Miteb bin Abdullah Al-Saud, Assistant Deputy Commander for Military Affairs of the Saudi Arabian National Guard. Prince Miteb described the problems faced by Saudi Arabia in Yemen and pressed for the U.S. to actively support the Yemeni government. End Summary. SANG: A-OK -------------- ¶2. (C) A/S Shapiro conveyed assurances to Prince Miteb that the U.S. wanted to be fully supportive of the National Guard and its U.S. advisory group, the Office of the Program Manager - Saudi Arabian National Guard (OPM-SANG). Prince Miteb expressed appreciation for the support, and reported that SANG was doing well and that he was pleased with the work of his American advisers. Yemen: The Houthi have an army -------------- ¶3. (C) Prince Miteb warned that al-Qaeda,s main home is now in Yemen, and that the U.S. will have to regain the trust of the Yemenis. He said that Saudi Arabia is limited in what it can do to help quell the problems in Yemen. "We will not get involved," he said, adding, "it is time for you to help them, and to understand that the Iranians are supporting them." Saudi Arabia must be cautious, he explained, because of the sensitive situation on the Saudi-Yemeni border. Every day Saudi Arabia captures three to four thousand persons coming across the border. Further problems are likely to occur as Saudi Arabia implements plans to build a border wall, which will cut through towns straddling the border. ¶4. (C) Prince Miteb pointed out that it appears that the Houthi have developed an army, evidenced by their ability to resist government forces. "The sooner that Yemen finishes the Houthi, the better it will be for them." He urged that the U.S. take the Yemeni situation very seriously to prevent the situation from getting worse. Another reason he cited for increased U.S. involvement is that it would help the U.S. to "reclaim lost trust" and re-establish U.S.credibility. SMITH