Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
96KUWAIT4046
1996-06-30 14:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:  

THE RIFT BETWEEN THE CROWN PRINCE AND FOREIGN MINISTER

Tags:  PREL XF KU 
pdf how-to read a cable
R 301419Z JUN 96
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 3265
INFO USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL
DIA WASHDC
GCC COLLECTIVE
SECDEF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 004046 


E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/06
TAGS: PREL XF KU
SUBJECT: THE RIFT BETWEEN THE CROWN PRINCE AND FOREIGN MINISTER

REF: KUWAIT 3753

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 004046


E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/06
TAGS: PREL XF KU
SUBJECT: THE RIFT BETWEEN THE CROWN PRINCE AND FOREIGN MINISTER

REF: KUWAIT 3753


1. (U) CLASSIFIED BY DCM GEORGIA DEBELL, REASON 1.5(B).


2. (C) KUWAITI FOREIGN MINISTER SHAYKH SABAH AL-AHMED AL-JABER
AL-SABAH REMAINS IN MOROCCO FOLLOWING HIS CONFRONTATION WITH THE
CROWN PRINCE ON THE EVE OF THE CAIRO SUMMIT (REFTEL). SHAYKH
SABAH HAS CONTINUED TO PERFORM THE RITUALS OF THE FOREIGN
MINISTER, AND HAS BEEN FEATURED IN THE LOCAL PRESS DISPATCHING
NATIONAL DAY GREETINGS AND CALLING ON MOROCCAN OFFICIALS
INCLUDING KING HASSAN. HIS MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCE TO SECRETARY
CHRISTOPHER AFTER THE DHAHRAN BOMBING RECEIVED SPECIAL ATTENTION,
AND WHILE THIS IS CERTAINLY NOT A ROUTINE VACATION, IT IS EQUALLY
CLEAR THAT SHAYKH SABAH WILL BE COMING BACK TO THE FOLD. THAT
MAY BE SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. THE FOREIGN MINISTER'S CHIEF OF
PROTOCOL TOLD US JUNE 29 THAT THE AMIR HAD GIVEN HIM TWO WEEKS TO
COOL OFF, AND HE IS EXPECTED BACK IN KUWAIT THE END OF THIS WEEK
OR THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT.


3. (C) WHILE SHAYKH SABAH MAY SOON BE BACK ON THE JOB, THE RIFT
BETWEEN KUWAIT'S SECOND AND THIRD RANKING OFFICIALS WILL
CONTINUE, AND MAY BE MORE PRONOUNCED. INFORMATION MINISTER SAUD
NASIR, A BITTER CRITIC OF THE FOREIGN MINISTER (AND A
CORRESPONDINGLY CLOSE ALLY OF THE CROWN PRINCE),JOINED KUWAIT'S
DELEGATION TO THE CAIRO SUMMIT AFTER SHAYKH SABAH DECAMPED, AND
WILL USE THE EPISODE TO MAKE THE POINT THAT THERE ARE OTHERS WHO
ARE WILLING AND ABLE TO TAKE ON THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO.


4. (C) AS NOTED REFTEL, WHILE THE IMMEDIATE CAUSE OF THIS
LATEST FLARE UP WAS THE ONGOING FEUD OVER RELATIONS WITH JORDAN,
THE TENSION BETWEEN THE FOREIGN MINISTER AND CROWN PRINCE IS
ROOTED IN FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCES IN PERSONALITY AND STYLE. THE
DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF OF KUWAIT'S ARMED FORCES, FAHED AL-AMIR (A
SUPPORTER OF SHAYKH SABAH AND A RELATIVE BY MARRIAGE) TOLD THE
AMBASSADOR RECENTLY THAT THE FOREIGN MINISTER IS INCREASINGLY
FRUSTRATED WITH THE CROWN PRINCE'S DECISION MAKING STYLE WHICH HE
DESCRIBED AS THE CAPACITY TO AVOID MAKING DECISIONS.


5. (C) WE SUSPECT THAT TIME AND AGE HAVE ALSO SHARPENED THE
RIVALRY FROM THE FOREIGN MINISTER'S SIDE. AT 66, HE IS A YEAR
YOUNGER THAN THE AMIR AND A YEAR OLDER THAN THE CROWN PRINCE, AND
THE POSSIBILITY THAT HE WILL NEVER RUN THE GOVERNMENT (LET ALONE
THE STATE) MAY BE INCREASINGLY APPARENT TO HIM. WHATEVER THE
REASONS FOR THE DIVISION, THE FACT THAT IT IS A VERY PUBLIC ONE
MAKES KUWAITIS NERVOUS. FAHED AL-AMIR AND PARLIAMENTARY FOREIGN
RELATIONS CHAIRMAN JASSIM AL-SAGER COMMENTED SEPARATELY TO THE
AMBASSADOR THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER ALL THE WAY AROUND IF THE
SENIOR AL-SABAHS COULD KEEP THEIR DIFFERENCES TO THEMSELVES,
PARTICULARLY DURING SUCH CHALLENGING TIMES IN THE REGION.


CROCKER