

Currently released so far... 12553 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
APECO
ASEC
AMGT
AFIN
APER
ACABQ
AORC
AEMR
AF
AE
AR
AGMT
AU
AY
ABLD
AS
AG
AJ
APCS
AX
AM
AMEX
ATRN
ADM
AMED
AFGHANISTAN
AZ
AL
ASUP
AND
ARM
ASEAN
AFFAIRS
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
AODE
APEC
ACBAQ
AFSI
AFSN
AO
ABUD
AC
ADPM
ADCO
ASIG
ARF
AUC
ASEX
AGAO
AA
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
AIT
AADP
ASCH
AORL
AROC
ACOA
ANET
AID
AMCHAMS
AINF
AMG
AFU
AN
ALOW
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
ACS
ADANA
AECL
ACAO
AORG
AGR
BEXP
BR
BM
BG
BL
BA
BTIO
BO
BP
BC
BILAT
BK
BU
BD
BRUSSELS
BB
BF
BBSR
BIDEN
BX
BE
BH
BT
BY
BMGT
BWC
BTIU
BN
CA
CASC
CFED
CO
CH
CS
CU
CE
CI
CM
CMGT
CJAN
COM
CG
CIS
CVIS
CR
CKGR
CHR
CVR
COUNTER
CIA
CLINTON
CY
CPAS
CD
CBW
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CDG
CW
CODEL
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
COE
CN
CARICOM
CB
CONDOLEEZZA
CWC
CACS
CSW
CIDA
CIC
CITT
CONS
CL
CACM
CDB
CDC
CAN
CF
CJUS
CTM
CBSA
CARSON
CT
CLMT
CBC
CEUDA
CV
COPUOS
CTR
CROS
CAPC
CAC
CNARC
CICTE
CBE
ECON
ETRD
EIND
ENRG
EC
ELAB
EAGR
EAID
EFIS
EFIN
EINV
EUN
EG
EPET
EAIR
EU
ELTN
EWWT
ECIN
ERD
EI
ETTC
EUR
EN
EZ
ETC
ENVI
EMIN
ET
ENVR
ER
ECPS
EINT
EAP
ES
ENIV
ECONOMY
EXTERNAL
EINN
EFTA
ECONOMIC
EPA
EXBS
ECA
ELN
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENGR
ECUN
ENGY
ECONOMICS
ELECTIONS
EIAR
EINDETRD
EREL
EUC
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
ENERG
EFIM
EAIDS
EK
ETRDECONWTOCS
EINVETC
ECONCS
EUNCH
ESA
ECINECONCS
EUREM
ESENV
EFINECONCS
ETRC
ENNP
EAIG
EXIM
EEPET
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EUMEM
ETRA
ERNG
ETRO
ETRN
EINVEFIN
ICTY
IN
IS
IR
IC
IZ
IA
INTERPOL
IAEA
IT
IMO
IO
IV
ID
IRAQI
IEA
INRB
IL
IWC
ITU
ICAO
ISRAELI
ICRC
IIP
IMF
IBRD
ISLAMISTS
ITALY
ITALIAN
ILO
IPR
IQ
IRS
IAHRC
IZPREL
IRAJ
IDP
ILC
ITF
ICJ
IF
ITPHUM
INMARSAT
ISRAEL
IACI
IBET
ITRA
INR
IRC
IDA
ICTR
IGAD
INRA
INRO
IEFIN
INTELSAT
INTERNAL
INDO
ITPGOV
KWMN
KSCA
KDEM
KTFN
KIPR
KCRM
KPAL
KE
KPAO
KPKO
KS
KN
KISL
KFRD
KJUS
KIRF
KFLO
KG
KTIP
KTER
KRCM
KTIA
KGHG
KIRC
KU
KPRP
KMCA
KMPI
KSEO
KNNP
KZ
KNEI
KCOR
KOMC
KCFC
KSTC
KMDR
KFLU
KSAF
KSEP
KSAC
KR
KGIC
KSUM
KWBG
KCIP
KDRG
KOLY
KAWC
KCHG
KHDP
KRVC
KBIO
KAWK
KGCC
KHLS
KBCT
KPLS
KREL
KCFE
KMFO
KV
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFTFN
KVPR
KTDB
KSPR
KIDE
KVRP
KTEX
KBTR
KTRD
KICC
KCOM
KO
KLIG
KDEMAF
KMRS
KRAD
KOCI
KSTH
KUNR
KNSD
KGIT
KFSC
KHIV
KPAI
KICA
KACT
KHUM
KREC
KSEC
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCMR
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KNAR
KNUC
KPWR
KENV
KWWMN
KWMNCS
KPRV
KOM
KBTS
KCRS
KNPP
KWNM
KRFD
KVIR
KTBT
KAID
KRIM
KDDG
KRGY
KHSA
KWMM
KMOC
KSCI
KPAK
KX
KPAONZ
KCGC
KID
KPOA
KIFR
KFIN
KWAC
KOMS
KCRCM
KNUP
KMIG
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KTLA
KCSY
KJUST
MOPS
MARR
MASS
MNUC
MX
MCAP
MO
MR
MI
MD
MK
MA
MP
MY
MTCRE
MOPPS
MASC
MIL
MTS
MLS
MILI
MAR
MU
MEPN
MAPP
MTCR
MEPI
MZ
MEETINGS
MG
MW
MAS
MT
MCC
MIK
ML
MARAD
MV
MERCOSUR
MTRE
MPOS
MEPP
MILITARY
MDC
MQADHAFI
MUCN
MRCRE
MAPS
MEDIA
MASSMNUC
MC
NZ
NZUS
NL
NU
NATO
NP
NO
NIPP
NE
NH
NR
NA
NPT
NI
NSF
NG
NSG
NAFTA
NC
NDP
NEW
NRR
NATIONAL
NT
NS
NASA
NAR
NV
NORAD
NSSP
NK
NPA
NGO
NSC
NATOPREL
NW
NPG
NSFO
OPDC
OTRA
OIIP
OREP
OVIP
OSCE
OEXC
OIE
OPRC
OAS
OPIC
OTR
OMIG
OSAC
OFFICIALS
OECD
OSCI
OBSP
OFDA
OPCW
ODIP
OFDP
OES
OPAD
OCII
OHUM
OVP
ON
OIC
OCS
PHUM
PREL
PGOV
PINR
PTER
PARM
PREF
PM
PE
PINS
PK
PHSA
PBTS
PRGOV
PA
PORG
PP
PS
PGOF
PL
PO
PARMS
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PAK
POL
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PREFA
PALESTINIAN
PBIO
PINF
PNG
PMIL
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PAO
POLITICS
PHUMBA
PSEPC
PTBS
PCUL
PROP
PNAT
PNR
POLINT
PGOVE
PROG
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PROV
PHUMPREL
PGOC
PY
PCI
PLN
PDOV
PREO
PGIV
PHUH
PAS
PU
POGOV
PF
PINL
POV
PAHO
PRL
PG
PRAM
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POLICY
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PGGV
PHUS
PSA
PHUMPGOV
PEL
PSI
PAIGH
POSTS
PBT
PTERE
RS
RU
RW
RM
RO
RP
REGION
RSP
RF
RICE
RCMP
RFE
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
ROBERT
RUPREL
RELATIONS
ROOD
REACTION
RSO
REPORT
SENV
SNAR
SCUL
SR
SC
SOCI
SMIG
SI
SP
SU
SO
SW
SY
SA
SZ
SAN
SF
SN
STEINBERG
SG
ST
SIPDIS
SNARIZ
SNARN
SSA
SK
SPCVIS
SOFA
SAARC
SL
SEVN
SARS
SIPRS
SHUM
SANC
SWE
SHI
SYR
SNARCS
SPCE
SYRIA
SEN
SH
SCRS
SENVKGHG
TRGY
TSPL
TPHY
TSPA
TBIO
TI
TW
THPY
TX
TU
TS
TZ
TC
TH
TT
TIP
TO
TERRORISM
TRSY
TINT
TN
TURKEY
TBID
TL
TV
TNGD
TD
TF
TP
TFIN
TAGS
TK
TR
UNSC
UK
UNGA
UN
US
UNHRC
UG
UP
UNMIK
UNHCR
UE
USTR
UNVIE
UAE
UZ
UY
UNO
UNESCO
USEU
USOAS
UV
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNEP
UNIDROIT
UNDESCO
UNDP
UNPUOS
UNC
UNAUS
USUN
UNCHC
UNCHR
UNCND
UNICEF
UNCSD
UNDC
USNC
USPS
USAID
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 10KUWAIT142, KUWAIT INTERIOR MINISTER SOUNDS ALARM ON IRAN;
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #10KUWAIT142.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
10KUWAIT142 | 2010-02-17 14:42 | 2010-11-28 18:00 | SECRET//NOFORN | Embassy Kuwait |
VZCZCXRO5845
PP RUEHBC RUEHKUK RUEHTRO
DE RUEHKU #0142/01 0481442
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 171442Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4627
INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 000142
SIPDIS
NOFORN
NEA/ARP, NEA/RA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/16/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER IR YM KU
SUBJECT: KUWAIT INTERIOR MINISTER SOUNDS ALARM ON IRAN;
OFFERS ASSURANCES ON GTMO RETURNEES AND SECURITY
REF: KUWAIT 137
Classified By: DCM Tom Williams for reasons 1.4 b and d
¶1. (S/NF) Summary: Interior Minister Jaber Al-Khaled Al
Sabah told Ambassador February 16 that he is deeply concerned
about Iranian actions, particularly in Yemen with the
Houthis. A security hard-liner whose views do not always
reflect those of the rest of the GoK, Shaykh Jaber suggested
Iran is intent upon exporting its revolution and can only be
deterred by force from achieving its nuclear ambitions; he
characterized Iran as the "beating heart" of Islamic
extremism, adding that even Palestinians now aspire to be
Shi'a because they have bought Iranian "stories" about Shi'a
being more prepared to "fight to the end" and stand up to
Israel. Now Iran is trying to infiltrate Egypt, exploiting
poverty there. Ambassador emphasized USG effort to pursue a
"pressure track" with Iran; on Yemen she suggested many of
Yemen's problems were home-grown and required economic and
social solutions at least as much as military ones. Shaykh
Jaber concurred, calling President Saleh "a leader with an
NCO mentality who thinks he can buy loyalty" when what is
needed is strong, honest government and firmer security
measures. Ambassador sought GoK assurances on legality and
intent to ensure monitoring and withholding of travel
documents for any future GTMO returnees, noting that without
those firm commitments the cases of the remaining two
Kuwaitis in GTMO may prove difficult to resolve. The
Minister promised a more formal response but offered his
personal assurances that travel documents would not be
issued, and said monitoring of the last two returnees was
constant and ongoing. Ambassador also raised the need for
GoK outreach to the Parliament to prioritize passage of
pending legislation to criminalize terror financing; Shaykh
Jaber said politics was hindering progress on this issue and
on many other important bills, including one to criminalize
cyber crimes, but said his Ministry was committed to pursuing
radical extremists and ensuring the safety of Americans in
Kuwait, with or without new laws. End Summary.
Iran on my mind
----------------
¶2. (S/NF) The blunt and outspoken Minister of Interior,
Shaykh Jaber Al-Khaled Al Sabah, told Ambassador and DCM
February 16 that Iran is his major concern. Iran is intent
upon exporting its revolution and Shi'ism, has a gameplan,
and will only be deterred from achieving its objectives -
including a nuclear weapons capability - by force. The U.S.
will not be able to avoid a military conflict with Iran, if
it is serious in its intention to prevent Tehran from
achieving a nuclear weapons capability. In Yemen, the
Houthis have shown remarkable resilience - where is their
power coming from? Yemeni extremists are making money from
the drug trade, moving narcotics into Saudi Arabia. The GoK
has been able to block some of the flow of these drugs from
Saudi into Kuwait, but remains very concerned about this.
Iran is involved, clearly, as a producer of drugs and a
facilitator of transit along the
Afghanistan-Iran-Somalia-Yemen pipeline. Now Iran is trying
to expand its influence in Egypt, seeking to exploit poverty
there and infiltrate the security services.
Iranian Mythology Resonates
----------------------------
¶3. (S/NF) Shaykh Jaber said that the Sunni-Shi'a balance in
the region is at risk and chaos could ensue. Iran is
"calling the shots" in Iraq, and has so convinced the region
of its stories - that Shi'a and Iran will "fight to the end"
where others will not, that only the Shi'a and Iran really
stand up to Israel - that now many Palestinians want to
convert to Shi'ism. As a consequence, Iran has become "the
beating heart of Islamic extremism." The Minister apologized
for speaking so frankly, but said he wanted to clearly convey
what is of greatest concern to the GoK.
¶4. (S/NF) Note: The Interior Minister's concern about Iran
may have been informed by a couple of recent incidents
briefed February 17 to the US Navy LNO at the Kuwait Navy
Base (see IIR septel for details). In one incident, on
February 6, IRGC Navy speedboats harassed Kuwaiti fishermen;
in a more serious incident on February 15 and again on
February 16, three IRGC Navy speedboats approached a joint
Kuwait/Saudi oil terminal in international waters (located in
the Al-Hout field off Mina Az-Zour), approached as close as
fifty meters and lingered for forty-five minutes on the first
occasion, but only fifteen minutes the second time (perhaps
KUWAIT 00000142 002 OF 003
as a result of the presence of the Kuwaiti patrol boat
Istiqlal that was dispatched to the terminal to hold station
after the first incident). End Note.
Pressure Track and Yemen Clarification
---------------------------------------
¶5. (S/NF) Ambassador took issue with the Minister's
characterization of Iran's role in Iraq and then moved to
review U.S. efforts along the "pressure track" with Iran. In
Yemen, Iran may no doubt try to exploit the situation with
the Houthis, but the causes of the conflict were largely
internal and would require Yemeni President Saleh to pursue a
political and social effort as well as a military campaign -
as was noted in the recent London conference, many of Yemen's
challenges are ones of governance. Shaykh Jaber agreed,
characterizing Saleh as having "an NCO's mentality that you
can win everything with money" when what is needed is less
corruption and a more proactive security posture. The
Minister noted that Kuwaiti Salafists are sympathetic to the
cause of the southern secessionists in Yemen and are being
watched by the GoK; he stated, however, that no Kuwaitis are
actively involved in the fighting. Ambassador noted that
some in the U.S. intelligence community believe that a
considerable number of Kuwaitis are involved with Al-Qaeda,
particularly in the AFPAK theater; Shaykh Jaber said Kuwaitis
tend more to be sympathizers than practitioners, but said
they all were being watched closely.
GTMO Assurances/Clarifications Needed
---------------------------------------
¶6. (S/NF) The Ambassador raised the issue of the remaining
two Kuwaiti GTMO detainees, and sought the Minister's
confirmation that the commitments outlined in the latest
draft diplomatic note on oversight of returnees -
particularly with reference to constant monitoring and
withholding of passports - were both legal and accurately
reflected GoK intent. Clarification of the pending
assurances would likely be necessary given the greater
seriousness of the cases against the remaining two. The
Minister promised a more formal response later, and made
clear that he could not interfere with the activities of the
judiciary, but said he was sure the two most recent returnees
did not have passports, and characterized their level of
monitoring by the security service as "so close they can
smell us and feel our breath on the back of their necks."
Need for Passage of AML law
---------------------------
¶7. (S/NF) The Ambassador - as she had earlier with the
Foreign Minister (reftel) - noted that Kuwait is now the only
country on the Arabian Peninsula not to have criminalized
terror financing. A pending law is before parliament, but
Speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi had commented privately to the
Ambassador that the government had not made its passage a
priority for the current legislative session. Shaykh Jaber
responded that politics was getting in the way of much needed
legislation, not just TF, but also a bill to define cyber
crime. The Minister offered his assurances that the GoK is
very serious on the matter of terror financing and
facilitation, with or without the law, and was committed to
this and to protecting Americans in Kuwait. At the close of
the meeting, the Ambassador provided Shaykh Jaber with drop
copies of two previous requests for information on alleged
anti-American plotters in Kuwait, acknowledging that these
could be "poison pen" cases, but requesting a formal response
from the Ministry to ensure appropriate due diligence had
been done.
Comment
--------
¶8. (S/NF) Shaykh Jaber survived a no-confidence vote in
Parliament late last Fall, but the GoK expended only enough
effort to ensure his victory by a relatively narrow margin.
The reported cost of that governmental support (arranged by a
Prime Minister from whom Shaykh Jaber is estranged) was
Shaykh Jaber's acceptance that KSS Chief 'Athbi Al-Fahad Al
Sabah would report directly to the PM, not to the Interior
Minister as has traditionally been the case. The Interior
Minister's tough and candid talk on Iran, consequently, while
it offers useful insight into the private worries likely
shared by many of Kuwait's seniormost leadership, should not
necessarily be seen as an articulation likely to result in
any meaningful GoK policy initiatives.
KUWAIT 00000142 003 OF 003
********************************************* *********
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit:
visit Kuwait's Classified Website at:
http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Kuwa it
********************************************* *********
JONES