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### Viewing cable 06MANAMA409, LUNCHEON WITH KING HAMAD

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
06MANAMA409 | 2006-03-15 13:01 | 2011-03-15 18:06 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Manama
Appears in these articles: not yet set

`

    This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 MANAMA 000409

    SIPDIS

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2016
    TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM BA IR REGION OFFICIALS POL BILAT
    SUBJECT: LUNCHEON WITH KING HAMAD

    Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe. Reason: 1.4 (b)(d)

    -------
    SUMMARY
    -------

    ¶1. (C) King Hamad, during a March 13 luncheon, had high
    praise for the U.S. and its positive role in maintaining
    stability in the Gulf. "Without you," he stated, "we'd be
    squashed." He made clear his concern for Iran, both as a
    regional power and as a meddling force inside Bahrain. Iran
    can be expected to bluster, but it is important to stand
    strong and deal with Iran from a position of strength.
    Kuwaiti Amir Shaikh Sabah's initial tour of the Gulf (he
    visited Bahrain March 12) was aimed in part at continuing his
    mission of improving relations between Saudi Arabia and its
    smaller GCC partners. The King lamented that his
    relationship with the UAE was not as personal or as close
    following the death of Shaikh Zayid. Domestically, the King
    welcomed expected participation by leading Shia opposition
    society Al-Wifaq in this year's parliamentary elections, and
    recounted that he had recently tried to encourage one of the
    few remaining opposition figures still in exile in London to
    come back. He stated that it was high time to pass a family
    law aimed at providing legal protection to women in Bahrain.

    -----------------------------
    U.S.-BAHRAIN RELATIONS STRONG
    -----------------------------

    ¶2. (C) King Hamad invited the Ambassador, NAVCENT Commander
    Admiral Patrick Walsh, and DCM for a private lunch at Safriya
    Palace on March 13. Also attending on the Bahraini side were
    Minister of the Royal Court Shaikh Khalid bin Mohammed
    Al-Khalifa, Minister of Interior Shaikh Rashid Al-Khalifa,
    and Benagas Chairman (and brother-in-law of the King) Shaikh
    Hamad Al-Khalifa, all close confidants of the King.

    ¶3. (C) King Hamad opened the discussion by welcoming
    Bahrain's strong relationship with the United States and
    praising the important positive role that the United States
    has played over the years in maintaining stability in the
    Gulf region. Turning to Admiral Walsh, the King noted the
    U.S. Navy's long presence in Bahrain and the vital role it
    has played in preserving Bahrain's security in a difficult
    regional environment. "We feel we are protected by your
    presence," he said. "Without you, we would be squashed."
    Returning to this theme later in the conversation, he also
    had high praise for the U.S. military equipment that the U.S.
    has provided to Bahrain under FMS/FMF programs. Other
    countries might be able to match the U.S. in terms of price
    and quality, he stated, but nobody comes close in terms of
    support.

    ------------------
    WORRIES ABOUT IRAN
    ------------------

    ¶4. (C) Throughout the conversation, the King made clear his
    concern for Iran, both as a regional power and as a meddling
    force inside Bahrain. Iran is a concern to all GCC
    countries, he stated, but the spotlight is always on Bahrain.
    Bahrain still hears claims that Bahrain is a part of Iran.
    Even though this issue was settled by the United Nations
    (through a UN-organized referendum in 1970), the issue is
    still raised. There are many Iranians in Bahrain (he
    presumably meant, in addition to Iranians, Bahrainis of
    Iranian origin, or "Ajam"). Isa Qassim, one of the most
    prominent Shia clerics in Bahrain, goes to Iran every few
    months and spends considerable time there (he just went again
    last week). Shaikh Khalid interjected that one reason Isa
    Qassim travels to Iran is to court favor with the Iranian
    religious hierarchy in hopes of being anointed with a higher
    religious title. He aspires, Shaikh Khalid said, not simply
    to become an ayatollah, but to be proclaimed "wilayat
    al-faqih," something Shaikh Khalid doubts will ever happen.

    ¶5. (C) In dealing with Iran, the King said, it will be
    important to stand strong, and negotiate from a position of
    strength. He said that we can expect lots of bluster from
    Iran, but that if pressured it will back down. Nonetheless,
    he was worried that Iran, if it decided to retaliate, would
    hit back at Bahrain. "It can't hit America," he said, "but
    we are nearby and it knows that we are the closest of
    allies." When he met Iranian President Ahmadi-nejad at the
    OIC meeting in Mecca recently, he told him that the region
    had already had three wars and did not need another.
    Ahmadi-nejad smiled, but made no response.
    ¶6. (C) The King noted that many Shia complain that there are
    no Shia in the military leadership of the country. This is a
    question of loyalty, he stated. As long as Khamenei has the
    title of Commander-in-Chief, Bahrain must worry about the
    loyalty of Shia who maintain ties and allegiance to Iran.

    --------------------------------------------- --------
    FRICTIONS WITHIN THE GCC -- IT'S ALL ABOUT THE SAUDIS
    --------------------------------------------- --------

    ¶7. (C) The King noted that Kuwaiti Amir Shaikh Sabah had
    passed through Bahrain the previous day as part of his tour
    of GCC countries to express appreciation for their support as
    he assumed the position of Amir. Also on his agenda was an
    effort to continue the mission assigned to him by the GCC to
    try to improve relations between Saudi Arabia and its smaller
    GCC partners. This was especially important now given the
    difficult regional environment. The King expressed some
    frustration that the Saudis, given the relatively large size
    of their country, continue to let grievances with their GCC
    partners fester. Saudi Arabia, he said, should be the one to
    bring the GCC countries together, not divide them. The
    biggest problem is Saudi relations with Qatar, as Saudi King
    Abdullah remains personally hurt by Al-Jazeera. And Saudi
    Arabia still has territorial issues with the UAE.

    ¶8. (C) On the UAE, the King lamented that his relationship
    with the new UAE ruler is not as close as it had been with
    Shaikh Zayid. He said that Dubai ruler Mohammed bin Rashid
    had not handled the Dubai Ports issue well, especially by
    allowing talk of possibly canceling the Boeing purchase or
    moving 10 percent of its dollar-denominated investments into
    euros. Bahrain has heard "no" from the U.S. from time to
    time in the past, he said, but it has never let it damage the
    relationship. (Comment: Shaikh Zayid was believed to have
    been financially supportive to Bahrain as a country and to
    the Al-Khalifas as a royal family. It is quite likely that
    this support has been reduced or dried up, adding to the
    King's disappointment that the ruler-to-ruler relationship is
    not as close as it was under Shaikh Zayid. According to the
    Saudi Ambassador here, a third reason for Shaikh Sabah's trip
    to the Gulf was to reassure fellow GCC leaders who were not
    pleased by the precedent set by the involvement of Kuwait's
    parliament in Shaikh Sabah's accession to Amir. End
    comment.)

    --------------------------------------------- ------------
    BAHRAINI ELECTIONS: LOOKING FORWARD TO SHIA PARTICIPATION
    --------------------------------------------- ------------

    ¶9. (C) King Hamad welcomed participation by leading Shia
    opposition society Al-Wifaq in this year's parliamentary
    elections, and discussed the fact that there is a clear split
    in Al-Wifaq. There are those moving towards contesting the
    elections under the leadership of Shaikh Ali Salman, and
    those who refuse to participate as exemplified by Hassan
    Mushaima. "We welcome those who want to participate," he
    stated, while some will continue to oppose participation out
    of their own self interest.

    ¶10. (C) The King pointed to the case of London-based
    opposition leader Said Al-Shehabi, who refused to return to
    Bahrain when most of the other opposition leaders in exile
    did after the reforms were announced in 2001. The King said
    that he recently sent a Shia emissary to London to engage
    with Al-Shehabi and encourage him to return and open up a
    business. The King said that he would even offer Al-Shehabi
    a Ministerial position, but he refused. (Comment: There is a
    precedent for that. Dr. Majid Al-Alawi returned after many
    years in exile, and is now Minister of Labor. End comment.)
    The King stated that Al-Shehabi is no doubt quite happy and
    comfortable in London, where he continues his opposition
    activities and is well funded by the Iranians. He has lived
    in his home village of Diraz, the King added, and most surely
    does not find it as attractive as London.

    ¶11. (C) The King expressed some frustration with the
    continuing demonstrations in Bahrain, which though small in
    size make things seem worse than they are in terms of
    stability. These people could be part of the system if they
    wanted, he stated. He noted that Shia activist Abdul Hadi
    Al-Khawaja had been so eager to paint the government in a bad
    light that he had erroneously accused the government of
    forcefully detaining two teenage girls during a demonstration
    on March 11. The allegation brought great embarrassment to
    the family when the missing girls turned up the next day to
    say they had not participated in the demonstration and had in
    fact been at a friend's house.

    ------------------------------------------
    FAMILY LAW -- TIME TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE
    ------------------------------------------

    ¶12. (C) The King discussed the topic that has dominated the
    news in Bahrain in recent days -- the submission to
    parliament of the draft family law aimed at providing legal
    protection to women in Bahrain. The King stated that it was
    high time to deal with this issue. It was needed to provide
    legal protection for women and not have this left to the
    discretion of individual religious scholars who could
    interpret Sharia family law arbitrarily. There must be
    standards and clear guidelines, and that is what the law is
    designed to do.

    ¶13. (C) The Ambassador asked about opposition to the law as
    voiced by some Shia clerics and evidenced by the large
    demonstration against the law last November. The King noted
    that there were really two laws, one for the Sunni (Maliki)
    sect and one for the Shia (Ja'fari) sect. Religious scholars
    from both sects were consulted and contributed to the
    drafting of the law. "If the Shia deputies don't approve,"
    he stated, "we'll move forward with the Sunni version alone."
    He was quite confident that the Sunni version, at least,
    would pass.
    MONROE

`