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 04 RIYADH 009342 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
LONDON FOR TSOU, PARIS FOR ZEYA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/18/2015 
TAGS: OVIP PINR PREL PTER SA IZ IR
SUBJECT: CODEL HAGEL MEETINGS IN KSA FOCUS ON IRAQ, IRAN 
AND ISRAEL/PA 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Michael Gfoeller for 
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (C) On November 30 and December 1, Senator Chuck Hagel 
(R-NE) led a delegation including Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) 
and Representative Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) to the first 
Senate-level visit to Saudi Arabia in over two years.  The 
delegation received a warm welcome in meetings with King 
Abdullah bin Abd al-Aziz, Crown Prince Sultan bin Abd al-Aziz 
and Foreign Miniser Saud al-Faisal.  In addition, the 
delegation also met during their stay with the Assistant 
Minister of Petroleum, Abdulaziz bin Salman, addressed an 
American Business Group breakfast, and convened a press 
roundtable.  The three main official meetings focused largely 
on developments in Iraq, Iran's regional role, and 
Israel/Palestinian issues.  The CODEL explained their 
seven-country visit through the Middle East was intended to 
guage local perceptions of developments.  The Saudi 
leadership, while troubled by continuing violence in Iraq, 
emphasized the U.S. responsibility to bring stability to and 
counter Iranian influence in Iraq, and pledged to do what 
what they could to help.  The Saudis also showed surprising 
receptivity to a revived Roadmap process in light of PM 
Sharon's recent defection from Likud and declaration to 
pursue a peaceful way forward.  The Saudi Majles al-Shura 
Secretary General, Sheikh Saleh, joined the group for their 
 
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official meetings, and the Majles encouraged the delegation 
to sustain contacts between the respective legislative 
bodies.  End summary. 
 
=========================================== 
Iraq: Still in Turmoil but Optimism Growing 
=========================================== 
 
¶2. (C) The King expressed his dismay over continuing loss of 
life - both Iraqi and American - in Iraq; a feeling echoed by 
the Crown Prince and Foreign Minister.  All leaders, however, 
urged the U.S. not to withdraw forces or lose focus until 
Iraq was stabilized.  The King, in typically grand 
terminology, emphasized that settlement in Iraq would be 
impossible without justice prevailing first.  The Crown 
Prince was more specific.  He explained that Iraq was 
different from other Arab countries in that it was divided 
between Shi'a, Sunni, and Kurds.  This, perhaps, made 
achieving unity more complicated, but he urged the 
legislators to use American power to help make Iraqis feel 
united.  In response to Senator Hagel's view that a key to 
stabilizing Iraq after the December 15 elections was ensuring 
positive engagement by regional countries, the Crown Prince 
said that the KSA was against intervention in the internal 
affairs of others, but that this does not mean that Saudi 
Arabia would not assist financially and morally.  What Iraq 
needs, he continued, was assurances to the Iraqi people that 
they would be ruling themselves. 
 
¶3. (C) The Foreign Minster provided the most detailed 
analysis on Iraq.  He began by updating the delegation on the 
Cairo Iraq Reconciliation Conference of November 18-20.  FM 
Al-Faisal noted that all of Iraq's factions - and a broad 
array were present in Cairo -  were now more aware of the 
potential for Iraq's dismemberment without active engagement 
to cease sectarian conflict.  If only the Shia and Sunni in 
Iraq could resolve their differences, a majority of Iraq 
would be committed to unity.  With these two Arab elements of 
the Iraqi population in place, it would be possible to form 
an army, erect a government, and allow the U.S. to finish its 
mission in Iraq.  FM Al-Faisal was now more hopeful - after 
all parties had gathered "under one roof and at one table" 
and talked - of a stable political process moving forward. 
While he was now confident that the Sunnis would participate 
fully, he emphasized again that the SAG wants to maintain an 
"equal distance" from all parties, as any perception that the 
Saudis were advocating the Sunni position would destroy the 
entire enterprise. 
 
¶4. (C) In response to Senator Hagel's question on the 
importance of the final resolution from the Cairo meeting 
advocating the withdrawal of U.S. forces, FM al-Faisal 
replied that he did not view the reference to American 
withdrawal as negative as the U.S. itself wanted to withdraw 
under the right conditions.  In his personal opinion, 
however, he noted that the U.S. should consider increasing 
troop levels in the short term to ensure the political 
process concludes successfully.  This, he concluded, would 
make the overall period U.S. troops were needed in Iraq 
shorter.  In response to Senator Carper's question on the 
progress of Iraqi security forces and prospects for their 
self-sufficiency, al-Faisal replied that a political 
settlement must precede the formation of an effective Iraqi 
army.  If the Iraqi military was divided along sectarian 
lines, and the people did not trust the army to forego acts 
of reprisal for past wrongs, the army would lack the will and 
capacity to keep the peace and defend the nation.  FM 
al-Faisal was optimistic on the prospect of creating a 
capable Iraqi army built upon settlement of sectarian issues. 
 Of all the Arab states, Iraq had the best army, with a good 
officer corps, and he noted that such an able force could be 
created again.  Without a political settlement first, 
however, he saw the security situation - and the process of 
creating an effective, legitimate army - remaining 
"stalemated."  On perhaps his most optimistic note, he 
suggested that, once the army is established, the problem of 
terrorism in Iraq will "wither away." 
 
¶5. (C) The Foreign Minister closed by reemphasizing the need 
for a political settlement as a condition precedent to 
further progress and avoiding Iraq's "dismemberment".  The 
intent of the Constitutional scholars of Iraq's Constitution 
- like those of the U.S. Constitution - was to avoid a return 
to tyranny.  What the political settlement must do is to 
counter the risk of disintegration inherent in the enhanced 
freedoms contained in the Constitution.  The King also noted 
the importance of America taking an informed approach to the 
complexities of Iraqi society and politics.  He cautioned the 
delegation that America should "deploy its power and wealth 
wisely", and while he recognized that American interests in 
Iraq are noble, he added that one way to avoid problems is to 
understand well the circumstances involved and combine such 
nuanced understanding with a commitment to justice. 
 
=================================== 
Iran: Reconciliation Initiative 
Amidst Continued Concerns Over Iraq 
=================================== 
 
¶6. (C) In response to the delegation's request for Saudi 
views on Iran, the King shared that he had met on November 26 
with Ali Velayati, International Affairs Advisor to the 
Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei.  (Note: Velayati served 
as Foreign Minister from 1981-1997 and ran for President in 
2005.)  The King noted that Velayati's visit as an emmisary 
of the Supreme Leader represented the first such visit ever 
to the Kingdom.  The King added that he had discussed a broad 
range of issues, and that Velayati had told him that Iran 
wanted to broaden and deepen its relations with Saudi Arabia. 
 The King recalled that KSA-Iran ties had flourished under 
former Iranian presidents Rafsanjani (1989-1997) and Khatami 
(1997-2005), and that he hoped the new President of Iran, 
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, would be more sensible than early 
indications might suggest.  The King recounted that Velayati 
had proposed the formation of a joint bilateral committee to 
address all aspects of Saudi-Iranian relations.  The King 
accepted this proposal, and appointed FM Saud al-Faisal to 
work with Velayati as co-Chairs of this joint committee.  The 
King concluded by noting that Velayati was unwilling to 
discuss Iran's current relations with Iraq in any detail 
during their meeting. 
 
¶7. (C) The Crown Prince also adopted a slightly less 
adversarial tone regarding Iran compared with recent 
meetings.  While emphasizing continued SAG concerns of 
Iranian infiltration into Iraq, and calling on the U.S. to 
prevent this, the Crown Prince added that Iran was "our 
friend".  That said, the Crown Prince added that, even as a 
friend, Iran must "remember its place".  The Foreign Minister 
further detailed the evolving Saudi view of Iran's regional 
role.  In response to a question from Senator Hagel regarding 
Iran's potential involvement in post Iraqi election regional 
security arrangement, al-Faisal also began by emphasizing 
that current Iranian policies in Iraq were a source of 
bilateral friction.  The FM said the SAG had incontrovertible 
evidence of negative Iranian involvement in Iraq and 
recounted that he had shared this view with GOI emmisary 
Velayati during his visit, and that the King had been frank 
in telling Velayati that the SAG was disturbed by Iran's 
current actions in Iraq.  Surprisingly, al-Faisal recalled, 
Velayati welcomed the SAG's views, noting that "he wanted to 
hear from us".  Regardless of possibly improved bilateral 
communications, al-Faisal reaffirmed that the SAG was aware 
that Iran was sending money, people and officials into 
Southern Iraq and that Southern Iraqi official activities 
were now conducted in both Arabic and Persian.  Al-Faisal 
concluded his response by saying he hoped that a sense of 
community among Iraqis could avoid a confrontation over these 
developments. 
 
¶8. (C) Later on in the discussion, al-Faisal returned to the 
issue of Iran in response to a delegation question on 
possible ways forward on Iraq.  Al-Faisal suggested that the 
U.S. and regional parties must "keep Iran engaged" because 
"disregarding the Iranians will not make them go away". 
Al-Faisal added that he was not advising accommodation, 
rather he advocated a policy of facing the Iranians with the 
truth.  For example, he continued, the Iranian activities in 
Iraq and their development of WMD were both destabilizing to 
the region.  He suggested the U.S. and Saudi Arabia work 
together to convince Iran to accept the establishment of 
WMD-free zone in the Middle East. 
 
¶9. (C) Prince Al-Faisal noted that Iran was a very old and 
highly civilized country with a very proud people, but 
lamented that "too much pride sometimes leads to flawed 
policy, and this has happened with Iran."  While he described 
Iran as, unfortunately, an "enigma" and a "country of 
extremes" whose future actions were difficult to predict, he 
suggested maintaining pressure on the Iranian government to 
adopt a more peaceful posture.  He recounted that the new 
Iranian President, Ahmadinejad, had begun his term with a 
very negative approach on foreign policy, but that the 
Supreme Leader had maneuvered to keep him "out of power" and 
that Khamanei was "tired of Ahmadinejad's fanaticism." 
Al-Faisal concluded by suggesting hopefully that such a 
marginalized figure, who has after three months in office 
still been unable to form a cabinet, may not have an 
opportunity to implement his declared aggressive policies. 
(Comment: Nonetheless, President Ahmadinejad traveled to 
Mecca on December 7-8 as the Iranian representative to the 
Extraordinary Islamic Summit of the Organization of the 
Islamic Conference.  Ahmadinejad again repeated the strident 
and aggressive tones of his UNGA address at the OIC, when he 
took additional swipes at Israel and called the Holocaust a 
"myth".  This may lead Khamenei to take additional actions to 
reduce his firebrand President's negative impact.  End 
comment.) 
 
============================================= ===== 
Sharon as Peacemaker: Saudis Surpisingly Pragmatic 
============================================= ===== 
 
¶10. (C) The delegation visited Israel earlier in their trip, 
and shared their views with the King on developments there. 
Senator Carper asked the King's reaction to PM Sharon's 
decision to leave the Likud party to form a new centrist 
party, which would include Shimon Peres, and was purportedly 
dedicated to advancing the Roadmap.  The King asked if 
Sharon's change of approach may find parallels with a changed 
American approach to Israel-PA peace, to which Senator Carper 
replied that the U.S. sees PA Prime Minister Abbas as a 
partner in peace and emphasized that he needed support. 
Senator Carper also thanked the King for Saudi Arabia's 
financial support to the Palestinian Authority.  The King 
replied that he looked forward to America's growing 
engagement with the PA. 
 
¶11. (C) The Crown Prince outlined the SAG views on 
Israel-Palestine in detail.  He began by recounting Saudi 
efforts at the Arab League summit in 2003, which enjoyed 
broad support in the Arab League and internationally, to 
advance a peace proposal that had foundered under Israeli 
objections.  He also regretted Israeli opposition to another 
Saudi peace proposal from 2000 which called for a UN or 
American force to be stationed in the Occupied Territories to 
support progress on peace negotiations.  If Israel had not 
rejected these two proposals, Prince Sultan added, the region 
could have avoided the difficulties of the recent past.  The 
Crown Prince continued that the SAG feared that Israel would 
adopt similar obstructionism to delay implementation of the 
Roadmap.  Speaking frankly, he confided that he did not feel 
the Israelis or the Palestinians were comfortable living 
under current conditions. 
 
¶12. (C) Senator Carper agreed, noting that Sharon had left 
Likud exactly because he felt it could never be part of a 
lasting solution for peace.  Carper added that twenty years 
ago, those advocating a two-state solution were considered 
extremists, and that now PM Sharon was adopting this 
approach.  The Crown Prince replied that, without doubt, 
Ariel Sharon was a clever and courageous man.  It was these 
two characteristics that led him to tour the al-Qods mosque 
which began the current intifada.  Now Sharon was able to 
correct this mistake and move in a direction which serves 
Israel and the Israeli people. 
 
¶13. (C) The Foreign Minister also accepted the Sharon 
decision as a positive development, but noted that it was 
important that the Palestinian people's financial situation 
improve dramatically for peace to have a chance.  Senator 
Carper replied that the U.S. was providing increasing amounts 
of aid to the PA and enhancing contacts with the Palestinian 
business community.  Al-Faisal replied that Israel must 
forthrightly face the conditions that the Palestinians now 
endured, which the FM described as living at "sub-subsistence 
levels", dependency, and economic isolation.  This, concluded 
Al-Faisal, for the best educated population in the Arab 
world.  Carper replied that the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza 
and subsequent opening of the Refah crossing were positive 
steps in this direction.  The FM agreed, and commended the 
Secretary of State for her laudable achievement in helping to 
 
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broker this breakthrough.  The FM concluded this discussion 
by noting that Saudi Arabia would support the PA, and that 
"if Sharon comes to us with a peaceful plan, we'll support 
him". 
 
¶14. (C) Comment: All Saudi interlocutors called for greater 
engagement between the SAG and the U.S. Congress, and 
welcomed more such visits in the future.  Post strongly 
endorses this view.  Not only will such engagement help in 
formulating and executing informed bilateral and regional USG 
policies, it will assist in mobilizing the Saudi leadership 
and the Saudi Majles al-Shura to adopt a more substantive 
role for the Majles in deliberations of national policy. 
While the Majles lacks the institutional weight of other 
centers of power, particularly because it lacks the presence 
of Saudi royalty among its membership, it is the body best 
positioned - with adequate support from senior Saudi 
leadership - to integrate institutionally regional 
democratization movements into Saudi society.  End comment. 
 
¶15. (U) Codel Hagel departed post immediately after meetings 
and was unable to clear this message. 
GFOELLER