VZCZCXRO7864
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK
DE RUEHKU #0445/01 0871351
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 281351Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8623
INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000445 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
NOFORN 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2022 
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR MCAP IR KU KUWAIT IRAN RELATIONS
SUBJECT: KUWAIT ADOPTS MORE VIGOROUS, PUBLIC DEFENSE 
POSTURE; FEW IMPRESSED 
 
REF: A. KUWAIT 431 
     ¶B. KUWAIT 419 
     ¶C. KUWAIT 358 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1.  (S/NF) Summary and comment: Kuwait has adopted a more 
vigorous and public defense posture in the past several 
months, an indication of the Kuwaiti leadership's rising 
concern about tensions in the Gulf and desire to project to 
the Kuwaiti public an image of engagement and preparedness. 
Kuwait held its first military parade in more than 25 years, 
approved the deployment of two new U.S. Patriot missile 
batteries at the main U.S. military base in Kuwait, and 
hosted an interagency team to assess its critical energy 
infrastructure security.  In addition, Kuwaiti officials have 
used unusually strong rhetoric and emphasized that "Kuwaiti 
forces are more than ready to defend the state."  This more 
robust posture comes as Amir Shaykh Sabah meets his Arab 
counterparts at the Arab summit in Riyadh to discuss, among 
other issues, a Saudi paper on "enhancing Arab national 
security and fighting international terrorism."  Despite 
these efforts, most Kuwaitis remain skeptical about their 
country's defensive readiness and some of the actions, i.e. 
the parade may have been for domestic consumption during a 
period of turbulent domestic politics. 
 
¶2.  (S/NF) Comment: There is little doubt in Kuwait that Gulf 
security is a function of the U.S. presence and commitment. 
The skepticism about Kuwaiti military prowess is justified, 
but it is nonetheless useful that Kuwait remind its people 
and Iran of the need to be prepared to confront threats.  End 
summary and comment. 
 
Strong Rhetoric... 
------------------ 
 
¶3.  (S/NF) On March 7, Kuwait hosted its first military 
parade since 1981.  According to Deputy National Guard Chief 
Shaykh Mishal Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, the Amir personally 
requested the parade to "show the people of Kuwait that we 
are ready to defend ourselves" (ref C).  The parade featured 
three of Kuwait's recently-acquired Apache helicopters, which 
Kuwait's Air Force Commander Yousef Al-Otaibi said "display 
the desire of Kuwait's political and military leadership to 
provide all the means necessary to protect the nation." 
Kuwait's Chief of Staff Fahd Al-Amir told press after the 
parade that "Kuwaiti forces are more than ready to defend the 
state against any foreign threat to its stability." 
 
¶4.  (S/NF) Brigadier General Ahmed Rahmani, Kuwait's Director 
of Military Operations, delivered a speech at the Gulf 
Cooperation Council (GCC) Conference on Domestic and Foreign 
Challenges in Bahrain on March 5 in which he called on GCC 
countries to "endorse a joint national defense strategy aimed 
at facing up to foreign threats."  Speaking on behalf of 
Kuwait's Chief of Staff, Rahmani said the GCC should work to 
"complete the restoration of GCC military capability and 
consolidate the strength of the Peninsula Shield through 
agreeing on a joint military strategy aimed at facing up to 
any challenges between Iran and its Arab neighbors and 
between Iran and the international community," Kuwait News 
Agency (KUNA) reported March 6.  In a joint press conference 
with visiting French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy 
on March 10, Foreign Minister Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah 
used slightly stronger language on Iran than usual, saying, 
"We see before us a country that now falls under Chapter 
Seven, and this is a cause for concern because Iran is 
defying international resolutions." 
 
And Some New Security Measures... 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (S/NF) Backing up this rhetoric, Kuwait approved the 
deployment of two new U.S. Patriot missile batteries at Camp 
Arifjan, the largest U.S. military base in Kuwait.  The 
systems became operational on February 28.  In November 2006, 
Kuwait repositioned its own Patriots missile batteries to 
face Iran rather than Iraq, a move it had long resisted for 
fear of provoking Iran.  According to regional press reports, 
on March 21 Kuwait tested an "Egyptian-origin air defense 
system named Al-Amoun...based on the European-origin Sky 
Guard surface-to-air system."  While the Al-Amoun system is 
not new, the test is the first since 2003 and was covered by 
local media.  Kuwait also recently hosted an interagency 
Critical Energy Infrastructure Protection (CEIP) team to 
assess security vulnerabilities at its oil facilities (refs A 
and B). 
 
 
KUWAIT 00000445  002 OF 002 
 
 
But Kuwaitis Remain Skeptical 
----------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (S/NF) Despite these new security measures, many Kuwaitis 
remain skeptical about their military's ability to defend 
them in the event of an attack.  Mahmoud Rizougi, a former 
senior military official responsible for training programs, 
told PolOff that Kuwait was woefully unprepared for any 
serious military confrontation.  According to him, "Kuwait 
couldn't survive more than a few hours."  Shaykh Mishal and 
many other Kuwaitis were similarly unimpressed with Kuwait's 
military preparedness (ref C).  One text message circulated 
widely after the parade mockingly reported that Iran had 
stopped uranium enrichment after viewing this demonstration 
of Kuwait's military prowess.  Dr. Shamlan Al-Issa, the 
Director of the Center for Strategic and Future Studies, said 
the parade demonstrated "wishful thinking,...a self-deceiving 
delusion that Kuwait is strong and can defend itself."  Dr. 
Sami Al-Faraj, the Director of the Kuwait Center for 
Strategic Studies, told PolOff the parade was just an 
occasion for Shaykh Sabah to show off Kuwait's new Apache 
helicopters, and perhaps demonstrate a stronger Kuwaiti 
resolve on regional issues.  He said four "senior military 
officers" he talked to all criticized the parade for 
distracting the military from more important issues.  One 
officer noted that Iran would not be deterred from attacking 
Kuwait simply because it had a military parade. 
 
********************************************* * 
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s 
 
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
********************************************* * 
LeBaron