null
Diana T Fritz  08/27/2006 04:55:41 PM  From  DB/Inbox:  Search Results

Cable 
Text:                                                                      
                                                                           
      
C O N F I D E N T I A L        ABU DHABI 05210

SIPDIS
CXABU:
    ACTION: AMB
    INFO:   ECON DCM RSO P/M POL

DISSEMINATION: AMB
CHARGE: PROG

APPROVED: CDA:MRQUINN
DRAFTED: CDA:MRQUINN
CLEARED: POL:BTHOMSON

VZCZCADI106
RR RUEHC RUEHGB
DE RUEHAD #5210 3611443
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 271443Z DEC 05
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2942
INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0113

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 005210 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI AND NEA/I 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/27/2025 
TAGS: PREL ASEC IZ IR AE
SUBJECT: MEETING WITH NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR OF IRAQ, 
DR. MOWAFFAK AL RUBAIE 
 
Classified By: CDA Martin R. Quinn.  Reason:  1.4 (b and d) 
 
¶1.   (C) Summary: In response to  Dr. Rubaie's 
out-of-the-blue request for a meeting, CDA met with Iraqi 
National Security Adviser Mowaffak Al Rubaie at 6 p.m., 
December 26.  Visiting the UAE to address a conference on the 
Iraqi Constitution, Al Rubaei expressed interest in 
approaching UAEG for financial support for infrastructure 
projects in Iraq and discussed the post-election scene and 
his hopes for Iraq.   End summary. 
 
¶2.  (C) CDA met with Iraqi National Security Adviser Dr. 
Mowaffak Al Rubaie at the embassy at 6 p.m. December 26 in 
response to an unexpected telephone request for same. 
Members of Dr. Al Rubaie's traveling party included Sheikh 
Khaleel Al Shallal Al Jarba (National Security Adviser for 
Iraqi Tribal Affairs), Dr. Samir Al Sadoon, Iraqi Embassy 
Charge Mustafa Kamal Aboud, and US adviser Major Chris 
Lindstrom.  Abu Dhabi RSO Tom Barnard also participated in 
the meeting. 
 
¶3. (C) Dr. Al Rubaie was invited to Abu Dhabi to address a 
December 27-28 conference on the Iraqi Constitution sponsored 
by the quasi-official, UAEG-funded think tank, the Emirates 
Center for Strategic Studies and Research.   With regard to 
the December 15 Iraqi elections, Al Rubaie expressed pride 
and optimism in the fact that 71% of the population had voted 
and that the time had come when Iraq could turn a new page in 
its history through the democratic process.  Al Rubaie said 
he agreed with Ambassador Khalilzad and spoke of the urgent 
need to overcome factionalism in Iraq and to develop an 
inclusive framework and a Unity government.  He noted, 
however, that most Iraqis had voted along ethnic and 
religious lines. 
 
¶4. (C) Al Rubaie inquired about UAE support for Iraq, and CDA 
sketched in broad outline the UAE's Madrid pledge, the 
pattern of disbursements, its disposition on Iraqi debt 
forgiveness, and preference to channel contributions toward 
specific projects rather than awarding outright cash grants. 
Al Rubaie said there was a great need for infrastructure 
improvement in Iraq as well as for educated Iraqi exiles to 
return home and repatriate their nation-building skills. 
 
¶5. (C) With seeming spontaneity Al Rubaie floated an idea of 
approaching the UAE for support of what he said could be 
called "Shaykh Zeyed hospitals" in Iraq, basic medical 
treatment centers, one to be located in each of 15 provinces 
that need such facilities at an approximate cost of $10M each 
-- $150M in all.  CDA indicated that the UAE often favored 
humanitarian projects. 
 
¶6. (C) Discussion centered on the outrages of the Saddam 
Hussein regime, the inevitable hardships and difficulties 
that follow any sudden change of government, as well as 
America's substantial investment of blood and treasure in 
support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Al Rubaie pointedly 
asked whether American embassies had reported Saddam's crimes 
prior to 1990.  CDA assured him that indeed these acts had 
been reported, but that the unprovoked invasion of Kuwait in 
August 1990 marked a turning point, crystallizing US and 
international awareness of how dangerous Saddam's Iraq truly 
was. 
 
¶7. (C) Subsequent discussion focused on expectations for Iraq 
in the future, GCC interest in Iraq's long-term stability and 
UAE's demonstrated willingness to sponsor projects deemed 
worthy.  In conversation about democratic institutions as 
intrinsic guarantees of long-term political and social 
stability, Al Rubaie asked about UAE attitudes towards Iran, 
the significance of the islands dispute, as well as the sense 
of alarm ("legitimate fear") with regard to Iranian nuclear 
facilities expressed at the conclusion of the recent GCC 
summit.  Al Rubaie appeared to be fishing for guidance on how 
to pitch the "Iraq-Iran relationship" of the future to 
influential UAE interlocutors he might encounter. 
 
¶8. (C) Comment:  Al Rubaie remarked that this was his first 
visit to the Emirates in more than 15 years and before he had 
only been to Dubai. He spoke briefly about his neurological 
practice in the UK, his family in London and plans to visit 
them over New Year's. Cordial throughout, but every so often 
indicating an inclination to be critical ("It's harder to get 
into this Embassy than the White House."), Al Rubaie 
concluded the meeting by saying that he was glad to hear that 
other Americans -- in addition to President Bush -- supported 
Iraqis and believed in their future. 
QUINN