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 02 MANAMA 000022 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2015 
TAGS: ASEC BA MARR PREL BILAT CTR OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: INTERIOR MINISTER DISCUSSES SECURITY ISSUES WITH 
NAVCENT COMMANDER 
 
REF: IIR 5 399 0002 06 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Susan L. Ziadeh. Reasons 1.4 (b) and ( 
d). 
 
¶1. (C)   Begin Summary:  Minister of Interior Shaikh Rashid 
praised the strong historic relationship between the 
governments of Bahrain and the United States during his 
December 20 meeting with NAVCENT Commander Vice Admiral 
Walsh.  Senior MOI officials provided a comprehensive brief 
discussing the structure and responsibilities of the Ministry 
in the context of Bahrain's overall security environment. 
Progress on the establishment of the Joint Counter-Terrorism 
Center (JCTC) was reviewed and the Admiral expressed his 
support and commitment to assist in the Center's development. 
 The Ministry brief highlighted improvements in the training 
levels and overall effectiveness of Bahraini staff in the use 
of newly installed scanning devices, while officials 
expressed confidence that the system, undergoing continued 
improvements, was fully operational.  End summary. 
 
¶2. (C)   Vice Admiral Patrick Walsh, the Commander of U.S. 
Naval Forces Central Command and the U.S. Fifth Fleet, 
accompanied by the Charge, paid an introductory call on 
Minister of Interior Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa to 
discuss bilateral relations and security related issues. 
Also present during this meeting were Undersecretary Shaikh 
Daij bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa, Public Security Chief Abdullatif 
Rashid Al-Zayani, and Assistant Chief of Police for 
Operations and Training, Col. Tariq Bin Dana. 
 
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POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP 
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¶3. (C)   The Minister began the meeting by stressing the 
positive relationship and the excellent cooperation shown 
between the U.S. and Bahraini governments and the important 
role of the U.S. Navy in this potentially volatile region. 
He assured the Admiral of his continued support and expressed 
the hope and desire that military families would soon return 
to Bahrain.  The Admiral offered his thanks to the Minister 
and expressed praise for the levels of support and 
transparent cooperation between the two nations.  He added he 
was hopeful military dependents would return soon and was 
developing a better understanding of the overall threat 
environment in Bahrain as well as the concrete steps that 
have been taken by both the U.S. and Bahrain officials since 
the departure of dependents to improve security in the 
country. 
 
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STRUCTURE OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR 
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¶4. (C)   General Al-Zayani, Chief of Public Security, then 
provided an in-depth briefing on the structure of the 
Ministry of Interior (MOI) and his role as the Chief of 
Public Security, which incorporates police units, including 
air wing, special forces, and Coast Guard elements.  The 
General discussed the various external and internal factors 
affecting the changing role of the MOI and reviewed the 
regional governorates and their individual responsibilities. 
He also reviewed continuing programs to modernize the entire 
force, suggesting Bahrain's fledging democracy has created 
the need for change and the development of sensitive policing 
agendas that address the issues of terrorism, civil disorder 
and natural disasters.  One such program includes the recent 
development of a community policing program.  To date. the 
program has graduated 190 new officers, with 80 currently 
undergoing training.  The Ministry hopes to have in excess of 
500 officers in 2006 and suggested the initial public 
reaction has been positive.  The General also reviewed 
ongoing training efforts and discussed the Anti-Terrorism 
Assistance (ATA) program in Bahrain.  A copy of the entire 
presentation was provided to the Admiral following the 
meeting. 
 
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JOINT COUNTER TERRORISM CENTER 
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¶5. (C)   During the briefing, the Charge asked about the 
status of the planned JCTC, sometimes referred to as the 
Counter Terrorism Operation Center (CTOC).  General Al-Zayani 
stated the MOI had identified a facility which was currently 
undergoing renovations to house the Center.  He added 
equipment needs had been identified and orders processed, and 
all staffing positions had been established and filled.  He 
added it was hoped the Center would be operational as early 
as February 2006 and was hoping for the establishment of a 
liaison officer from the U.S. Embassy at that time.  Minister 
Rashid went on to explain ongoing efforts to establish the 
JCTC and the various needs associated with its development. 
This included Bahrain efforts to upgrade the country's 
communications network to ensure proper connectivity with the 
JCTC.  The MOI has conducted comprehensive surveys to review 
software and computer needs for automated databases and has 
approached British officials on establishing a presence in 
the JCTC and to provide a regional database on explosive 
incidents and materials. 
 
¶6. (C)   The Admiral expressed his strong support for the 
Center and offered his assistance, and that of NCIS, in 
providing valuable start-up assistance.  The Minister 
reiterated the strong relationship already established 
between U.S. Naval (NCIS) officials and the MOI and welcomed 
the offer.  General Al-Zayani offered several examples of the 
close levels of cooperation to include recent joint drug and 
credit card fraud cases, and the assignment of host 
government liaison officers for all U.S./coalition ship 
visits.  The Minister then expressed his openness to the 
presence of NCIS staff in any Joint Counter Terrorism Center 
established in Bahrain. 
 
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CAUSEWAY CONCERNS 
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¶7. (C)   The Charge then asked about the status and 
effectiveness of the vehicle scanning equipment that was 
installed last year along the Causeway. (Note:  Previous 
reporting suggested that there were difficulties operating 
the equipment bringing into question its effectiveness.  As 
reported in reftel, the February 2005 installation of a 
vehicle scanning system was to ensure the safety of all cargo 
shipments transiting through Bahrain and to increase the 
efficiency of the security verification process at the 
Causeway.  The Causeway is Bahrain's only land link with the 
Arabian Peninsula and serves as a major point of entry and 
thoroughfare for upwards of 400 trucks entering Bahrain 
daily.  Initial start-up problems led to the suggestion the 
wrong equipment was installed or the equipment was somehow 
defective.  End note.) 
 
¶8. (C)   Minister Rashid explained that he believed the 
initial difficulties were simply caused by the lack of 
training and experience of the operating staff assigned to 
the unit.  General Al-Zayani went on to suggest training 
levels have increased significantly and the developing 
expertise of the staff has greatly enhanced the equipment's 
operational effectiveness.  He added that contract officials 
from Britain recently visited the Causeway and will be 
providing additional recommendations to the GOB to improve 
screening procedures along the Causeway.  The Minister's 
views were similar to those recently expressed to Embassy 
officials by the British DCM in Bahrain who is familiar with 
the scanning system. 
 
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NEXT STEPS 
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¶9. (C)   General Al-Zayani wrapped-up the briefing with an 
explanation of ongoing efforts to improve security services 
and provided recommendations for future growth.  Procedural 
guidelines for the security services are continuously being 
updated, there have been recent reviews conducted to improve 
security at the airport and causeway, training programs have 
been expanded upon and the level of interaction between the 
U.S. government and Bahrain in the area of training and 
intelligence sharing has increased steadily.  The General 
added Bahrain has established a National Emergency Control 
Center and purchased secure digital communications networks 
to improve security operations.  Moves to install Closed 
Circuit Television (CCTV) monitoring systems and improving 
Bahrain's coastal radar network to track vessels is also a 
priority for the MOI. 
 
¶10. (C)   Shaikh Rashid closed the meeting by reiterating 
that Bahrain's Coast Guard needed more training as well as 
additional patrol boats.  General Al-Zayani added that 
efforts are underway to improve the capabilities of the Coast 
Guard with the purchase of additional patrol boats (up to 11 
at an estimated cost of 20 million) similar to those recently 
purchased by neighboring Gulf States. 
ZIADEH