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 000443 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR C, NEA, NEA/ARP, NEA/IR, NEA/I 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2016 
TAGS: PREL PARM PTER MARR EFIN KISL KNNP BA IR IZ BILAT OFFICIALS REGION
SUBJECT: COUNSELOR ZELIKOW DISCUSSES IRAN AND IRAQ WITH 
SHURA COUNCIL MEMBERS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
¶1.  (C) Summary:  State Department Counselor Zelikow met 
March 12 with Shura Council members Dr. Khalid Bin Khalifa Al 
Khalifa and Ibrahim Mohamed Bashmi, both of whom are on the 
Foreign Affairs, Defense, and National Security Committee, to 
discuss Iraq, Iran and domestic issues in Bahrain.  Dr. 
Khalid said that the U.S. needs to make more of an effort to 
involve Iraqi tribes along the border with Iran in the 
political process and in border security.  The new Iraqi army 
and police need to be seen as diverse and representative of 
all Iraqis.  He does not think southern Shia naturally look 
to Iran as the leader of global Shiism, but Iraqi and Iranian 
clerics may both vie for the loyalty of Iraqi Shia.  End 
Summary. 
 
¶2.  (C) In a March 12 meeting with Shura Council members Dr. 
Khalid Bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, head of the Foreign Affairs, 
Defense, and National Security Committee, and Ibrahim Mohamed 
Bashmi, a member of the same committee, Counselor Zelikow 
inquired about the security situation in the region.  Centcom 
J5 Director Rear Admiral Moeller and the Ambassador 
accompanied the Counselor.  Dr. Khalid outlined Iraq, Iran, 
and Bahrain's domestic security situation as the top three 
security concerns for Bahrain.  Bashmi added that the 
Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the root security problem 
that contributes to all other regional issues, saying that if 
this problem were resolved, the whole relationship between 
the U.S. and the Arab world would change and help resolve 
other issues. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
Iraq's challenges from a historian's perspective... 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶3.  (C) Dr. Khalid, a former professor of history, stated 
that Bahrain's primary concern about Iraq is that events 
there are reflected in Bahrain due to the Bahraini Shia 
population's close observation of Iraq's transformation.  He 
said that in 2003 Bahrain was not disappointed about Saddam 
Hussein's removal from power, but since then the U.S. has 
made mistakes that have contributed to Iraq's instability. 
The U.S. has not sufficiently understood the role of the 
tribes in Iraq, especially those along the border with Iran. 
In the past these tribes received financial support from 
Saddam to control security along the border.  They now 
realize that the support to which they were accustomed is 
gone, and their loyalties may have shifted.  He suggested the 
U.S. make an effort to bring the tribes into the political 
process. 
 
¶4.  (C) Dr. Khalid said a second major mistake was the 
dissolution of the Iraqi army, and that presently not enough 
is being done to build the new army.  The perception among 
the Sunni is that the army and police will now be 
predominantly Shia.  There need to be efforts to make it 
clear to all that the army has a diverse composition 
including people from all sects and areas.  Many Sunnis view 
U.S. even-handedness in the political system as harming them 
and interpret the U.S. role as biased in favor of the Shia. 
 
¶5.  (C) Dr. Khalid went on to say that none of Iraq's 
neighbors want Iraq to be strong and united.  Previously 
Turkey thought Iraqi Kurds were a threat to Turkey's domestic 
security, but now there is the possibility that the Kurds 
will look to Turkey as a guardian.  Many think the Shia in 
the south are looking to Iran as the leader of the world's 
Shia.  However, Iraqi Shia consider Karbala and Najaf to be 
the center of Shiism, not Qom in Iran.  Dr. Khalid sees a 
potential religious battle between Iraqi and Iranian clerics 
for the loyalty of the Shia.  The current advantage is in 
Iran's favor since it controls local militias and political 
leaders in the south. 
 
------------------------------------- 
... And from the view of a journalist 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (C) Bashmi, also the managing editor of a new Arabic 
daily, Al Waqt, said that the U.S. opened a Pandora's box by 
invading Iraq, and that the sectarian problems in Iraq remind 
him of Europe in the Middle Ages.  The Iraqi central 
government is not able to exert control over all areas of the 
country.  He said that Iran has been paying militias in the 
south for the past 20 years and characterized Iran's 
influence in Iraq as a bargaining chip it is using in dealing 
with the U.S.  Bashmi questioned whether Iraq will be able to 
stay united, and expressed concern that the Kurds may make 
moves toward independence.  He also suggested that the Iraqi 
central government could benefit from the Bahraini 
parliamentary model that includes an appointed Shura 
(advisory) Council to serve as a balance to and brake on the 
elected Council of Representatives. 
 
----------------------- 
Iran's role in the Gulf 
----------------------- 
 
¶7.  (C) Bashmi presented a contrast in Iranian relations with 
individual GCC countries, saying that with Bahrain and Saudi 
Arabia those relations are strained, but with Oman and the 
United Arab Emirates relations are satisfactory.  The GCC has 
not presented a unified policy on Iran.  He questioned the 
West's resistance to Iran having nuclear weapons, pointing to 
India and Israel as both having nuclear weapons.  Dr. Khalid 
responded that the issue is one of balance of power.  Israel 
was justified 30 years ago in having nuclear weapons because 
they were under an existential threat from their Arab 
neighbors.  India has always been balanced by Pakistan.  If 
Iran develops nuclear weapons, there will be a need for a 
Sunni country, like Saudi Arabia, to develop nuclear weapons. 
 
¶8.  (C) Dr. Khalid explained that Iran has always seen itself 
as a superpower wanting to control the whole Gulf area, even 
though it did not always have a functioning navy.  He said 
that at one time, Iran bought ships from India but did not 
use them, and in the end they were stolen by Arabs living up 
the coastline from Bandar Abbas.  Notwithstanding its wealth 
of natural resources, Iran is not strong economically, its 
infrastructure is under-developed, and the living standard of 
the people is low.  Bashmi offered that in order for there to 
be a unified front against Iran, the Israeli-Palestinian 
conflict needs to be resolved.  Terrorist groups feed from 
this conflict and distract regional governments from focusing 
on Iran. 
 
---------------- 
Politics at home 
---------------- 
 
¶9.  (C) Bashmi explained that most Bahrainis want continued 
democratic progress, but that each person has a different 
concept of democracy.  "We want people to view themselves as 
citizens of Bahrain, not as Shia and Sunni."  He estimated 
that it may take eight more years to educate the public about 
what democracy is.  Bashmi said that most political societies 
are leaning toward participating in the 2006 elections. 
However, there is a minority that wants to disrupt the 
process and maintain a level of instability.  These people 
damage property, get arrested, and then claim they are 
political prisoners.  (Note: This is a reference to the Haq 
Movement, which is behind many of the violent demonstrations 
in Bahrain over the past several months.  End note.)  Bahrain 
does not want its neighbors to shy away from democratic 
change because of demonstrations they see occurring in 
Bahrain. 
 
¶10.  (U) Counselor Zelikow cleared this cable. 
 
MONROE