VZCZCXRO1517
RR RUEHBC RUEHIHL RUEHKUK RUEHMOS
DE RUEHDE #2297/01 1130856
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 230856Z APR 06
FM AMCONSUL DUBAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9992
INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 0009
RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI 1439
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 2938

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBAI 002297 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  4/22/2016 
TAGS: ECON PREL PGOV IR IZ AE
SUBJECT: CODEL SHAYS MEETS MINISTER OF ECONOMY, DISCUSSES 
RADICALIZATION, INVESTMENT 
 
DUBAI 00002297  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Jason L. Davis, Consul General, Dubai, UAE. 
REASON: 1.4 (d), (e) 
 
 
 
1.(C) SUMMARY:  On April 19, U.S. Representative Christopher 
Shays (R-CT) visited Dubai to learn more about moderate Arab 
states, and to discuss regional radicalization, Iraq, and port 
security.  Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of Economy, told 
Shays the UAE is the model moderate Arab state, and conveyed the 
importance of the Doncasters Group deal to UAE investors. 
Sultan bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman of the Ports, Customs and 
Free Zone Corporation outlined how the UAE prevents radicalism 
from taking root and advised that Iraq and Iran be handled very 
differently.  The CODEL visited DHS's Container Security 
Initiative operation at Port Rashid and were given a 
demonstration of its capabilities.  On the margins of the CODEL 
meetings, Dubai Customs agreed to participate in the Tactical 
Cash Courier Operation plan in May 2006, targeting couriers who 
knowingly evade UAE currency reporting requirements. END SUMMARY. 
 
2.(U) On April 19, U.S. Representative Christopher Shays (R-CT) 
visited Dubai to learn more about moderate Arab states, discuss 
regional radicalization, Iraq, and port security.  He was 
accompanied by two congressional staff members, Dr. Nicholas 
Palarino, Senior Policy Analyst, Subcommittee on National 
Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations, Michael 
McCarthy, Minority Counsel, Committee on Government Reform. 
Ambassador, Consul General, DHS Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement Attache, and PolEconoff (notetaker) joined his 
meetings with UAE officials. 
 
UAE "Model" Moderate Arab States 
-------------------------------- 
 
3.(C) Over lunch, Representative Shays asked Sheikha Lubna Al 
Qasimi, Minister of Economy, what a moderate Arab state looks 
like.  Sheikha Lubna replied "The UAE." When the Congressman 
expressed concern about numerous high-profile issues -- ranging 
from the November 2005 hotel bombing in Jordan and violence 
resulting from the Prophet Mohammad cartoons, to the recent case 
of the Christian convert prosecuted in Afghanistan -- Sheikha 
Lubna responded that these places are not the UAE and these 
types of activities do not take place here.  Sheikha Lubna said 
she and the UAE government were appalled by these kinds of 
events and work to prevent them in the UAE. 
 
4.(C) In a separate meeting, Sultan bin Sulayem (SBS), Executive 
Chairman of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation -- the 
holding entity of Dubai Ports World  -- also stressed that the 
UAE had remained above the cartoon fray.  SBS, who has close 
contact with Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid -- UAE Vice President 
and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai -- as well as other 
cabinet officials, said the governments in certain countries had 
been behind the large protests and violence. "All you saw were 
illiterate people motivated by politicians," he observed. In the 
UAE, however, there were no riots, and the country maintained 
its moderate stance, because government officials promote 
dialogue with residents and "convince them using logic rather 
than religion."  SBS said security in the UAE is achieved by 
keeping a close eye on troublemakers and those who would pollute 
the minds of the people.  He stated that the UAE does not allow 
religion to be used as a method to radicalize or control the 
populace. 
 
Iraq and Iran 
-------------- 
 
5.(C) SBS told the CODEL the worst action the US could take in 
Iraq would be to pull out its forces any time soon.  He believes 
establishing a strong, permanent military base in Iraq would 
help convince insurgents they cannot win by waiting the US out; 
it would also reassure Gulf States concerned about Iran's 
spreading influence.  Equality and fairness in dealing with all 
Sunni and Shia in Iraq -- including former Baathists -- is the 
only way to ensure success, but a strong leader is needed. He 
claimed Iraq is an excellent example that change cannot be 
forced from outside, but must come from within.  Right now there 
is "total freedom," which the Iraqi people are not capable of 
handling. Even the focus on rule of law, which sounds good in 
principle, is a problem in Iraq, because people take advantage 
of the fact that they are unlikely to be made to pay for their 
 
DUBAI 00002297  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
crimes.  "Even in the U.S., with 200 years of experience in 
democracy, there are people who take advantage -- imagine how it 
is in Iraq," he exclaimed. 
 
6.(C)  SBS said Iran, with a population that lacks a catalyzing 
hatred towards a brutal leader like Saddam Hussein, would be 
much more difficult for the U.S. to deal with by military force. 
 SBS said the Iranian people had been divided between the very 
rich and the very poor under the Shah; now they have equality in 
that "they are all poor."  Despite this, there are no beggars, 
and "everyone is working hard -- sometimes at two or three 
jobs."  SBS said Iranians believe in their democracy, 
particularly after having just elected a President who had been 
a "nobody" until he won an election by vowing a fight against 
corruption. 
 
Doncasters Deal Important to UAE Investors 
------------------------------------------- 
 
7.(C) Sheikha Lubna told the CODEL the most important issue 
facing her at this time is the ongoing CFIUS review of Dubai 
International Capital's purchase of Doncasters Group.  She 
believes better communication with both Congress and the 
American people about what this purchase entails is necessary. 
Sheikha Lubna, who traveled to the US in March to discuss this 
and other issues with US officials, stressed that UAE businesses 
are still seeking to invest in the US, but need to know they 
will not be met with undue resistance.  She assured the CODEL 
that Dubai International Capital will protect the patent and 
intellectual property rights of Doncasters Group. 
 
CODEL Visits Port Rashid 
------------------------- 
 
8.(U) At Dubai's Port Rashid, the CODEL met with Hamad Al 
Mazroui, Director General of Dubai Customs International and 
Mohammed al Marri, Dubai Customs Executive Director of 
Operations.  Mazroui said Dubai historically had had a poor 
security reputation, but the present reality is quite different. 
 He spoke about international coordination, the Container 
Security Initiative, a joint cash courier interdiction program 
soon to be undertaken with DHS, and the importance of good 
security in terms of protecting investment in Dubai.  Al Marri 
added that in managing the port facility in Djibouti, Dubai 
Ports World and Dubai Customs coordinators have increased 
customs receipts there by 40 percent, merely by eliminating 
corruption.  The CODEL visited the Container Security Initiative 
office, which is located at Dubai Customs headquarters at Port 
Rashid, and learned how all containers bound for the U.S. are 
scrutinized and selected for scanning.  Dubai Customs gave the 
CODEL a demonstration of its mobile scanning equipment and the 
fixed scanning station at Port Rashid. 
 
Dubai Customs Agrees to Operation Targeting Cash Couriers 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
9.(C) On the margins of the meeting with SBS, Ambassador and ICE 
Attachi presented to him the Tactical Cash Courier Operation 
plan.  SBS immediately agreed and at his request, the plan was 
discussed with Al Marri at Dubai Customs who also gave his 
approval.  The primary goal of the operation is to target cash 
couriers destined for Dubai who knowingly evade UAE currency 
reporting requirements.  DHS will work side by side with Dubai 
Customs to target three high-risk flights daily, for 
approximately one week in May 2006, after which the operation 
will be re-evaluated. 
DAVIS