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RR RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK
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ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 191220Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
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INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 003756 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PREL IZ IR KU NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, REGIONAL 
ISSUES WITH DEPUTY SPEAKER 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (C/NF)  Summary: Acting National Assembly Speaker and 
Islamic Constitutional Movement MP Mohammed al-Bousairi told 
Ambassador September 17 that opposition MPs are ready to move 
ahead with their agenda, but need to look for pragmatic ways 
to work with the GOK.  Opposition representatives are now 
working on setting priorities among core issues.  The Islamic 
Constitutional Movement includes among its own priorities 
corruption, Sharia law, privatization, health care and 
education.  Al-Bousairi warned of expanding Iranian influence 
in southern Iraq, and expressed concern about its possible 
effect on Kuwait and the Gulf.  He cited rising sectarian 
tensions in Kuwait as one effect of regional tensions.  End 
Summary 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
Reform Agenda Back In Play In Upcoming Session 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶2. (C/NF)  Ambassador met September 17 with National Assembly 
Deputy Speaker (and current acting Speaker) Dr. Mohammed 
Al-Bousairi.  Al-Bousairi, a three-term MP, is one of six 
representives of the Islamic Constitutional Movement (ICM), 
the political arm of the Kuwaiti Muslim Brotherhood, now 
serving in the National Assembly.  Al-Bousairi said he 
expects continued progress on the reform agenda when the 
Assembly returns October 30.  "The desire for reform," he 
explained, "was reflected in the election results."  Asked 
what lessons had been learned during the last election, 
Al-Bousairi said future campaigns will be marked by greater 
use of television, particularly private stations, 
professional, independent polling, and all the apparatus of 
modern election technology.  Still, he noted, it is difficult 
to predict what new technologies or communications channels 
will emerge as critical factors, the way, for example, text 
messaging emerged in this past round. 
 
¶3. (C/NF)  Al-Bousairi said Kuwaitis "need to relax" after a 
tumultuous year marked by the death of the Amir, the early 
dissolution of the National Assembly, and historic elections 
that included women as voters and candidates for the first 
time.  He said the Assembly needs to work with the Government 
"in a quiet way" to solve problems pragmatically.  However, 
he acknowledged the possibility of tensions between the 
Government and the Assembly over reform legislation.  (Note: 
in a separate conversation with PolChief, ICM SecGen Dr. 
Bader al-Nashi said he expects the new session to be "hot" 
and said neither the Islamists nor other opposition MPs would 
pull their punches with the Government. End Note.) 
 
------------------------------------- 
Setting Priorities for the Opposition 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (C/NF)  Opposition MPs in Parliament, said al-Bousairi, 
are still working on formulating an agenda for the next 
session.  Liberals and Islamists "compete for leadership" in 
setting reform priorities.  Al-Bousairi said he believes 
opposition elements can work together focusing on specific 
issues, and said the sides are meeting now to look at options 
for the start of the next session.  As for ICM priorities, 
al-Bousairi listed corruption (including public funds 
protection legislation), implementation of Sharia law, 
privatization, health care and education.  On education, 
al-Bousairi cited a Reagan-era USG report, "Nation in 
Danger," noting that Kuwait faces a similar crisis in 
education today. 
 
------------------------- 
Regional Challenges Ahead 
------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (C/NF)  On Iraq, al-Bousairi said southern Iraq is a 
"gate" for Iranian interests in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.  He 
said Kuwaitis worry that the U.S. could "lose interest" in 
Iraq and its future, and that the "environment of extremism" 
in Iraq would spill over into Kuwait.  Ambassador stressed 
the U.S. commmittment to a united Iraq, and the 
reconciliation process being pursued by PM Maliki.  He cited 
the need for Kuwait and the GCC to take a more active role in 
supporting the Iraqi government, including through a more 
visible economic presence there.  Al-Bousairi said Kuwait 
also supports the reconciliation process.  He noted the 
recent visit of Iraqi Sunni politician Mohsen Abd al-Hamid to 
Kuwait where al-Hamid was urged to pursue cross-sectarian 
bridge-building. 
 
¶6.  (C/NF)  Al-Bousairi warned that sectarian tensions are 
growing in Kuwait as well, citing the presence of Hizballah 
 
KUWAIT 00003756  002 OF 002 
 
 
flags at recent demonstrations against the war in Lebanon. 
He warned that Iran "is active in Kuwait," and presents a 
challenge throughout the region. 
 
-------- 
Bio Note 
-------- 
 
¶7.  (C/NF) Al-Bousairi was re-elected in June 2006 with 3,947 
votes, coming in second in his district; he was first elected 
in 1999.  Al-Bousairi is from the Ajman tribe, and is one of 
six ICM MPs in Parliament.  He is also part of the 18-member 
Islamic Bloc.  Al-Bousairi was elected Deputy Speaker in July 
2006, a position he will hold for the duration of the 
four-year parliamentary term.  In January 2006, he and Dr. 
Nasser Al-Sane, another ICM MP, took the unprecedented and 
voluntary step of disclosing their personal financial records 
as an example to other parliamentarians, none of whom 
followed their lead.  Like other Islamist MPs, Al-Bousairi 
opposed women's suffrage legislation, but nonetheless 
actively courted women's votes in the recent elections; he 
received 1,731 votes from women.  Al-Bousairi received a 
Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from a U.S. 
university in 1988.  He also holds a PhD in the same field. 
He speaks English, but prefers to conduct meetings in Arabic. 
 A full bio is available on our siprnet website. 
 
 
 
********************************************* * 
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