VZCZCXRO3965
OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK
DE RUEHMK #1806/01 2921015
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 191015Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5797
INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT  PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001806 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2016 
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS MASS BA IR IZ REGION BILAT
OFFICIALS 
SUBJECT: DEFENSE MINISTER AND GENERAL ABIZAID DISCUSS 
REGIONAL SITUATION, BILATERAL COOPERATION 
 
Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
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Summary 
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¶1.  (C) CENTCOM Commander General Abizaid October 11 met with 
Defense Minister GEN Shaikh Khalifa and discussed Iran, Iraq, 
Afghanistan, bilateral military cooperation, and 
counter-terrorism.  Shaikh Khalifa said that Iran's behavior 
in the region is growing worse and Iran's nuclear program 
must be stopped or neutralized.  Iran had proposed signing a 
defense cooperation agreement with Bahrain and other GCC 
countries, but Shaikh Khalifa ruled out any possibility of 
doing so.  He noted that Bahrain had not updated its military 
planning on Iran and invited the participation of a U.S. team 
in this process.  Shaikh Khalifa is worried about the 
security situation in Iraq and suggested that the government 
should declare some form of martial law for a temporary 
period to solve the security problems.  He supports Pakistani 
President Musharraf's efforts to engage with the tribes on 
the Afghan border, but recognizes that Afghanistan probably 
misinterprets what he is doing there.  Bahrain has already 
done the paperwork required to integrate its air defenses 
with the U.S. and looks forward to participating in some way 
in a combined maritime patrol.  Shaikh Khalifa said the 
government has the internal security situation under control. 
 End Summary. 
 
----------------------------- 
Iran's Behavior Growing Worse 
----------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (C) CENTCOM Commander General Abizaid and delegation 
October 11 met with Defense Minister General Shaikh Khalifa 
bin Ahmed Al Khalifa and discussed Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, 
U.S.-Bahrain military cooperation, and counter-terrorism.  In 
response to GEN Abizaid's question, Shaikh Khalifa said that 
Iran's behavior in the region is growing worse, and it is 
imperative to stop or neutralize Iran's nuclear program. 
Iran is not currently threatening people but it is collecting 
intelligence throughout the region.  The Minister noted that 
Iran had proposed signing a defense cooperation agreement 
with Bahrain and other GCC countries that would include 
guarantees that the GCC states would not allow their land, 
sea, and air to be used against Iran.  Shaikh Khalifa ruled 
out any possibility of such an agreement.  Shaikh Khalifa 
said that Bahrain needs to update its military planning 
vis-a-vis Iran, noting that the plans had not been reviewed 
in 10 years.  He requested the participation of a U.S. team 
to assist in the update process. 
 
¶3.  (C) Noting Iran's meddling in Iraq, Shaikh Khalifa said 
that we should treat Iran as they treat others.  There are 
big problems inside Iran:  Azeris, Balouchis, and Arabs make 
up a good part of the population, and most of these oppose 
the Iranian government.  Someone, he said, should push these 
groups to move against the GOI, to "keep the government 
occupied."  GEN Abizaid said that as long as the United 
States and its allies stand together and defend our mutual 
interests, we will not have any problems with Iran.  But we 
cannot show the Iranians any weakness; they must see only 
strength.  Shaikh Khalifa commented that Iran will proceed 
with its nuclear program regardless of world opinion.  They 
are desperate to move the program forward. 
 
--------------------------- 
Martial Law Needed In Iraq? 
--------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (C) Turning to Iraq, Shaikh Khalifa said he does not hear 
good news about what is happening there.  People are worried 
about what they see.  Once Iraqis start killing each other, 
it will be difficult to control.  They seek revenge rather 
than go to the courts.  GEN Abizaid commented that the level 
of violence between groups is high.  We have to hope that the 
government gets stronger and politicians exert leadership. 
Shaikh Khalifa stated that Iraq needs some form of martial 
law for a short period to solve the security problems.  He 
asked about the Iranian role in violence in Iraq.  GEN 
Abizaid said there is some evidence of Iranian involvement 
but it is hard to detect.  Shaikh Khalifa commented that Iran 
has its proxies do the job on its behalf.  He indicated that 
Bahrain continued to provide assistance to Iraq.  Just a few 
days earlier, 50 Iraqi children had come to Bahrain for 
needed medical treatment, and many of Iraq's firefighters had 
been trained in Bahrain.  Shaikh Khalifa said that Bahrain is 
ready to support other activities and is open to U.S. 
suggestions. 
 
MANAMA 00001806  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶5.  (C) In response to the Minister's request, GEN Abizaid 
provided a briefing on the state of operations in 
Afghanistan, also addressing Pakistani President Musharraf's 
recent agreement with tribes in the Federally Administered 
Tribal Areas on the border with Afghanistan.  Shaikh Khalifa 
commented that Musharraf is engaged and knows how to work 
with the tribes.  This engagement may, however, be 
misunderstood by the Afghanis.  Musharraf is trying to break 
the tribes from within, but Afghanistan likely thinks 
Pakistan's intelligence service is supporting the tribes. 
Shaikh Khalifa admitted there is probably some corruption 
among the tribes; they have a tendency to take money and then 
do whatever they want. 
 
------------------------------ 
Bilateral Military Cooperation 
------------------------------ 
 
¶6.  (C) Noting that tensions could go up in the region due to 
the North Korean nuclear test, GEN Abizaid said the U.S. is 
interested in working with regional countries to integrate 
air defenses and improve communication links.  Shaikh Khalifa 
said Bahrain was eager to establish these communication links 
and was ready to move ahead.  He stated that King Hamad had 
instructed him to work with NAVCENT to study options for 
Bahraini participation in a combined maritime patrol. 
NAVCENT's VADM Walsh indicated that there would be a meeting 
November 1 to discuss this topic.  Shaikh Khalifa said he was 
interested in Bahraini ships and officers working with 
NAVCENT. 
 
¶7.  (C) In response to the Charge's question, Shaikh Khalifa 
said the GOB remains in control of the security situation. 
He acknowledged there are some very small groups of 
extremists, both Sunni and Shia, but said they are being 
closely monitored.  Bahrain's judicial system requires hard 
evidence to hold and try extremists, "a tough situation" for 
the government, he said.  Shaikh Khalifa expressed his view 
that there had never been much interest in Sunni extremist 
ideology in GCC states outside of Saudi Arabia, and even in 
Saudi support for extremists was dying down. 
 
¶8.  (U) GEN Abizaid cleared this cable. 
 
 
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