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DE RUEHMK #1844/01 3040727
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O 310727Z OCT 06 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5858
INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT  PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JCS WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 MANAMA 001844 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2016 
TAGS: PREL MARR PARM BA IR REGION BILAT OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: DEPUTY PM TELLS GSD DELEGATION THE BEST DEFENSE IS 
BEING PREPARED 
 
REF: STATE 171822 
 
MANAMA 00001844  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
. 
 
------- 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1.  (S) Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak 
told the visiting interagency Gulf Security Dialogue (GSD) 
delegation October 18 that Iran is a diplomatic, military, 
and political threat to the countries of the region and that 
the best defense is to show you are prepared for possible 
future scenarios.  He commented that while some GCC states 
were slow to commit to initiatives like the GSD, Bahrain does 
not hesitate to make an evaluation of its interests and then 
sticks with its decision.  Iran claims that its nuclear 
program is for power only but refuses to allow the IAEA to 
inspect its facilities.  The IAEA, Shaikh Mohammed said, 
should be the judge of Iran's program.  On Iraq, he stated 
that there can be a political deal on federalism, but the 
country must maintain its territorial integrity.  He praised 
Secretary Rice's engagement on Israeli-Palestinian affairs 
 
SIPDIS 
and said that President Abbas deserves the support of the 
international community.  He worried that Iran was meddling 
in Bahrain's internal affairs by influencing how some groups 
vote in upcoming parliamentary and municipal elections.  End 
Summary. 
 
¶2.  (S) The interagency Gulf Security Dialogue delegation led 
by Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military 
Affairs John Hillen and Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
International Security Affairs Peter Rodman met with Deputy 
Prime Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa October 
18 to discuss achieving progress on the six pillars of the 
Dialogue (reftel).  The delegation also met with King Hamad 
bin Isa Al Khalifa, Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al 
Khalifa, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Assistant Under 
Secretary for Coordination and Follow Up Shaikh Abdul Aziz 
 
SIPDIS 
bin Mubarak Al Khalifa (septels). 
 
--------------------------------------- 
Prudent to Prepare for Future Scenarios 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (S) Shaikh Mohammed opened the meeting by welcoming the 
delegation to Bahrain and acknowledging that regional defense 
and security are among the most important issues to discuss 
at this time.  A/S Hillen said that the premise of the GSD is 
to accelerate, broaden, and deepen the security relationship 
between the United States and its friends in the Gulf.  The 
U.S. is currently working with each country bilaterally with 
the intention to move multilaterally as soon as it is 
feasible.  We want to show Iran that the U.S. stands by its 
friends.  Shaikh Mohammed agreed that Iran was a diplomatic, 
military, and political threat to the countries of the 
region.  It is prudent to prepare now for any possible future 
scenario so there are no surprises.  "The best defense is to 
show people you are prepared," he said. 
 
¶4.  (S) A/S Rodman requested Shaikh Mohammed's advice on 
gaining the support of all the GCC countries for the GSD 
initiative, indicating that Qatar and Oman were not as 
supportive as other countries.  Shaikh Mohammed replied that 
some neighbors were hesitant to go first and waited for other 
countries to take the lead.  Bahrain was not like this, 
however; it decides whether an initiative is in its 
interests, then sticks with the decision.  The UAE has direct 
contact with Iran on a daily basis and is constantly reminded 
of the threat.  With its extensive gas resources, Qatar 
should try to protect itself from Iran.  Oman is concerned 
about Iran's influence on the Strait of Hormuz, but the GSD 
is a defensive arrangement and can provide great benefits. 
Kuwait worries about the Bushehr nuclear facility, which is 
just across the Gulf.  If anything happens at Bushehr, Kuwait 
and all other countries on the Gulf could face contamination 
and pollution.  Proper defensive arrangements send the right 
message and "protect us all." 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
IAEA Should be Judge of Iran's Nuclear Program 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶5.  (S) Shaikh Mohammed said that Iran's military build-up 
was worrying.  Iranian officials occasionally visit Bahrain 
 
MANAMA 00001844  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
and want to promote bilateral cooperation.  Former Foreign 
Minister Velayati had proposed joint military maneuvers, but 
Shaikh Mohammed had refused, telling him, "you only conduct 
military exercises with countries you trust."  He asked how 
long Iranian citizens will put up with a government that 
spends money to rebuild in south Lebanon while Iranian 
villages damaged by earthquakes are not being repaired.  On 
the nuclear program, Iran claims it is not pursuing weapons. 
If this is true, Shaikh Mohammed asked, why does Iran not 
allow the IAEA to inspect its facilities.  Every country has 
the right to develop peaceful nuclear power, but not nuclear 
weapons.  Iran should allow the IAEA to be the judge of its 
nuclear program. 
 
¶6.  (S) In response to A/S Hillen's question, Shaikh Mohammed 
said Bahrain knows former President Khatemi very well, 
calling him a moderate.  But the system is focused on a 
single leader, Khamenei.  Even Rafsanjani could not win the 
last presidential election because Khamenei had decided on 
Ahmadi-Nejad.  "Khamenei is another Shah," Shaikh Mohammed 
commented.  Ahmadi-Nejad, in contrast with Khatemi, believes 
the system is too liberal.  Shaikh Mohammed expressed his 
hope that Iran will learn from its past and make positive 
changes for the future.  But in the meantime, people try to 
flee Iran every night for a better life in the UAE. 
 
-------------------------------------- 
Maintain Territorial Integrity of Iraq 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (S) Turning to Iraq, Shaikh Mohammed said the main goal 
has to be to bring the people some measure of security. 
Politically, there can be a deal on federalism, but the 
country must maintain its territorial integrity.  Bahrain has 
assisted Iraq in several ways already and would like to do 
more.  Bahrain's former ambassador in Baghdad had been shot 
in July 2005; the GOB will send another ambassador as soon as 
the security situation improves.  A/S Hillen said the U.S. 
was focused on helping the Iraqi government succeed in spite 
of Sunni-Shia tensions.  The Iraqi government should be 
strong enough to withstand pressure from Iran but not strong 
enough to threaten its neighbors. 
 
¶8.  (S) On the other agenda items in the GSD read-ahead 
paper, Shaikh Mohammed said that Bahrain supports 
intelligence cooperation and information exchange with the 
U.S.  This is most important in fighting terrorism, from the 
security, political, and financial perspectives.  He noted 
that Bahrain had recently passed a counter-terrorism and 
anti-money laundering/combating the financing of terror law 
to address these issues directly.  After receiving an 
explanation from A/S Hillen on protecting critical 
infrastructure, Shaikh Mohammed agreed that the U.S. and 
Bahrain should work together to mitigate risk. 
 
¶9.  (S) Shaikh Mohammed stated that any discussion of 
security in the region must include the Israel-Palestinian 
conflict.  Bahrain believes Palestinian President Abbas is a 
good leader who deserves support.  The extremists want to 
reach the hearts and minds of people.  To counteract this, 
the U.S. and the rest of the international community should 
reengage on peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. 
He cited Secretary Rice's recent trip to Cairo and Ramallah 
as important steps. 
 
--------------------------------- 
Iran Meddling in Bahraini Affairs 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶10.  (S) Shaikh Mohammed noted that with Bahraini 
parliamentary and municipal elections coming, Iran was 
exerting its influence with certain groups in a sectarian 
way.  "We don't want our democracy experiment to fail," he 
said, and worried that Iran may be directing some Bahraini 
citizens about who to vote for.  Democracy has rules, and 
people must follow the rules, especially not the use of 
violence to achieve political objectives.  Many well-educated 
people are hesitant to get into politics, leaving 
fundamentalists, both Sunni and Shia, competing for seats in 
parliament and municipal councils.  In Bahrain, he said, we 
want prosperity and progress, but the influence from outside 
countries could result in sectarian tensions like in Iraq. 
 
¶11.  (S) In conclusion, Shaikh Mohammed said that Bahrain 
wants to continue to engage with the U.S. on the Gulf 
Security Dialogue.  "Friends should talk to each other, and 
 
MANAMA 00001844  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
be seen talking to each other."  The goal is to move from the 
stage of ideas to on-the-ground improvements.  Referring to 
the upcoming IISS Gulf Dialogue conference to be held in 
Bahrain in December, Shaikh Mohammed suggested using that 
forum to involve other countries in discussions related to 
the GSD.  He welcomed the planned participation of Secretary 
Rumsfeld in the conference. 
 
¶12.  (U) A/S Hillen and A/S Rodman cleared this cable. 
 
 
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