VZCZCXRO4163
OO RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHKU #4425/01 3130720
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 090720Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7560
INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 004425 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2016 
TAGS: PREL MARR PARM KU IR GCC
SUBJECT: NSB PRESIDENT SHAYKH AHMED AL-FAHD WELCOMES GSD 
PAPER, GREATER COORDINATION ON IRAQ 
 
REF: A) STATE 180168 B) KUWAIT 4390 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1.  (C/NF)  Summary:  NSB President Shaykh Ahmed welcomed the 
GSD initiatives paper and said his staff is studying the 
specific proposals.  He noted that on some items, such as 
critical infrastructure protection, we can and should begin 
moving quickly.  He looks forward to discussing some of these 
issues with APHSCT Townsend next week.  Shaykh Ahmed 
registered his concern about rising Iranian influence in 
Iraq, and called for greater coordination between Kuwait and 
the U.S. in responding to it.  He cited Kuwait's great 
vulnerability to Iranian mischief, and offered to help play a 
role in mediating between the Iraqi Sunni and Shia 
communities.  End Summary 
 
GSD Welcome, Eager To Move on Critical Infrastructure 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶2.  (C/NF)  In a meeting with the Ambassador November 7, 
National Security Bureau (NSB) Director Shaykh Ahmed Al-Fahd 
Al-Sabah welcomed the U.S. Gulf Security Dialogue initiatives 
paper, and said his staff was studying both the Kuwait and 
GCC regional issues involved. (Note:  Shaykh Ahmed led the 
Kuwaiti delegation at the first GSD meeting on September 5.) 
He said that some of the issues will take time to study, 
while others are already underway or can begin without delay. 
 He noted in particular the Critical Infrastructure pillar as 
one area on which Kuwait is eager move quickly.  Shaykh Ahmed 
said Kuwait is ready for "an exchange of experts and advice," 
and suggested the U.S. send a team to review security issues 
at specific sites with their Kuwaiti counterparts. 
 
¶3.  (C/NF)  Shaykh Ahmed also suggested that the upcoming 
visit of APHSCT Townsend would be an opportunity to discuss 
infrastructure security issues, and offered to arrange a tour 
of one of the Kuwaiti refineries focusing on security 
measures now in place.  He cited the threat from Hizbollah, 
Iran, and Iraqi Ba'athist's, all of whom he said could 
potentially target Kuwaiti energy infrastructure. 
 
Iranian Threat Growing, Kuwait Vulnerable 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (C/NF)  Citing these threats, Shaykh Ahmed also called 
for greater U.S.-Kuwaiti coordination on Iraq.  He said 
several things have changed on the ground there.  The Sunnis 
are ready to turn against Al-Qaeda, realizing how destructive 
its actions have been.  They also believe Iran has gained 
control of virtually all the cities of the south, and is 
making inroads into Baghdad.  Shaykh Ahmed said he agrees 
with this view, and considers it a threat to Kuwait's 
security.  And while Maliki is a "good man," he is beholden 
to Shia parties such as "Dawa and Hizbollah," and is allowing 
Iranian infiltration of Iraqi security services. 
 
¶5.  (C/NF)  Given these conditions, Shaykh Ahmed worried that 
"we will lose the Sunnis" to any reconciliation, noting that 
he has met with some of the Sunni leadership.  "Much of what 
they say is right," he said.  Shaykh Ahmed said he feared a 
situation where Iran is supporting the Shia, while the GCC 
countries end up throwing their weight behind the Sunnis. 
This would be bad for Kuwait, which is vulnerable to Iranian 
mischief, and would affect the stability of the region more 
generally. 
 
U.S.-Kuwait Coordination on Iraq 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (C/NF)  Shaykh Ahmed said Kuwait needs to understand the 
U.S. strategy for dealing with this "complicated picture." 
"We need a clear picture from the U.S., or we have to move 
unilaterally (to protect our interests).  And we don't want 
to do anything unilaterally," he added.  Ambassador said the 
U.S. is very clear on its committment to leave Iraq a stable, 
self-sufficient entity that will not pose a threat to our 
friends and allies in the region.  Shaykh Ahmed offered to 
help facilitate dialogue between the major parties in Iraq, 
noting that he had met and has a relationship with all sides. 
 "We can play a role," he said. 
 
¶7.  (C/NF)  Iran, said Shaykh Ahmed, stands to gain the most 
from the current instability.  He noted that no one has good 
intelligence on what is happening on the ground, with the 
possible exception of the Iranians themselves.  Iran may even 
be able to reach and influence the Sunnis from its current 
position, he suggested.  Kuwait is directly threatened by 
Iran's rising power in the region.  He listed some of Kuwaits 
vulnerabilities:  "the energy sector is vulnerable, 
foreigners are vulnerable."  The bottom line, said Shaykh 
 
KUWAIT 00004425  002 OF 002 
 
 
Ahmed, is achieving better coordination and a clear plan. 
 
******************************************** 
For more Embassy Kuwait reporting, see: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/cables  
 
Or Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
******************************************** 
LeBaron