VZCZCXRO5958
OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK
DE RUEHMK #1850/01 3050751
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 010751Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5871
INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT  PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JCS WASHDC PRIORITY

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 MANAMA 001850 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2016 
TAGS: PREL MARR PARM BA IR REGION BILAT OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: CROWN PRINCE TELLS GSD DELEGATION THAT U.S., GCC 
NEED TO SEND STRONG MESSAGE TO IRAN 
 
REF: STATE 171822 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
. 
 
------- 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1.  (S) Crown Prince Salman told the interagency Gulf 
Security Dialogue (GSD) delegation that the U.S. and its GCC 
allies need to send a strong message to Iran, and suggested 
holding a major military exercise in the region.  He thought 
it would be "a great motivator" for the other GCC countries 
for the Saudi military chief of staff to inform his 
counterparts that Saudi Arabia views favorably efforts to 
promote multilateral interoperability.  In response to a 
question, the CP said that some GCC countries may be waiting 
to see that the U.S. is fully committed to the region before 
joining the GSD process.  Iran will not be stopped "unless we 
stand shoulder-to-shoulder," the CP said, while making every 
effort to avoid military action.  He agreed that the GOB 
would form an interagency team to engage with the USG on the 
Dialogue.  Shaikh Salman explained his view that the most 
serious fault line in the region was moderates versus 
extremists, not Sunni versus Shia, and there should be a 
serious effort made on the Israel-Palestinian peace process. 
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 Crown 
Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad 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, Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al 
Khalifa, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Assistant Under 
Secretary for Coordination and Follow Up Shaikh Abdul Aziz 
 
SIPDIS 
bin Mubarak Al Khalifa (septels). 
 
----------------------------------- 
Enhancing the Security Relationship 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (S) A/S Hillen opened the meeting with Crown Prince 
Salman by recalling that the CP had challenged the GSD 
delegation during their last visit in May to "put some meat 
on the bones" of the Dialogue idea.  As a result of that 
challenge, the group had developed the concept of the six 
pillars to accelerate, broaden, and deepen our bilateral 
security relationship.  He requested Shaikh Salman's reaction 
to the proposals.  The CP said that the read-ahead paper 
focused on the most important areas and that the U.S.'s 
bilateral approach to each of the GCC countries was the right 
way to go at this point, but urged that the GSD become 
multilateral.  He continued that the U.S. and its GCC allies 
needed to send a strong message by holding a major ("Bright 
Star-like") military exercise in the region.  Centcom's RADM 
Moeller added that an exercise would promote bilateral 
interoperability that could then be extended into 
multilateral interoperability, the most effective military 
posture for the region. 
 
¶4.  (S) Shaikh Salman agreed, saying it would irresponsible 
not to do this, in particular in reference to a joint air 
defense initiative.  Bahrain would welcome a technical team 
to discuss the Bilateral Air Defense Initiative as soon as 
possible.  The Bahrain Defense Force's (BDF) capabilities 
must be up-to-speed.  In response to the CP's question, A/S 
Hillen said the USG had spoken to the Saudis about the air 
defense initiative and they were supportive.  The CP 
commented that it would be beneficial for the Saudi military 
chief of staff to tell his GCC counterparts that Saudi Arabia 
viewed the initiative favorably, calling such a message "a 
great motivator" for others in the region.  A/S Rodman added 
that the Kuwaitis also supported the air defense initiative. 
Shaikh Salman stressed the importance of joint military 
planning, stating that the BDF wants to make better use of 
the Military Coordination Committee and reconstitute the 
Military Planning Committee. 
 
------------------------ 
Getting the GCC On Board 
------------------------ 
 
 
MANAMA 00001850  002 OF 003 
 
 
¶5.  (S) A/S Rodman said that Oman and Qatar had not been as 
supportive of the GSD concept as the U.S. would like and 
requested the CP's thoughts.  Shaikh Salman replied that all 
countries want to halt the spread of Iranian power and 
contain its strategic position.  However, some GCC countries 
were still feeling the effects of the U.S. pulling back from 
the region after 9/11.  Next, the USG's reform push had led 
to some results that were not desirable in the short term. 
People may be unsure of the U.S.'s strategic commitment to 
the region.  Omanis are practical.  They want to be sure the 
U.S. is on a "solid trajectory" before committing to the GSD. 
 But, he said, the U.S. has to rebuild confidence with some 
in the GCC. 
 
¶6.  (S) Turning to Qatar, Shaikh Salman said their attitude 
was marked by contrariness.  Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh 
Mohammed added that Qatar wants a role on the world stage 
that is bigger than its size justifies.  The CP said that 
Qatar had taken some steps in the UN Security Council and 
with Al Jazeera that were not helpful.  They claim they have 
to balance the presence of U.S. forces at Al Udeid with Al 
Jazeera, but the CP does not accept this argument.  He said 
we need Qatar on board and offered to work with the GOQ on 
this.  He cautioned that the key is to get the Saudis back to 
where they had been with Qatar.  He noted that he had just 
visited Saudi Arabia and Prince Sultan recognizes there has 
been a shift regarding Iran and knows what needs to be done. 
 
---------------------- 
Iran Respects Strength 
---------------------- 
 
¶7.  (S) Regarding Iran, the CP said the GOI engages in proxy 
wars, supports terror groups, and funds a big WMD program. 
Iran will not be stopped "unless we stand firm 
shoulder-to-shoulder."  Thus, the USG should provide a 
"security umbrella."  Iranians respect strength.  Every 
effort should be made to avoid military action and to explain 
to the government the consequences of its behavior.  The U.S. 
should work with the Chinese, Indians, and Russians on this, 
and the U.S. could attend an EU-3 session with Iran as an 
observer.  If this fails, the focus should turn to 
intelligence efforts to disrupt Iran's nuclear program.  The 
GOI cannot sustain the program without the Chinese. 
 
¶8.  (S) If, however, there needs to be military action, the 
focus must be on changing the Iranian regime's behavior, the 
CP said.  The U.S. should not talk about nation building or 
liberation; this serves only to confuse the issue.  Once the 
decision is made to drop bombs, the goal must be nation 
defeating.  A/S Hillen suggested that the Gulf states also 
reach out to the Iranian people and explain that pursuing 
nuclear weapons is not in the country's interests.  The CP 
agreed that there are moderates within Iranian society who 
could respond to such an argument but they are not united and 
are difficult to identify.  A/S Hillen said the GSD process 
puts pressure on Iran to change its behavior.  The CP said 
Iran thinks it has the upper hand in Lebanon and Iraq, and 
now plays the role of the center of anti-U.S. influence in 
the region. 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
Protecting Infrastructure, Regional CT Center 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶9.  (S) Referring to the read-ahead paper, A/S Hillen 
requested the CP's thoughts on protecting critical 
infrastructure.  Regarding oil exports, Shaikh Salman said 
there should be alternate routes to the Strait of Hormuz.  He 
noted that regional countries generally consider it to be 
their responsibility to protect oil from the ground to the 
ships, and the international community's responsibility to 
protect it from that point on.  There are many possible ways 
to look at this issue, including energy alternatives, that 
could be addressed in future GSD sessions. 
 
¶10.  (S) In response to A/S Hillen's question, the CP said 
there was not enough support in the GCC (including within the 
government of Bahrain) for a regional counter-terrorism 
center.  There may be a way to work together to get the same 
results but without a high profile center, which could become 
a target.  The goal was to build a system that gets 
information to the right people in a timely manner, and there 
could be a way to create a "virtual" regional center by 
connecting national centers.  The CP proposed locating the 
physical hardware to link the centers in Bahrain and 
 
MANAMA 00001850  003 OF 003 
 
 
suggested people should approach this issue pragmatically. 
 
------------------ 
GSD Follow Through 
------------------ 
 
¶11.  (S) The CP asked about following through on the 
Dialogue.  A/S Hillen said the U.S. and Bahrain should form a 
multi-agency task force that meets twice per year to cover 
the range of subjects.  In the meantime, working groups would 
meet on specific issues.  The CP agreed, saying the GOB would 
form an interagency team. 
 
--------------------------------------- 
War of Ideas - Moderates vs. Extremists 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶12.  (S) The Crown Prince stated that the most serious fault 
line in the region is not Sunni/Shia, it is moderates versus 
extremists.  The issue is all about power, not religion.  He 
cautioned against going too far with a sectarian analysis. 
There must be a serious effort made on the peace process. 
The Palestinians have to take the lead and deal seriously 
with the Israelis.  But the U.S. should send a message that 
when the Palestinians are ready, it will work with them. 
Abbas might pull out all the stops and hold a national 
referendum on peace.  If he does so, and we cannot get 
negotiations started, "this could be our last shot."  The CP 
acknowledged that the Arabs could have been more forceful in 
the past with the Palestinians, but Iran had not been as much 
a clear and present danger at that time.  A/S Rodman assured 
the CP that the U.S. was active on the issue. 
 
¶13.  (S) Deputy PM Shaikh Mohammed explained that Palestinian 
President Abbas had asked that Bahrain approach Syria about 
being more positive with the Palestinians.  Foreign Minister 
Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa had just visited President 
Asad in Damascus, who had provided assurances that Syria was 
ready to cooperate.  However, the CP added, Syria is "not on 
Saudi Arabia and Egypt's good list" and the Syrians are not 
banging on the door looking to come in from the cold. 
 
¶14.  (U) A/S Hillen and A/S Rodman cleared this cable. 
 
 
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