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DE RUEHMK #0007/01 0040544
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FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6252
INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT  PRIORITY
RUENAAA/CNO WASHDC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 000007 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/27/2016 
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS ASEC BA BILAT REGION OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: CROWN PRINCE AND CNO DISCUSS REGIONAL THREATS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
. 
 
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Summary 
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¶1.  (C) Crown Prince Shaikh Salman and Chief of Naval 
Operations (CNO) Admiral Mullen discussed on December 27 the 
U.S.-Bahrain relationship and regional threats including Iran 
and Iraq.  The CP praised the United States for providing 
stability and security in the region and asked about the 
status of the return of Navy dependents to Bahrain, saying 
the dependents had promoted people-to-people relations 
between Americans and Bahrainis.  The CP said Iran is 
"outside the box," projecting its strength beyond its 
borders.  The U.S. should talk to Iran from a position of 
strength and give a chance to those who want to settle 
problems peacefully.  He warned that Iran's nuclear program 
could drive clandestine programs across the region.  He 
recommended that the U.S. draw down its troops in Iraq to a 
50,000-member rapid reaction force.  Doing so would force the 
Iraqi government to shoulder its security responsibilities 
and push it to ask its Arab neighbors for help.  He urged 
that Maliki visit Iraq's Arab neighbors, not just Iran.  ADM 
Mullen praised Bahrain's participation in regional combined 
naval task forces, and the CP said Iran should see us working 
together.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (C) Crown Prince Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and 
CNO Admiral Mullen December 27 discussed the U.S.-Bahrain 
military relationship, Iran, Iraq, and regional military 
operations, among other issues.  Participating on the 
Bahraini side were Defense Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed 
Al Khalifa, President of the CP's Court Shaikh Khalifa bin 
Daij Al Khalifa, and the CP's oldest son Shaikh Isa bin 
Salman Al Khalifa.  Accompanying ADM Mullen were the 
Ambassador and NAVCENT Commander Vice Admiral Walsh. 
 
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Bahrain Shoulder-to-Shoulder with U.S. 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶3.  (C) The Crown Prince opened the meeting by stating that 
Bahrain is America's friend, in good times and bad.  Bahrain 
has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the U.S. for years and 
would continue to do so.  Bahrain appreciates what the United 
States does for stability and security in the region, which 
lives in relative peace because of the U.S. presence.  He 
continued that NAVCENT and the Fifth Fleet have played a 
crucial role in Bahrain for a long time.  ADM Mullen 
indicated that he had just met with several hundred sailors 
at the Navy base and they are positively engaged in this 
strategic location. 
 
¶4.  (C) In response to the Crown Prince's question about 
force protection, ADM Mullen said he had toured the DOD 
Bahrain School and noted big security improvements there. 
There is strong support for the school in Washington.  He 
said the decision to pull out dependents in 2004 was not 
intended to be permanent.  The CP said terrorists will be 
with us for a long time.  Regardless of the society, its 
background or degree of development, there are those who are 
into a "cult of death," but we cannot let them win.  He said 
that the Navy dependents over the years had played an 
important role in Bahrain's cultural life.  They supported 
issues and causes and had direct dealings with Bahraini 
citizens.  People-to-people contact is critical in promoting 
bilateral relations.  He also noted that U.S.-Bahrain 
security and intelligence cooperation had improved greatly. 
ADM Mullen agreed that direct contact - living and working 
side-by-side - generates a positive impact.  He said that if 
the Navy decided to allow dependents to return, it would be 
done slowly.  Shaikh Salman said he hoped for progress. 
 
-------------------- 
Iran Outside the Box 
-------------------- 
 
¶5.  (C) The Crown Prince said there is great concern about 
Iran, which represents a dangerous threat to regional 
stability and security.  Iran has projected its strength 
beyond its borders.  "They are outside the box," the CP said. 
 He recommended that the United States talk to Iran but from 
a position of strength.  This would give a chance to those 
who want to settle problems peacefully.  But Iran should know 
that the U.S. stands by its friends, and Shaikh Salman 
suggested holding a regional joint military exercise "to show 
we are united."  He said there should be an effort to break 
Syria away from Iran, a first step in "cutting the tentacles 
 
MANAMA 00000007  002 OF 002 
 
 
of the Iranian octopus."  There can be no agreement to trade 
away the independence of Lebanon, but Syria's influence with 
Hizballah and Hamas should be reduced. 
 
¶6. (C) Defense Minister Shaikh Khalifa added that while 
everyone is busy with Iraq, Iran might try to take advantage. 
 He suggested that Iran be fought from the inside, not the 
outside, noting that Iran was weak economically.  The CP said 
there should be multilateral diplomatic pressure from Russia, 
China, and the United States on Iran to give up its nuclear 
program, but the U.S. must also focus on deterrence and 
containment.  He warned that the Iranian nuclear program 
could drive clandestine programs across the region, a 
dangerous development.  "We don't want nukes in this part of 
the world," he said.  The Defense Minister said that Iran has 
many small boats that can carry missiles.  ADM Mullen said 
the U.S. Navy could handle Iran, but their capabilities had 
improved a lot. 
 
--------------------------------------- 
Iraq Needs Assistance of Arab Neighbors 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (C) Changing subjects, the Crown Prince warned that Iraq 
would never be a model for democracy in the region in the 
short-term.  He said the Maliki government is weak and 
national institutions are being infiltrated by Iranian and 
criminal elements.  He proposed that the United States draw 
down its presence to a 50,000-member rapid reaction force 
that would allow the U.S. to intervene when necessary.  But 
the Iraqi government would have to take on the responsibility 
for providing security, forcing it to request assistance from 
its Arab neighbors.  In this scenario, U.S. forces would be 
freed up to deal with other regional challenges.  ADM Mullen 
said the discussion now was about a surge of troops into 
Iraq.  "My answer is 'No'," the CP said.  He also advised not 
to leave small groups of troops around the country because 
they could become targets.  In response to ADM Mullen's 
question, the CP said that Maliki should visit his Arab 
neighbors, not just Iran.  "We have the impression that 
Maliki is half in Iran's pocket," he said. 
 
--------------- 
Joint Exercises 
--------------- 
 
¶8.  (C) ADM Mullen praised the Bahraini Navy's participation 
in Combined Task Force (CTF) 152 and in the recent 
Proliferation Security Initiative Leading Edge exercise.  He 
hoped Bahrain's neighbors would come to participate in the 
same way, saying Bahrain's leadership was critical.  The 
Crown Prince said he had talked to Saudi Crown Prince Sultan 
about doing a joint exercise with the U.S.  "Iran must see us 
working together," he said.  The CTFs are a great example of 
the United States and its allies building coalitions in the 
region.  Defense Minister Shaikh Khalifa said Bahrain wants 
to refit and improve its missile boats and requested the U.S. 
Navy's assistance to upgrade their fire control and radar 
systems.  The CP said Bahrain wants to help the United States 
remain strong and effective in the region. 
 
¶9.  (C) Shaikh Salman noted that he had just returned from a 
visit to Pakistan, which was much more developed than he had 
expected.  He called Pakistan a valuable ally in the war on 
terror.  ADM Mullen said that the U.S. military had worked 
closely with the Pakistani military to provide earthquake 
relief.  He indicated that those more senior Pakistani 
officers who had participated in U.S. exchange programs were 
easier to deal with than the younger officers, who could not 
enroll in U.S. training programs.  The Crown Prince said that 
military exchanges breed deep, sustainable relationships. 
 
¶10.  (U) ADM Mullen cleared this cable. 
 
 
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