VZCZCXRO1744
OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHMK #0302/01 0921247
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 021247Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6662
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ 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 000302 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2017 
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS BA IZ IR REGION OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: CROWN PRINCE AND ADMIRAL FALLON DISCUSS REGIONAL 
AFFAIRS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
. 
 
------- 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶1.  (C) Crown Prince Shaikh Salman told CENTCOM Commander 
Admiral Fallon March 23 that Bahrain was proud to work with 
the United States in the coalition maritime task forces and 
noted that it took Bahrain's participation to get Saudi 
Arabia to join.  In response to Admiral Fallon's comments 
about the need for Arab support for Iraq's Sunnis in Anbar 
province, the CP said that the Bahraini government wants to 
work with the whole Iraqi government, not just with one 
faction such as the Sunnis, and push it to rise to its 
responsibilities to all of the country's citizens.  He 
suggested that ending the de-Baathification program would 
send a good signal.  He thought a "grand gesture" by the U.S. 
on the Palestinian issue would engender Sunni support.  He 
warned of a resurgent Iran and said Iran's "tentacles" in the 
region must be severed.  Bahrain would do all it could to 
help contain Iran.  Shaikh Salman thanked Admiral Fallon for 
the Defense Department's support for the Bahrain School and 
requested that he weigh in with the Navy to allow its 
dependents to return to Bahrain.  End Summary. 
 
---------------------------------- 
U.S. Always Welcome in Gulf Region 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (C) In their introductory meeting, Crown Prince Shaikh 
Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa told CENTCOM Commander Admiral 
Fallon March 23 that Bahrain is proud to work side-by-side 
with the United States in the coalition maritime task forces 
(CTFs) in the Gulf and Arabian Sea.  The Bahraini Navy had 
extended its deployment in CTF-152 by two months and, 
following a break, would rejoin the mission.  He asserted 
that Iran should not be able to form coalitions better than 
the U.S. and its allies in the region.  He claimed that it 
took Bahrain's participation in the task force to motivate 
Saudi Arabia to join.  The CP said that during his 
just-completed trip to India, he had been asked about the 
role of the United States in the Gulf region.  He said he 
told the Indians that the United States is always welcome in 
the Gulf because it has brought security and stability to the 
countries of the region. 
 
------------------------------------ 
Security and Economic Growth in Iraq 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶3.  (C) Admiral Fallon explained to the CP that Iraq is his 
top priority.  Our new commander on the ground, General 
Petraeus, will focus on security matters, but also seek ways 
to stimulate economic growth and political reconciliation. 
He said that Al Qaeda terrorists had found common cause with 
Sunni insurgents in the west of Iraq.  The U.S. would welcome 
the support of our friends in the region to drive a wedge 
between local Sunnis and Al Qaeda elements.  The Crown Prince 
replied that the GOB wants to work with the whole Iraqi 
government and push it to rise to its responsibilities to all 
Iraqi citizens.  Bahrain cannot just work with Iraq's Sunnis 
or else it could be accused of promoting a sectarian divide. 
The GOB would prefer to try to blur the lines between Sunnis, 
Shias, and Kurds. 
 
¶4.  (C) Shaikh Salman stressed that there should be political 
space for all communities inside Iraq.  Ending the 
de-Baathification program would be a way to show good will. 
He also warned of Iranian-backed Shia Iraqis carrying out the 
policies of a resurgent Iran.  Admiral Fallon agreed that 
Iran was meddling in Iraq and said the U.S. will try to put 
an end to this support for violence in Iraq.  The CP said he 
believes that sometimes people have to be allowed to sort out 
their issues, and then there can be engagement with whatever 
government emerges. 
 
¶5.  (C) Defense Minister General Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al 
Khalifa, who accompanied the CP, offered that winning 
people's hearts and minds takes a long time and requires 
collective action.  If the Iraqi government does not try to 
bring in all its citizens, it will not succeed.  A future 
Iraqi government, he said, might do better.  The Crown Prince 
added that a way to engender Sunni support is for the United 
States, preferably President Bush, to make a "grand gesture" 
on the Palestinian issue similar to what President Reagan did 
during the Cold War in urging Gorbachev to "tear down this 
wall."  This would bring about major changes in the Arab 
world. 
 
MANAMA 00000302  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
--------------------------- 
Severing Iran's "Tentacles" 
--------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (C) The Crown Prince said that Iran is like an octopus 
with its tentacles extended.  These tentacles need to be 
severed.  If there is progress on the Palestinian issue, 
Syria can be convinced to engage with Israel.  At that point, 
there would be tremendous pressure on Syria to end its role 
as liaison between Iran and Hizballah, as well as its 
informal "alliance" with Iran.  In the CP's view, Iran's 
welayat al-faqih (rule of the jurisprudent) system of 
government is "on its last legs."  Some Iranian leaders have 
acknowledged that this form of government is not the best 
thing for the country or the people.  But the regime will not 
crumble, he said.  Rather, it needs to be cut from its 
sources of support.  Iran must be contained, and Bahrain will 
do all it can to help. 
 
¶7.  (C) Commenting on his trip to India, the CP observed that 
the military seemed to be the most organized group in the 
country.  Admiral Fallon said the U.S. wants to capitalize on 
its improved relations with India to promote greater 
Indian-Pakistani reconciliation.  Shaikh Salman said that 
India would like to have a stronger presence in the Arab 
world, but he thought this should wait until its relations 
with Pakistan were better.  India and Pakistan have a long 
history between them, and their rapprochement should not be 
rushed. 
 
------------------- 
Defeating Extremism 
------------------- 
 
¶8.  (C) The Crown Prince said that stability was necessary to 
address the challenges in the region.  Stating that 
democratic reform would not happen quickly and could cause 
massive instability, he suggested that the U.S. should accept 
a slower pace of reform in the region.  One spark could allow 
extremists on all sides to become empowered.  The moderates 
need to be in control and build bridges within society.  The 
GOB was facing challenges of rising sectarianism, 
underemployment, housing shortages, and a tense regional 
environment.  Working in concert with the United States and 
regional countries, there can be stability in the area.  The 
ideology of extremism has to be defeated, he said. 
 
¶9.  (C) The CP thanked Admiral Fallon for the Defense 
Department's long-standing support for the Bahrain School. 
To ensure the school's long-term future the Navy should 
consider allowing its dependents to return to Bahrain in the 
near future.  NAVCENT Commander, Vice Admiral Cosgriff, 
pointed out that force protection was an important factor in 
determining whether to permit dependents to return and said 
that he would seek the CP's help to demonstrate to Washington 
this is under control.  Admiral Fallon commented that he 
would positively transmit the CP's request to the CNO. 
 
¶10.  (U) Admiral Fallon cleared this cable. 
 
 
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