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OO RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHMK #0343/01 1050526
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O 150526Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6711
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT  PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 000343 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2017 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MASS MCAP BA BILAT OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: MARINE CORPS COMMANDANT DISCUSSES IRAN, IRAQ, 
BAHRAINI MILITARY WITH MINISTER OF DEFENSE 
 
Classified By: DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
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Summary 
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¶1.  (S) Minister of Defense General Shaikh Khalifa Al Khalifa 
told Marine Corps Commandant General James Conway April 5, 
that he had received intelligence about an Iranian submarine 
that had entered Saudi waters recently, but when the 
information was passed to the Saudis, they did not act on it. 
 General Khalifa said that the region had been able to bear 
Iran's "meddling fingers," referring to its support of 
various terror groups, but if Iran were to develop a nuclear 
device, the region would experience a nuclear arms race.  In 
Iraq, the Minister pointed to the need for efforts on several 
fronts beyond the military, including public relations, 
social services, and mediation between religious groups.  He 
also identified two areas in which the Marine Corps could 
provide assistance to the Bahraini military: 1) by making 
available M-60 spare tank parts, and 2) by encouraging 
contact between the administration and students of the Marine 
Corps Staff College and Bahrain's newly opened Military Staff 
College.  End summary. 
 
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Iran Unpredictable 
------------------ 
 
¶2.  (S) In a meeting April 5 with Marine Corps Commandant 
General James Conway, Minister of Defense General Shaikh 
Khalifa Bin Ahmed Al Khalifa stated that he had received 
intelligence about an Iranian submarine that had entered 
Saudi waters recently.  Bahrain informed the Saudi 
government, but according to the Minister, the Saudis did not 
take the information seriously.  The Minister characterized 
the Iranian leadership as being fragile inside but wanting to 
outwardly present a false front of strength at the highest 
levels.  He said that Iran will always have its "meddling 
fingers" abroad, supported by a healthy budget at the Iranian 
president's disposal to channel funds to terror groups in 
Lebanon, Iraq and beyond. 
 
¶3.  (C) General Khalifa said that if the nuclear issue with 
Iran does not escalate, the region can live with the status 
quo, but if Iran succeeds in building a nuclear weapon, there 
will be a nuclear arms race in the region.  He expressed hope 
that Iran would not develop a weapon, but said that Iran 
points to other countries in the region, such as Pakistan and 
Israel, which have nuclear weapons, and wonders why it should 
not be allowed to develop them.  The Minister pointed to 
South Africa as an example of a country that abandoned its 
nuclear weapons program, hoping that Iran would do the same. 
"Adding members to the (nuclear) club will be a nightmare for 
us in the region and for the rest of the world."  He said, 
"Most frightening is that regimes such as Iran's do not have 
a strong system of government accountability, so if it were 
to develop a weapon, it would only take a small number of 
people to make the decision to use it.  We have seen this 
happen before; both Iraq and Iran have used chemical weapons." 
 
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Progress in Iraq 
---------------- 
 
¶4.  (C) When asked about the progress in Iraq, General Conway 
described signs in Anbar province that segments of the Sunni 
population were banding together against Al Qaida in Iraq 
(AQI).  He said he was encouraged by early signs of success 
of the "surge" in Baghdad and hoped this success would 
contribute also to operations in Anbar.  The Minister 
acknowledged the complexity of the situation and commented on 
the need for a comprehensive effort, including public 
relations, social services, and mediation between religious 
groups.  General Khalifa stressed the importance of increased 
Iraqi involvement in the overall effort, while recognizing 
that Iraqi forces are not up to full strength yet and that 
loyalty to local militias, rather than to the central 
government, is a considerable problem. 
 
----------------------------------- 
Areas of Need for Bahraini Military 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (C) In discussing Bahrain's military readiness, General 
Khalifa requested assistance for Bahrain's fleet of 160 M-60 
tanks.  He said that he had mentioned this request 
previously, but had been encouraged to consider purchasing 
M-1 tanks.  He said that with recent budget reductions and 
parliament's increasing oversight of the budget, it was 
 
MANAMA 00000343  002 OF 002 
 
 
unlikely the army would be able to consider a purchase of M-1 
tanks in the near future.  In the meantime, he said the 
military was having some trouble finding spare parts and 
wondered if the Marine Corps would consider making parts 
available to Bahrain.  General Conway said that he would look 
into this possibility. 
 
¶6.  (C) The Minister also mentioned the Bahraini Military 
Staff College that opened this year with its first batch of 
students.  He said that the Staff College could benefit from 
contact with both students and members of the administration 
from the Marine Corps Staff College (MCSC) and asked General 
Conway for his support.  The Minister said that Bahrain would 
like to look to the the MCSC as a model for its Staff College 
and requested that more formal contacts be established. 
General Conway welcomed the engagement. 
 
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Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ 
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MONROE