VZCZCXRO1522
PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHMK #0370/01 1100652
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 200652Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6740
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 000370 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2017 
TAGS: PREL MOPS BA REGION OFFICIALS
SUBJECT: BAHRAINI LEADERSHIP WELCOMES NEW NAVCENT/FIFTH 
FLEET COMMANDER 
 
REF: MANAMA 356 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe.  Reasons: 1.4 (B)(D) 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶1. (C) In a series of introductory calls with the Bahraini 
leadership, NAVCENT/Fifth Fleet Commander Vice Admiral 
Cosgriff heard a consistent message of support for Bahrain's 
long-standing relationship with the U.S. Navy and Bahrain's 
commitment to continued future support.  "You can always 
count on us as your friend and ally," stressed Foreign 
Minister Shaikh Khalid.  Shaikh Khalid indicated that Bahrain 
would soon respond positively to the USG invitation to 
Bahrain to join the PSI Operational Experts Group.  Defense 
Minister Shaikh Khalifa suggested that our two countries 
revive the Military Planning Committee Working Group, which 
has not met since 2003, to update planning on terrorism 
scenarios.  Concern about Iran was a second major theme of 
the discussions, with all interlocutors worrying about the 
Iranian threat to Bahrain and the region. 
 
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VICE ADMIRAL MEETS THE BAHRAIN LEADERSHIP 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) Over the last two weeks, newly-arrived NAVCENT/Fifth 
Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Kevin Cosgriff, accompanied by 
Ambassador, carried out a series of introductory calls on 
Bahrain's senior leadership, expressing his appreciation for 
the long and continuing support that the U.S. Navy has 
received from the government and people of Bahrain, and 
looking forward to continuing close cooperation during his 
stay in Bahrain.  This cable summarizes Vice Admiral 
Cosgriff's discussions with Crown Prince Shaikh Salman, Prime 
Minister Shaikh Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh 
Mohammed bin Mubarak, Defense Minister Shaikh Khalifa, 
Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid, and Interior Minister Shaikh 
Rashid.  Reftel reported on his meeting with King Hamad. 
 
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STRONG ENDORSEMENT FOR U.S. PRESENCE IN THE REGION 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶3. (C) All of Admiral Cosgriff's interlocutors praised the 
long and positive role that the U.S. Navy has played in 
Bahrain and the Gulf.  The Crown Prince expressed pride in 
Bahrain's long relationship with the United States, stating: 
"We need you here, and stand ready to assist you." The Prime 
Minister hailed the long-term continuity of the relationship, 
contrasting it to the British who "one day said they were in 
the Gulf for the long haul and two days later announced that 
they were leaving."  DPM Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak said 
that the Bahraini people understand that the U.S. presence 
here is for the good of the region.  "People should not 
criticize the U.S. for being here," he stated.  "They should 
remember that the U.S. is here at the invitation of the 
countries of the region." 
 
¶4. (C) Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid wished Admiral Cosgriff 
full success during his stay in Bahrain, stressing that the 
U.S. "can always count on us as your friend and ally,"  He 
observed that prosperity and security in the region is not 
just the responsibility of the U.S., but also of the 
countries of the Gulf, which is why we must stand together. 
In that connection, he welcomed more joint military exercises 
and said that, having consulted with the Ministry of Defense, 
he expected to forward to the Embassy soon a positive 
response to the U.S. invitation for Bahrain to participate in 
the PSI Operational Experts Group. 
 
¶5. (C) Further on the question of cooperation, Defense 
Minister Shaikh Khalifa suggested that our two countries 
schedule a meeting of the Military Planning Committee Working 
Group, which has not met since October 2003.  Shaikh Khalifa 
said it could be useful for this working group to plan for 
contingencies and review possible terrorism scenarios.  He 
said that Bahrain would like to do joint exercises with the 
U.S. to enhance force protection and defend against potential 
terror threats, especially against the base.  In a similar 
vein, Minister of Interior Shaikh Rashid, noting that his 
ministry was participating in a major consequence managementQ 
exercise at the Navy base next week, praised the 
well-established and close cooperation with the U.S. Navy. 
All doors are open, he stated.  He fondly recalled when 
Bahrain had hosted Eagle Resolve under the Cooperative 
Defense Initiative (when he was at the Ministry of Defense), 
 
MANAMA 00000370  002 OF 002 
 
 
and wished Bahrain could host such a multilateral consequence 
management event again.  (Comment: Qatar will be hosting it 
this year for the third year in a row; now that Shaikh Rashid 
is at Ministry of Interior, Eagle Resolve is not directly in 
his lane to host.  End comment). 
 
------------------------ 
SECURITY/NAVY DEPENDENTS 
------------------------ 
 
¶6. (C) The Crown Prince, observing that "we went through a 
tough period" with the departure of the Navy dependents in 
2004, expressed hope that dependents could return and gave a 
strong endorsement for the Bahrain School, noting that he has 
two children at the school and has a strong personal interest 
in the school's success and security.  Interior Minister 
Shaikh Rashid stressed the importance he places on "keeping 
you safe."  Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Mohammed recalled 
the positive role that Navy families had played in Bahrain, 
and said "people want them here." 
 
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CONCERN ABOUT IRAN 
------------------ 
 
¶7. (C) A common theme in all of the meetings was continuing 
concern about Iran and its intentions.  DPM Shaikh Mohammed 
said flatly that "Iran is a threat to the region. When a 
country puts a higher priority on developing its military 
than on developing its economy, I don't trust it.   We've 
seen it before, with Egypt, Libya, and Iraq, and now with 
Iran."  He noted that the economies of all of the countries 
of the Gulf are booming except one -- Iran, whose economy is 
deteriorating. Iran is a neighbor, so Bahrain wishes it well. 
 "You can change your friends," he said, "but not your 
neighbors."  He added that, concerns about Iran's intentions 
notwithstanding, Bahrain does not advocate the use of force. 
This is a UN issue, he stated, and Bahrain hopes the UN and 
the international community will take the necessary steps to 
resolve the issue. 
 
¶8. (C) The Prime Minister touched on Iran briefly, noting his 
lack of trust of the Iranians by saying that Iran reaches out 
with one hand in friendship while going behind your back to 
others with the other hand.   Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid 
stated that it is incumbent on Iran to change its policy. 
Transparency by the Iranians on the nuclear issue is 
paramount, he stressed. 
 
¶9. (C) Minister of Interior Shaikh Rashid said that he was 
struck, during his March visit to Washington, how in every 
office he visited - State, FBI, CIA, Navy -- there was such 
heavy focus in his discussions on the threat from Iran. "For 
us," he said, "Iran has always been the number one threat." 
Bahrain does not trust Iran, he stated, and has to be 
prepared for attempts by Iran to disturb the peace inside 
Bahrain.  He expressed concern about Iranians moving money 
out of Iran through Bahrain, and vowed that the Bahraini 
government would be active in implementing UN resolutions to 
prevent this. While he expressed concern about the role of 
the Shia mullahs in Iran (he called them the real 
"generals"), he said that this was not an Iranian or Shia 
threat, but in fact a Persian threat -- meaning it has always 
been the Persian ambition to control the Gulf. 
 
¶10. (C) The Crown Prince urged that the U.S. Navy (and the 
USG) stand strong in deterring the Iranians.  He expressed 
concern about the situation in Iraq, and urged that the U.S. 
focus hard on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, saying 
that progress on that front can be a real catalyst for 
changing the situation in the Middle East. 
 
********************************************* ******** 
Visit Embassy Manama's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/manama/ 
********************************************* ******** 
MONROE