VZCZCXRO2234
PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHKU #0696/01 1701121
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 181121Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1692
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 1251
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000696 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NEA/ARP, NEA/I 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2018 
TAGS: PTER PGOV KDRG PREL KTFN KU
SUBJECT: NSB ACKNOWLEDGES INCREASED AL QAEDA ACTIVITY AND 
CALLS FOR ENHANCED BILATERAL COOPERATION 
 
Classified By: CDA Alan G. Misenheimer for reasons 1.4 b and d 
 
¶1.  (S) Summary: Kenneth Wainstein, President Bush's 
Assistant for Homeland Security and Counter-terrorism 
(APHSCT), met with the President of the National Security 
Bureau (NSB), Ahmed Al-Fahd on 11 June.  The principals 
discussed the recent increase in Al-Qaeda-related activity in 
Kuwait, ongoing efforts to staunch the flow of fighters and 
funds into Iraq, and the need for enhanced counter-terrorism 
cooperation.  End summary. 
 
Regional Support for the Al-Maliki Government 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (S) On June 11, APHSCT Wainstein and his delegation, 
accompanied by DCM and Embassy notetaker, met with Shaykh 
Ahmed Al-Fahd Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al Sabah, the President of 
the GOK's National Security Bureau, and his deputy, Shaykh 
Thamer Al-Ali Al-Sabah Al-Salem Al Sabah.  Shaykh Ahmed 
indicated that he had read President Bush's letter to the 
Amir of Kuwait, which noted USG concern about the presence of 
known terrorists in Kuwait and called for intensified 
counter-terrorism measures by the GOK in cooperation with the 
USG.  The NSB chief welcomed the letter, commenting that 
bilateral CT cooperation was already strong but could 
certainly be improved. 
 
¶3.  (S) Shaykh Ahmed noted that he had just returned from the 
Group of Six meeting in Saudi Arabia, and reported that the 
Saudi and Emirati governments had made pledges to upgrade 
their formal cooperation with the government of Nouri 
Al-Maliki in Iraq.  Shaykh Ahmed added that he expected the 
Egyptian government to follow the lead of Kuwait, Saudi 
Arabia and UAE and increase its cooperation with the Iraqi 
government in the near future.  He claimed that his 
government has long been supportive of the Al-Maliki 
government, and, in particular, expressed strong support for 
the recent crackdown on illegal militias in southern Iraq. 
 
Increased Al Qaeda-related Activity in Kuwait 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (S) Shaykh Ahmed stated that the NSB has noted an 
increase in terrorist-related activity in Kuwait in recent 
months.  He said that Al-Qaeda had increased its efforts to 
raise funds and to recruit volunteers in Kuwait, pointing to 
the reported involvement of up to three Kuwaiti citizens in 
suicide bombings in Mosul and northern Iraq in recent weeks. 
 
 
¶5.  (S) Shaykh Ahmed insisted that fundraising for terrorist 
activities in Kuwait is not taking place in any formal or 
legal manner, but rather in the form of small, ad hoc 
donations that are extremely difficult to detect and 
interdict.  He noted that it typically costs between $3,500 
and $4,000 to send a volunteer to Iraq or Pakistan, and that 
such sums were easily raised in Kuwait, given the relatively 
large salaries paid to most of the Kuwaiti workforce.  He 
stated that Syria is the principal conduit for volunteers and 
funds flowing to Iraq for Al-Qaeda activities, adding that 
all support for illegal Shi'a militias is being channeled 
through Iran. 
 
¶6.  (S) Shaykh Ahmed urged the USG to investigate the role of 
small foreign currency exchange outfits in Jordan, many of 
which, he claimed, divert approximately 20% of their 
transactions, value to Iraq for terrorist purposes.  He 
acknowledged the likelihood that similar transactions are 
being undertaken in certain Kuwaiti foreign currency exchange 
outlets, but asserted that Kuwaiti authorities are closely 
monitoring the situation. 
 
¶7.  (S) When asked about the role of the Syria-based Abu 
Ghadiya network, both Ahmed and Thamer sidestepped the issue. 
 They suggested that it is difficult to pinpoint individuals 
given the major role played by elements of the Syrian 
intelligence services in facilitating the movement of 
terrorists and related financing into Iraq. 
 
Claims of Inadequate Intelligence Sharing 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶8.  (S) Ahmed Al-Fahd and his deputy both commented on what 
they perceived to be inadequacies in the sharing of 
intelligence between USG and Kuwait.  Shaykh Ahmed said that 
the USG is often not forthcoming, and that cooperation with 
the British government was "much better" in this regard. 
 
KUWAIT 00000696  002 OF 002 
 
 
Shaykh Thamer was outspoken in his criticism, claiming that 
this has been a recurring problem for several years. 
(Comment: This is a familiar theme with Ahmed Al-Fahd and 
Thamer. It is not supported by the facts.  End comment.) 
 
Counter-Terrorism Legislation 
----------------------------- 
 
¶9.  (S) When asked about counter-terrorism legislation, 
Shaykh Ahmed said that a draft bill is with the Cabinet, and 
that he expects the Government to lobby for the bill in the 
Parliament in the near future.  "This will come," he said. 
The USG delegation expressed concern that inadequacies in 
existing legislation undermine efforts to combat terrorism, 
pointing to the ability of former GTMO detainee Abdullah 
Al-Ajmi to sue the GOK to return his passport, which he then 
reportedly used to travel to Iraq prior to undertaking a 
suicide bombing mission.  Shaykh Ahmed and Shaykh Thamer 
acknowledged the problems with the existing legal framework, 
but added that the GOK intelligence services have the 
wherewithal to control potential troublemakers regardless of 
court decisions. 
 
¶10.  (C) The participants of the meetings, which took place 
at the office of the NSB President included: 
 
U.S. 
Kenneth Wainstein, Assistant to the President for Homeland 
Security and Counterterrorism 
DCM Alan Misenheimer 
Nicholas Rasmussen, Senior Director for Combating Terrorism, 
NSC 
John Duncan, Director for Combating Terrorism, NSC 
Kate Gladney, Assistant to Mr. Wainstein 
Ludovic Hood (notetaker) 
 
NSB 
Shaykh Ahmed Al-Fahd Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al Sabah, NSB President 
Shaykh Thamer Al Sabah, NSB deputy head 
Other NSB staff, names not provided 
 
¶11.  (U) This cable has been cleared by APHSCT Wainstein. 
 
********************************************* * 
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s 
 
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
********************************************* * 
MISENHEIMER