VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKU #1096/01 3071107
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 021107Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2282
INFO RHEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY

S E C R E T KUWAIT 001096 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
NEA/ARP, NEA/I, DHS FOR TOM WARRICK 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/20/2018 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER CVIS KU
SUBJECT: IMPLEMENTATION OF DHS API/PNR PROGRAM RAISES 
PRIVACY CONCERNS FOR GOK OFFICIALS 
 
REF: A. WARRICK/JONES EMAIL DATED OCTOBER 11 
     ¶B. 2008 
     ¶C. KUWAIT 991 
     ¶D. KUWAIT 1022 
     ¶E. KUWAIT 1075 
 
Classified By: A/DCM OLIVER JOHN FOR REASONS 1.4 b, d 
 
¶1. (S/NF) Summary: In follow-up to discussions held between 
Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff and the Kuwaiti Prime 
Minister held September 19, 2008, between, Homeland Security 
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism Policy Thomas 
Warrick and accompanying delegation from DHS met with GoK 
officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs (MFA), 
Interior MOI National Security Bureau (NSB) and Kuwait State 
Security (KSS) to discuss a proposed classified DHS program 
to establish a legal framework and technical system for the 
real-time acquisition and sharing of Advance Passenger 
Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) data. DAS 
Warrick highlighted Secretary Chertoff's commitment to 
increasing counterterrorism (CT) cooperation and information 
sharing that would benefit both countries. The Kuwaitis 
agreed that the API/PNR system would provide better 
intelligence collection and linkage of known/unknown 
terrorists entering/exiting Kuwait, but expressed 
reservations about providing the United States with private 
data on Kuwaiti citizens.  GoK officials also pointed out 
that domestic legal and political considerations would be 
significant obstacles, but both Kuwait State Security held 
and the NSB held out the possibility of providing data, on a 
classified basis, for non-Kuwaitis.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (S/NF) On October 20-21, 2008 DHS Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Counterterrorism Policy Thomas Warrick and an 
accompanying DHS delegation met separately with Deputy 
Director of Kuwait's National Security Bureau, Shaykh Thamer 
Al-Ali Al Sabah, Director, Follow-Up and Coordination 
Department Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Khaled 
Mohammed Al-Maqamis; Director of Kuwait State Security (KSS) 
General Sulayman Muhaylan; and Director of Engineering, 
Kuwait Civil Aviation, Sami Al-Hulaibi to propose 
establishing a program for the real-time acquisition and 
sharing of Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name 
Record (PNR) data.  DAS Warrick stressed that this initiative 
had the blessings of both DHS Secretary Chertoff and Kuwaiti 
Prime Minister Shaykh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al Sabah, and 
briefed GoK officials on the prospective advantages to joint 
U.S./Kuwait security that could be derived from participation 
in the API/PNR program.  These included obtaining access to 
constantly updated data from airline records that would, 
potentially, permit both countries to identify possible 
terrorist or criminal threats. 
 
¶3. (S/NF)  Warrick noted that, additionally, the PNR portion 
of the program would provide CT officials in both countries 
access to data (e.g. telephone, email travel itinerary and 
credit card information) that could expand information about 
known persons of concern and broaden the scope of information 
on these individuals to include other persons and entities of 
interest with whom the target individuals may be in contact. 
 Information available from API/PNR, he noted, is much more 
extensive than that Kuwait presently accesses through its 
current APP (Computer-assisted) passenger pre-screening) 
system  Warrick noted that the European Union, after 
resolving some initial privacy concerns, had announced it was 
implementing an API/PNR-type system.   Underscoring the 
benefits to Kuwait of participation in API/PNR, Warrick told 
GoK officials that an MOU would permit the USG to identify to 
the GOK persons of concern through existing channels and 
relationships for sharing information, and that armed with 
this information, the GOK could either monitor such persons 
or deny them entry. 
 
----------------------- 
GoK Says Sharing API/PNR Data on Kuwaitis Poses Domestic and 
Legal Obstacles 
----------------------- 
 
¶4.  (S/NF)  Shaykh Thamer expressed several reservations 
about providing the USG data on Kuwaiti citizens, chiefly 
privacy concerns.  Thamer pointed out that he, personally, 
would be very uncomfortable knowing that the USG or other 
agencies had access to his personal travel itinerary, credit 
card information or other personal data and that similar 
objections from many members of Parliament -- especially from 
those who have Hezbollah or Islamist connections -- would 
constitute a severe political legal obstacle to acceptance of 
such a program.   Speaking candidly, Thamer also stated that 
 
he had concerns over a perceived disinclination on the part 
of the USG to cooperate in the sharing of CT-related 
information.  He asserted that the GOK has appealed to the 
USG for the rationale behind the U.S. Treasury's designation 
of the Kuwait-based Revival of the Islamic Heritage Society 
(RIHS) but had received nothing in response.  Thamer 
indicated that the USG,s non-cooperation on RIHS did not 
encourage the GOK to sign on to API/PNR.   Thamer also noted 
that Kuwait,s constitution limits the government,s ability 
to collect data of the kind proposed under API/PNR and that 
changing this was difficult given current political 
realities.  Thamer suggested, as an alternative, that the USG 
examine the possibility of going through the UNSC to obtain a 
mandate for the exchange of information akin to that 
contemplated under API/PNR; such a step would ease the way 
for the GOK to work through its domestic legal underbrush. 
 
¶5. (S/NF)    In response, Warrick noted that DHS has taken 
great pains to ensure that privacy concerns were protected 
and that only persons of real CT or criminal concern are 
tapped by the program.   The system, he noted, significantly 
expands the capacities of participating countries to protect 
themselves from terrorists or criminals beyond what is 
available at present from API or simple visa checking 
processes.   While acknowledging Thamer,s concerns and 
expressing a willingness to explore these further, Warrick 
emphasized the USG,s strong interest in developing a DHS/NSB 
relationship.  Turning to the subject of legal obstacles, 
Warrick also urged Thamer to explore whether, as has been 
done in other countries, simple administrative procedures and 
regulations -- such as the ones the GOK presently uses to 
obtain APP data -- might be utilized to enhance cooperation 
without the need for new legislation.   Thamer took this on 
board but was non-commital. 
 
--------------------- 
CT Cooperation A Major Concern for the GoK 
--------------------- 
 
¶6. (S/NF)  The Director of MFA's Follow-up and Coordination 
Department, Ambassador Maqamis was receptive to the 
information presented by DAS Warrick, pointing out that the 
GoK is on the same side when it comes to fighting terrorism. 
He was chiefly concerned with the technical aspects of the 
system, noting that he was familiar with the operating system 
already in place (Note: GoK currently operates under the APP 
system which links directly with SITA (an information 
technology company based in Geneva with facilities in the 
U.S. that handles an extensive communication network for 
government agencies and air transport companies) and asked 
whether DHS would provide the necessary technical assistance 
to implement a new system. He also requested a written 
version of the technical aspects of the system, as well as a 
copy of the proposed MOI, to present to officials in the GoK 
for further discussion. 
 
¶7.  (S/NF) Warrick said a team from DHS would provide 
technical assistance and answer any questions for the GoK. 
He added that the proposed Memorandum of Intent had been sent 
to Kuwait's Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Salem 
Al-Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and would be provided to the 
GoK.  Maqamis said he would request a copy from Ambassador 
Salem.  Maqamis was also interested in how Kuwait's current 
system compared to the new system.  Warrick explained that 
the major difference between APP and API/PNR is the greater 
use to which API and PNR information can be put.  It allows 
the host country to make connections between criminals and 
terrorists it already has knowledge of, and previously 
unknown associates, through exchange of information i.e. 
credit card, telephone, and travel companions.  Maqamis was 
receptive to the system adding that it was a very positive 
and advanced step regarding the exchange of information. 
 
------------------------- 
Kuwaiti Citizens Privacy A Sensitive Subject to KSS 
------------------------- 
 
¶8. (S/NF)  Kuwait's State Security (KSS) Director General 
Sulayman Muhaylan provided DAS Warrick with a general 
overview of the obstacles that KSS has faced over the past 
two years following Kuwait's implementation of APP.  He noted 
that for certain companies and institutions, in the past GoK 
allowed the entry of foreign nationals without receiving the 
approval of KSS, making it difficult for KSS to know who was 
entering/exiting the country.  General Muhaylan boasted that 
he had succeeded in taking control of this issue mostly 
through a direct line of communication with Kuwait Civil 
Aviation (KCIA).   Muhaylan cautioned that the sharing of 
 
private information on Kuwaiti citizens with the U.S. 
Government was a sensitive issue.  He also noted that such a 
program, given the privacy issues, would be rejected by 
Parliament. 
 
¶9. (S/NF)  On the other hand, he said KSS is very interested 
in collecting information on non-Kuwaitis, and that this 
would not be a concern since only Kuwaiti privacy was 
protected under Kuwaiti law.  Muhaylan said the Kuwaitis were 
proposing to establish a committee to discuss the sharing of 
information, to include implementation of the proposed 
API/PNR system, noting that in order to establish the 
committee it would have to be approved by the Minister of 
Interior.  Muhaylan said he would recommend the committee 
discuss implementation of API/PNR, data collection concerns, 
exchange of information and legal concerns. Once the 
committee was formed, he asked if DHS would provide a 
technical team to answer questions and provide explanations 
to the committee.  Finally, he stressed that KSS is not the 
final authority to approve the API/PNR; while KSS would 
support any cooperation with the U.S. and is very open with 
U.S. intelligence agencies, privacy is a very sensitive issue 
in the Gulf Region. 
 
¶10. (S/NF) Warrick asked Muhaylan about establishing a 
working group to discuss all aspects of API/PNR and to sort 
out legal and other concerns.  Warrick asked Muhaylan what 
specific provisions of Kuwaiti law governed privacy issues, 
but Muhaylan did not identify any specific provisions of 
Kuwaiti law, nor did he take Warrick up on an invitation to 
have lawyers sit together so the USG could better understand 
Kuwaiti law on this subject.  Warrick stressed that the 
exchange of information between GoK and USG would provide 
intelligence information that would benefit both countries 
and make Kuwait aware of people about whom they should be 
concerned but were aware.  In regard to legal concerns 
pertaining to Kuwaiti citizens, he asked if the GoK would be 
receptive to moving forward with API/PNR implementation were 
it to collect information only on non-Kuwaitis.  The General 
responded by stating that, "in regards to non-Kuwaitis, KSS 
is very open to an exchange of information." 
 
------------------------------ 
Regional Implementation Would Benefit All GCC Countries 
------------------------------ 
 
¶11. (S/NF)  During their October 21 meeting at Kuwait 
International Airport, KCIA Engineering Director, Sami 
Al-Hulaibi told DAS Warrick that he was pleased with the 
benefits of the current APP system and welcomed any 
improvements to the system, adding that he would like to see 
such a system implemented globally.  He noted that 19 of 43 
airlines are currently cooperating with KCIA (including Iran 
Air) in providing required information and expects more to 
come on board in the near future.  Warrick asked why all 
airlines were not complying with the APP requirements, to 
which Al-Hulaibi replied that the problem is the lack of 
Kuwaiti law requiring compliance or providing penalties for 
non-compliance.  He stressed that the Memorandum of Intent 
which had overall security responsibility for the country, 
should require compliance from all airlines. (Note: 
Al-Hulaibi said following Chertoff's meetings with the Prime 
Minister, he has seen more cooperation from the MOI End 
note.)   He also stressed that unless all countries in the 
region implement the same system, API/PNR would not benefit 
Kuwait, pointing out that some regional airports lack the 
required infrastructure and technology. 
 
¶12.  (S/NF)  Warrick asked how KCIA was able to secure 
legislation to implement the use of APP at Kuwait 
International Airport and whether the same approach might be 
used to implement API/PNR.  Al-Hulaibi explained that the 
Higher Council of Aviation, which includes the President of 
DGCA, Minister of Commerce and the Undersecretary Ministry of 
Interior, agreed a system was needed to increase security at 
Kuwait's Airport.  The Ministry of Finance financed the 
project and a Directive was sent to KCIA requiring 
implementation of APP.  Expressing concern over privacy 
information and legislative issues, Al-Hulaibi said getting 
the approval for sharing API/PNR information with the U.S. 
Government would be an obstacle. 
 
¶13. (S/NF) Comment: The Kuwaitis were clearly offering up a 
coordinated interagency position that they could not or would 
not provide the USG with API/PNR data on Kuwaiti citizens. 
The GOK is unwilling to have this become yet another 
flashpoint in relations with the Kuwaiti Parliament.  KSS did 
not claim a legal problem with collecting API/PNR data on 
 
their own citizens.  Thus, it remains to be explored whether 
the Kuwaitis would agree to accept DHS assistance to set up 
an API/PNR program that would give API/PNR data on 
non-Kuwaiti citizens to the USG.  End comment. 
 
¶14.  (U) This cable has been cleared by DAS Tom Warrick 
 
********************************************* * 
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/ 
********************************************* * 
JONES