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S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 RIYADH 001699 
 
SIPDIS 
 
WHITE HOUSE FOR OVP, CENTCOM FOR POLAD, NAVCENT AND J5, DOE 
FOR KKOLEVAR AND WBRYAN, DEPARTMENT FOR P SMULL, NEA GCRETZ 
AND ASTEINFELD, AND S/CT 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2018 
TAGS: AG ECON ENRG EPET IR IZ MARR MCAP MOPS OVP
PGOV, PK, PREL, PTER, SA, SY, YM 
SUBJECT: GEN PETRAEUS IN SAUDI 
 
REF: RIYADH 1692 
 
Classified By: Charge' d'Affaires Sandra Muench 
for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) 
 
¶1. (S) SUMMARY. CENTCOM CG GEN Petraeus met with Saudi Crown 
Prince and Minister of Defense and Aviation Sultan bin 
Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Interior Prince Naif bin 
Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Asst. Minister of Defense and Aviation 
Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al Abdulaziz (KBS) to discuss 
regional issues.  Topics included progress in Iraq, stability 
in South Asia, Saudi detainees in Iraq, Yemeni instability, 
Iranian threat and protection of Saudi critical 
infrastructure. Atmospherics were warm and highly positive. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (S) In his first visit as CENTCOM CG to the Kingdom of 
Saudi Arabia, GEN David Petraeus, accompanied by the 
Ambassador, DOE A/S Kevin Kolevar, and CENTCOM senior staff, 
was warmly received by senior Saudi royals on Nov. 8 as they 
discussed a wide range of security and regional issues.  GEN 
Petraeus met with Crown Prince and Minister of Defense and 
Aviation Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Interior 
Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Asst. Minister of 
Defense and Aviation Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al Abdulaziz 
(KBS).  Topics included progress in Iraq, Saudi detainees in 
Iraq, Afghanistan/Pakistan, Yemeni instability, Iranian 
threat and protection of Saudi critical infrastructure. 
 
------------------------ 
Prince Khalid bin Sultan 
------------------------ 
 
¶3. (S) During his meeting with KBS, GEN Petraeus provided 
updates on Iraq, Iran and Pakistan that were subsequently 
covered with the Crown Prince. 
 
------------ 
Crown Prince 
------------ 
 
¶4. (S) In his meeting with Crown Prince Sultan, GEN Petraeus 
reviewed the significant progress achieved in Iraq and an 
update on events in Afghanistan and Pakistan.  The Crown 
Prince, while amicable, appeared frail and somewhat 
disengaged from the conversation.  While the Crown Prince was 
able to voice congratulations for success in Iraq, he had 
trouble speaking and often responded with just a smile.  As a 
sign of a softening in the Kingdom's view of the Iraqi Prime 
Minister, the Crown Prince characterized Nuri al-Maliki as a 
"wise man.8  The Crown Prince also spoke about &when8 
rather than "if8 the Kingdom will send its ambassador to 
Baghdad. 
 
-------------------------------- 
Minister of Interior - Iraq/Iran 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (S) Prince Naif, while also frail-looking, was quite 
animated and was highly engaged in his 90 minute meeting with 
GEN Petraeus.  After congratulations by the Prince for the 
U.S. Presidential election, GEN Petraeus began with a review 
of the progress in Iraq.  Prince Naif concurred that security 
had greatly improved in Iraq, but cautioned the U.S. should 
not withdraw "too early" from Iraq.  If the U.S. withdrew 
prematurely, it would allow both Iran and Syria to establish 
greater influence in Iraq, which would be highly 
 
RIYADH 00001699  002 OF 003 
 
 
destabilizing.  Prince Naif asserted Iran was a "gateway for 
terrorists and drugs."  He advised the U.S. must keep a 
committed presence in Iraq in order for it not to 
disintegrate.  Prince Naif added Saudi Arabia's outreach and 
overtures to Iran had not met with success. 
 
¶6. (S) GEN Petraeus observed that expanded Arab influence was 
the best way to counter Persian influence in Iraq.  Prince 
Naif agreed.  However, as the discussion moved to Saudi 
Arabia re-opening its Embassy in Baghdad, Prince Naif 
countered that security did not yet permit the Kingdom to 
send its Ambassador back to Iraq. 
 
¶7. (S) Prince Naif then expounded at length about Saudi 
detainees held in Iraq.  He commented he had achieved 
progress on this issue with Iraqi National Security Advisor 
Mowaffaq Rubaie, but urged for continued U.S. efforts to 
return all Saudi detainees in Iraq back to the Kingdom. 
 
---------------------------- 
Minister of Interior ) Yemen 
---------------------------- 
 
¶8. (S) Regarding Yemen, Prince Naif emphasized this nation 
must be viewed through a tribal prism.  He stated the central 
government there was "in trouble" with limited capacity, 
bemoaning that there is much smuggling of weapons, drugs and 
illegal aliens into Saudi Arabia through Yemen's porous and 
mostly ungoverned border.  GEN Petraeus concurred with 
Yemen's unstable state, offering that Yemen needs both Saudi 
Arabian and U.S. assistance if it's security is not to 
further decay.  Naif responded the Kingdom was indeed 
providing assistance and would continue to do so to not only 
assist Yemen, but also to counter Iranian influence. 
 
----------------------- 
Saudi Internal Security 
----------------------- 
 
¶9. (S) GEN Petraeus congratulated MOI for its own success in 
countering the internal threat from Al-Qaeda in Saudi Arabia. 
 He emphasized how successful the Saudi rehabilitation 
program has been and how it should become a model for other 
nations to handle extremist detainees. 
 
¶10. (S) Turning to the protection of critical infrastructure, 
GEN Petraeus pointed out how CENTCOM and DOE were working 
together to support the Kingdom as it enhances the defenses 
of its energy production facilities.  He noted this teamwork 
by pointing out that A/S Kolevar was a member of his 
delegation.  Prince Naif fully acknowledged 
the threats against Saudi infrastructure and was grateful to 
USG assistance.  It was noted that contractors would be 
needed to supplement the USG staff working Saudi critical 
infrastructure protection and the benefits that would accrue 
from using U.S. companies for this project.  Prince Naif 
acknowledged the high quality of U.S. companies but indicated 
price will be a major factor by the SAG in which contractors 
they utilize. 
 
¶11. (S) COMMENT.  Due to King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud 
traveling to the U.S. at the same GEN Petraeus traveled to 
the Kingdom, he unfortunately missed his primary 
interlocutors - the King, Intelligence Directorate Prince 
Muqrin bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Asst. Minister for National 
Security Affairs Prince Mohammed bin Naif (MBN).  Still, the 
Saudis provided the best engagement available.  They have 
 
RIYADH 00001699  003 OF 003 
 
 
voiced before their concerns over Iran, Yemen and Syria, as 
well as their acknowledgment of progress in Iraq, but 
reluctance to send an Ambassador there.  The Crown Prince's 
apparent declining health is noteworthy. 
 
¶12. (S) Prince Naif reiterated the SAG's commitment to 
partnering with us to protect their critical infrastructure. 
We have noted before MOI's limited capacity in this project 
despite their sense of urgency (Reftel).  Nonetheless, 
progress is being achieved.  Of note was Prince Naif's 
cautionary comment that the price of contractors, not just 
U.S. nationality, will be a factor in the selection process 
of companies to work the protection of the Kingdom's critical 
infrastructure.  END COMMENT. 
 
¶13. (U) GEN Petraeus has cleared this cable. 
MUENCH