US embassy cable - 03KUWAIT4680

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 004680 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/FO, NEA/ARP 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/13/2013 
TAGS: PREL, SA, KU 
SUBJECT: (C) GOK SEES STRONG SAUDI COMMITMENT AGAINST 
TERRORISM 
 
 
Classified By: AMB. RICHARD H. JONES; REASON 1.5 (B,D) 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY: The GOK assesses that key Saudi leaders 
Prince Sultan and Prince Nayif have become strongly committed 
against terrorism since the May 12 Riyadh attacks.   END 
SUMMARY. 
 
2. (C) NEA PDAS Larocco called on Shaykh Sabah al-Khalid 
al-Hamad al-Sabah, Chairman of Kuwait's National Security 
Bureau, October 13, during a brief visit to Kuwait.  This 
message reports what Shaykh Sabah al-Khalid (protect 
throughout) had to say about Saudi Arabia (other topics 
septels). 
 
3.  (C) Sabah al-Khalid said that since the May 12 Riyadh 
attacks, the Saudi leadership -- i.e. senior members of the 
ruling family -- had finally concluded that terrorism 
represented a direct threat to the family.  Neither Defense 
Minister Prince Sultan nor Interior Minister Prince Nayif 
had, until then.  Both had accommodated extremists, in order 
to keep peace; they had never admitted that their own ranks 
contained extremists in key positions.  Now they do admit it, 
and have taken decisive action.  It is a big job, and the 
Saudi leaders understand they will suffer additional 
casualties, but the Kuwaiti leadership believes the Saudis 
will press on systematically, purging the ranks of the 
military, National Guard and Ministry of Interior, while 
working to provide direct guidance to imams for their Friday 
sermons. 
 
4.  (U) Ambassador Larocco was the source of this message, 
but did not have time to clear the cable itself. 
 
5.  (U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
JONES