US embassy cable - 04MANAMA629

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000629 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP 
CAIRO FOR STEVE BONDY 
LONDON FOR ETHAN GOLDRICH 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/03/2029 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, BA 
SUBJECT: BAHRAINI REACTION TO TREATMENT OF IRAQI POWS AT 
ABU-GHRAIB PRISON 
 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Robert S. Ford 
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (C)  Embassy contacts expressed their anger and disgust 
about the media reports on the treatment of Iraqi POWs at Abu 
Ghraib Prison. After seeing these images on Al-Jazeira 
television, President of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights 
Nabeel Rajab told PolOff on May 3 that the USG expects Arabs 
to cooperate when it is clear that the US has no respect for 
Arabs. Human Rights Activist Adel Al-Abassi told PolOff on 
May 3 that reports out of Iraq in addition to USG's support 
of Israel over Palestine is typical US behavior.  Bahrain 
Women's Society member Soroor Qarooni told PolOff on May 3 
that American soldiers and their generals need to be removed 
from the region and severely punished.  "No human being 
deserves this type of humiliation," she said. 
 
2.  (C)  Youth Forum member Jaafer Hamza told PolOff on April 
30 that he could not put into words the shame and pity he 
felt, after seeing photos in the local newspaper.  Another 
member Sami Maliky called PolOff on May 2 to vent his anger 
over a picture forwarded to him showing a smiling American 
soldier having two Iraqi youths display a sign that read, 
"Lance Corporal Boudreaux killed my Dad, then he knocked up 
my sister." "You can't blame of us for thinking that all 
Americans, even stupid soldiers, must hate Arabs," Maliky 
said.  Law student Dua' Al Masae'd told PolOff on May 3 that 
it was disgusting to see the "enjoying smiles" of the 
American soldiers, who sexually posed the naked prisoners. 
 
3.  (U)  The press reported on May 1 that pre-eminent Shi'a 
religious cleric Issa Qassim, during his Friday sermon, 
addressed the issue of Iraq and the policy of the American 
occupation. He said that Americans are materialistic and have 
lost all credibility since they came to loot Iraq and enslave 
its people.  Qassim then warned the Americans of the gravity 
of entering Iraq's holy cities saying that the cities' 
shrines are not only for Iraqis, but for all Muslims. 
 
4.  (U)  Writers and opinion leaders have questioned U.S. 
democratic and human rights values.  Bahrainis are also 
comparing Arab satellite coverage of the POW issue with 
coverage on CNN and BBC World.  One managing editor told the 
PAO that Arabs no longer trust CNN or BBC to report 
accurately on what is happening in the region - they only 
trust the Arab satellite channels.  Many Bahrainis believe 
that the mistreatment of Iraqi POWs is much more widespread 
than has been reported in the U.S. media.  They believe 
prisoners in Guantanamo and Afghanistan have also been 
subjected to torture. 
 
5.  (C)  On the other hand, one of the most anti-American 
newspaper editors told Charge on May 3 that the one positive 
from this affair is that the US Army started the 
investigation.  If the investigation is serious, the US will 
regain a fraction of its lost credibility. 
 
6.  (C)  COMMENT.  Most of the Embassy contacts who provided 
their opinions on the Iraqi POWs during the course of 
discussing regular Embassy business. Although the Bahrain 
population appears angry regarding the treatment of Iraqi 
POWs, we do not expect that its reaction will translate into 
any type of organized protest or specific threat nor does it 
appear to affect their relationships with Embassy personnel. 
END COMMENT. 
FORD