US embassy cable - 04MANAMA1067

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001067 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR S/ES-CR, S/ES-0, NEA AND NEA/ARP 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2014 
TAGS: OPDC, AMGT, BA 
SUBJECT: LETTER FROM KING HAMAD TO PRESIDENT BUSH 
 
REF: MANAMA 1057 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Molly Williamson.  Reason 1.4 (D). 
 
(C) On July 5 Charge met with Minister of State for Foreign 
Affairs Dr. Mohammed Abdul Ghaffar (reftel). During the 
course of the conversation, Dr. Abdul Ghaffar handed a copy 
of a letter from King Hamad to President Bush.  Test of 
letter follow: 
 
Begin Text: 
 
Riffa Palace 
Kingdom of Bahrain 
Arabian Gulf 
4th July, 2004 
 
Dear Mr. Bush, 
 
On this 4th of July, the anniversary of American 
Independence, we want to reaffirm our belief that the 
strategic relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the 
Unites States, developed over one hundred years, cannot be 
affected by passing clouds of alarm caused by terrorist acts, 
acts that we have unconditionally denounced since between the 
attacks of 11 September 2001. 
 
We have stood together in the face of terrorism, and worked 
together hand-in-hand to uproot terrorists and cut off their 
resources, as a natural part of our historic coalition, and 
in order to safeguard the values and principles of the free 
world. 
 
Mr. President, 
We in the Kingdom of Bahrain are confident that our hands 
will remain joined with the people of the United States and 
with you personally, Mr. President, despite the planning for 
the temporary departure from our shores of some American 
families.  Nothing upsets me more than seeing some of our 
American friends feeling insecure amongst Bahrainis, and my 
wish is for them to stay, and to always remain part of our 
Bahraini family. 
 
The reality is that Bahrain has always been, and will remain, 
a place of security and tranquillity, and our national 
security and law enforcement agencies continue to work to 
combat terrorism and uproot terrorists, within our laws and 
Constitution. 
 
Experience has proved the value of the cooperative relations 
between our two friendly countries, since the time that the 
first American warship visited the Arabian Gulf after the 
Second world war, and berthed in a Bahraini port. We have 
also cooperated closely during the two Gulf conflicts, to the 
extent that you declared Bahrain a Major Non-NATO Ally of the 
United States.  In addition, your administration has also 
decided to sign a  Free trade Agreement with Bahrain. 
 
These developments were crowned by your invitation last month 
to meet with you in Sea Island, Georgia, during the G-8 
Summit, to work together towards a more secure and free world. 
 
Mr. President, 
Bahrain will maintain its historic positions, and will not 
change its stand alongside the United States. 
 
      During our meeting yesterday with officials of the 
Bahrain Defence Force, we declared our willingness to support 
Iraq by dispatching a maritime force from Bahrain to secure 
and maintain safe navigation in Iraqi territorial waters, if 
so requested by the new Iraqi government, as part of our 
joint efforts to build a new united and free Iraq. 
 
      Our commitment to maintain security and stability in 
the Gulf and the Middle East will continue in all 
circumstances, hand-in-hand with our friends and allies.  We 
will never allow the threats of the terrorists to derail us 
from this historic mission. 
 
      Finally we take this opportunity, on the occasion of 
American Independence Day, to express our best wishes and 
considerations to you and the friendly people of the United 
States of America. 
 
Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al-Khalifa 
King of Bahrain 
 
End Text. 
WILLIAMSON