US embassy cable - 04KUWAIT3607

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 003607 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2014 
TAGS: ASEC, EPET, IZ, KU, MARR, MOPS, PREL, PTER 
SUBJECT: MINDEF TELLS PDASD FLORY FUEL WILL CONTINUE TO 
FLOW; SHARES CONCERNS ABOUT IRAQ'S NEIGHBORS 
 
REF: KUWAIT 03465 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (a), 
(b), and (d) 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY AND COMMENT.  Kuwaiti Defense Minister Shaykh 
Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah explained in an October 19 
meeting with PDASD Flory and the Ambassador that the GOK 
request for a fuel contract (for fuel supply to the U.S. for 
use in Iraq) was simply an administrative issue and easily 
resolved.  Jaber confirmed that there was no/no plan to cut 
off the fuel supply in support of OIF and that getting a 
number into the budget was all that was needed for 
transparency.  Shaykh Jaber also raised concerns about the 
roles of Iran, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, reporting that the 
latter two were supplying Iraq with armored vehicles.  Shaykh 
Jaber reiterated that the GOK is only providing humanitarian 
assistance.  The underlying theme in Shaykh Jaber's comments 
was GOK concern about Iraq's future military capabilities and 
what it means for Kuwait's security.  END SUMMARY AND COMMENT 
 
Iraq Issues:  Fuel, U.S. Bases, and GOK-IIG Meetings 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
2. (C)  In a meeting with PDASD for International Security 
Affairs, Peter Flory and Ambassador LeBaron, Defense Minister 
Shaykh Jaber spoke of the fuel issue (supply of Kuwaiti fuel 
for use by the U.S. forces in Iraq) in terms of transparency 
and accountability, stating that the problem is an 
administrative one that can be easily resolved.  The solution 
is to assign a value so that the amount of fuel supplied 
could be fiscally measured.  When asked by the Ambassador 
about the Coalition Forces move from Camp Doha to Arifjan, 
Shaykh Jaber replied the few problems that occurred were 
related to space and had already been resolved.    Shaykh 
Jaber also asked for advice on his upcoming meetings with IIG 
officials.  (Note:  Minister of State for Amiri Diwan Affairs 
Shaykh Nasser told the Ambassador in a separate meeting that 
Iraq President Ghazi al-Yawer would visit Kuwait October 30 
and November 1 en route to Bahrain.  End Note.)  Flory 
presented an overview of the latest security situation and an 
outlook for the period up to and including the elections. 
 
Iran and Syria Unhelpful Neighbors to Iraq 
------------------------------------------ 
 
3. (C)  Shaykh Jaber also expressed GOK concern about the 
activities of Iraq's neighbors, specifically Iran and Syria. 
He spoke of his recent visit to Iran and said that GOI 
officials he met expressed concern about the U.S. mission in 
Iraq.  He told them Iraq would have eventually used WMD 
against Iran and Saddam's ouster benefited them too.  Flory 
pointed out that Iran was using a steady flow of money and 
arms in a bid to influence southern Iraqis while some in the 
Syrian leadership did not want the border to be better 
controlled and felt that the movement of insurgents into Iraq 
better suited their purpose. 
 
 
Fire Trucks But No Armored Vehicles 
----------------------------------- 
 
4. (C) Shaykh Jaber surprised his audience by asking if they 
had information on Iraq's solicitation of light armored 
vehicles from Jordan and Saudi Arabia.  He claimed Jordan had 
supplied some armored vehicles, but Saudi declined for the 
time being.  He did not expound on the type or number of 
vehicles provided, but was firm in his belief that the Iraqis 
did have them.  He restated Kuwait's intent to offer 
humanitarian assistance only and said the GOK recently sent 
several fire trucks to Iraq and was paying the salaries of 
many firemen. 
 
5.  (U)  Baghdad:  Minimize considered. 
 
 
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LeBaron