US embassy cable - 04KUWAIT3771

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 003771 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR NEA/ARPI, INR, AND INR/B 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, KU, PINR 
SUBJECT: AMIR'S SON ALLEGES CONSPIRACY TO OUST HIS FATHER 
AND THE CROWN PRINCE 
 
REF: A. KUWAIT 3635 
 
     B. KUWAIT 3580 
     C. KUWAIT 3391 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (S)  Summary and Comment:  An Al-Sabah ruling family 
member and son of the Amir recently asked PolChief to join 
him on a walk through his garden during which he railed 
against the Prime Minister, accusing him of manipulating his 
power and position to force the Amir and Crown Prince out of 
office.  He said most Kuwaitis expected the PM to eventually 
become Amir and it was disrespectful for him to encourage the 
Amir to take an "early retirement in Geneva."  The Shaykh 
spoke of a definite rift in the ruling family, but in 
contrast to press reports, it was not between the Jaber and 
Salem branches, rather it was among the old guard and the 
young Turks of the Jaber line in a struggle for control of 
family resources.  As one of the Amir's many sons, the Shaykh 
has a clear bias, but Post believes his criticisms of his 
uncle the PM genuinely stem from what he considers to be 
improper behavior and not anger or disappointment that his 
own political future is at stake.  In fact, as head of an 
extraneous government body, his career has most likely 
peaked, a common assessment among Post contacts and something 
the Shaykh himself seems to realize.  The Shaykh does not 
seem to disapprove of the ultimate ascendancy of PM Shaykh 
Sabah, rather his concerns center on the manner in which he 
becomes Amir and the exclusion of the extended family in the 
process.  End Summary and Comment. 
 
Crown Prince Returns Renewing Interest in Succession 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
2.  (S)  Crown Prince Shaykh Sa'ad returned to Kuwait October 
28 following a month of medical treatment in the UK.  His 
return has renewed interest in the succession issue, with 
some observers arguing that his return reunites the ruling 
family, thus enabling it to reach a final decision on who 
will succeed the ailing, elderly leaders and when. 
Commenting on succession, one of the Amir's sons pulled 
PolChief aside at a recent diwaniya to express his 
displeasure at what he considers the machinations of Prime 
Minister Shaykh Sabah to assume the amirship.  The Shaykh 
reported that the PM has coveted the position for years and 
is only acting now because of his own advancing age and not 
because of the worsening conditions of both the Amir and CP. 
It is a fact that the PM is the de facto ruler of Kuwait; 
therefore, said the Shaykh, there is no real reason to seek 
the Amir's or the CP's abdication.  In fact, the Shaykh 
claimed that the PM, with the assistance of current Deputy 
National Guard head Shaykh Mish'al, was behind the 2003 
decision to remove the PM portfolio from the CP.  He 
explained that Shaykh Mish'al, younger brother of both the 
Amir and the PM, was subsequently rewarded with the National 
Guard.  He also said the CP's recent visit to London was not 
voluntary.  He alleged that Mish'al, assisted by his brother 
Interior Minister Shaykh Nawaf, forcibly removed the CP from 
his home and sent him to London, fully expecting him not to 
return.  The Shaykh bitterly said such action was unnecessary 
since everyone knows the CP "is finished."  (Note:  The 
Ambassador attended the CP's November 1 Ramadan diwaniya and 
observed that the CP, while in much better physical health 
than the Amir, is not in command of his mental faculties. 
End Note.) 
 
Survival of the Fittest:  The PM vs. the Amir 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
3.  (S)  The Shaykh was particularly upset following the 
October 26 opening of the National Assembly.  According to 
the Constitution, the Amir opens each session of the National 
Speech with what amounts to a state of the union address.  He 
may delegate the PM to deliver the speech, as was the case on 
the 26th.  The Shaykh complained that the deliberate care 
with which his father was ushered into the assembly hall, the 
mussing of his "ghutra" (white headdress) and the slowness 
with which it was readjusted, as well as the lengthy address 
delivered by the PM were attempts to highlight the 
differences between the still healthy PM and the frail Amir. 
He said everyone knows the Amir is not well and the PM sought 
to discredit and embarrass him.  It would have been better, 
argued the Shaykh, to let his father say a few words to 
declare the session opened and forego the long speech. 
(Note:  In fact, the Amir did whisper the words opening the 
session, with some audible coaching from aides.  End Note.) 
 
All in the Family 
----------------- 
 
4.  (S)  The Shaykh added that the PM and his sons (Shaykh 
Naser, an economic adviser in the PM's office, and Shaykh 
Hamad, a businessman) control most of the extended family's 
extensive financial wealth and the PM now seeks to 
consolidate wealth and political power in one distinct 
lineage.  (Note:  Observers in Kuwait rate Shaykh Sabah and 
his sons among the top five wealthiest families.  End Note.) 
 The Shaykh also mentioned rumors that the PM intended to 
name Naser as CP, but reported other older family members, 
such as Mish'al, balked. 
 
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LeBaron