US embassy cable - 04KUWAIT3880

S E C R E T KUWAIT 003880 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2014 
TAGS: PREL, MOPS, IZ, KU 
SUBJECT: UNDERTAKING MILITARY ACTION IN FALLUJAH 
 
REF: (A) SECSTATE 238424 (B) BAGHDAD 1707 
 
Classified By: DCM Matt Tueller for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1. (S) DCM conveyed reftel points to MFA Americas Department 
Head Ambassador Khalid Babtain on November 10.  Babtain 
stated that Kuwait fully supported IIG and Coalition action 
to defeat insurgents in Fallujah and would make that support 
known publicly.  He disparaged a public statement attributed 
to the Syrian government criticizing the military action in 
Fallujah and also dismissed a "tired call" from Iraqi clerics 
calling for an electoral boycott in response.  Babtain's only 
other substantive comment was to express hope that the 
fighting in Fallujah subside before Eid al-Adha in order to 
alleviate public concern about the impact on civilians and to 
allow the upcoming Sharm al-Shaikh meeting to focus 
productively on political steps. 
 
2. (S)  We also drew from reftel points on the margins of a 
November 11 meeting with Defense Minister Shaykh Jaber 
Mubarak Al-Sabah who affirmed solid GOK support for military 
operations in Fallujah.  Shaykh Jaber wished for a speedy and 
successful outcome for coalition forces.  He noted that 
skewed media coverage was as much an enemy to the coalition 
as the insurgents and promised that the U.S. could rely on 
continued GOK support. 
 
3. (S) According to a UK source, Iraqi VP Jafaari's meeting 
with Kuwaiti PM Shaykh Sabah al-Ahmad was positive.  Shaykh 
Sabah opened and read the letter from PM Ayad Allawi in 
Jafaari's presence (the letter explained the rationale for 
military operations in Fallujah and asked for Kuwait's 
understanding and support) and he commented immediately that 
he agreed and that Allawi was right.  This report tracks with 
Shaykh Sabah's reaction to Deputy Secretary Armitage on 
November 8 that the operation was necessary, but care should 
be taken not to let it "tarnish the U.S. image." 
 
4. (U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
LeBaron