US embassy cable - 04MANAMA1867

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 001867 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR HADLEY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2014 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, KDEM, PGOV, BA, IR 
SUBJECT: DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR HADLEY'S DECEMBER 
4 MEETING WITH BAHRAINI CROWN PRINCE SALMAN 
 
Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 
(b) and (d). 
 
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Summary 
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1.  (C) Deputy National Security Advisor Hadley met with 
Bahraini Crown Prince Salman December 4 on the margins of the 
IISS Gulf Security Dialogue conference in Manama.  DNSA 
Hadley praised Bahrain's leadership role in the G8 Broader 
Middle East reform initiative, and noted the President's 
desire for progress in Israel/Palestinian peace negotiations. 
 The Crown Prince stated that the international community has 
to communicate its model of a just society to counteract Al 
Qaida's dangerous ideas.  DNSA Hadley requested financial 
support for the Palestinian Authority to ensure its viability 
following the January elections.  The Crown Prince raised the 
increase in U.S. troops on the ground in Iraq, and DNSA 
Hadley said that this was a temporary measure to increase 
security during the Iraqi election period but that in the 
long term Iraqis would comprise a larger percentage of the 
troop strength.  The CP said that Bahrain would support an 
Iraqi decision to delay the elections, but the Iraqis had not 
decided to do this.  Turning to Bahrain, the CP said that 
Bahrain had arrested the terrorist suspects to disrupt a plot 
to attack before the U.S. elections.  He could not predict 
what the court might decide in the case against the four 
suspects.  End Summary. 
 
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Leader in Middle East Reform 
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2.  (C) DNSA Hadley opened the December 4 meeting by thanking 
the Crown Prince for his comments in the IISS Gulf Security 
Dialogue conference, particularly about the U.S. seeking to 
help those interested in political and economic reform in the 
Middle East.  The President believes strongly in the G8 
Broader Middle East and North Africa initiative and 
recognizes Bahrain's leadership role.  The President sees a 
strategic opportunity to achieve progress in the 
Israel/Palestine issue.  The Crown Prince pointed out his 
view that the U.S. tends to talk privately to Israel but 
publicly to the Arabs.  The U.S. is in the process of 
reassessing its approach and is looking for the best way to 
move ahead. 
 
3.  (C) The Crown Prince said Bahrain recognizes that 
maintaining security in an interdependent world requires 
close coordination and communication.  If there are concerns, 
we have to address them right away and eliminate any 
misunderstanding.  Al Qaida is propagating dangerous ideas 
and we cannot let the terrorists bring us to our knees.  We 
know we have a more just model of how we should live, and we 
have to promote this model. 
 
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Financial Support for PA 
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4.  (C) DNSA Hadley said the PA is strapped for cash and that 
Finance Minister Fayyad is under pressure each month to pay 
salaries.  The international community should come together 
to ensure that the PA is more financial viable following the 
January 9 elections.  Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Mubarak 
Al Khalifa interjected that Mahmoud Abbas needs all the help 
he can get.  PM Sharon did not give him a chance to succeed 
when Abbas was prime minister.  On the financial side, donors 
look at all the money that was given for schools and other 
infrastructure projects, and it all was destroyed.  Some 
people ask why they should help again.  He said, however, "we 
in the Gulf are ready to help Abbas" to give him a chance to 
succeed.  In response to the Crown Prince's question, DNSA 
Hadley replied that Hamas appears strong but the PA security 
forces might be able to address the threat if they cooperated 
and strengthened their capabilities.  The CP said that Hamas 
is popular in Gaza because it provides better services than 
the PA and is not corrupt. 
 
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Al Qaida Allied with Baathists 
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5.  (C) DNSA Hadley said that the U.S. and its allies had 
eliminated 75 percent of Al Qaida's leadership.  Local groups 
associated with Al Qaida now have much looser affiliations 
than was the case previously, and they do not have the 
capacity to carry out a huge attack like 9/11.  In Iraq, Al 
Qaida may be allying itself with the Baathists, and our goal 
should be to isolate them from the rest of the Iraqi 
population.  The Crown Prince mentioned that the U.S. was 
increasing the number of troops on the ground in the lead up 
to the January 30 elections, and agreed that this was 
necessary.  DNSA Hadley said that this was for a temporary 
period only and Iraqis would eventually comprise a larger 
percentage of the troop strength in the country, but this 
takes time.  U.S. forces in Iraq currently are a source of 
both security and insecurity. 
 
6.  (C) DNSA Hadley suggested that Iraq's immediate priority 
should be to get Iraqi Sunnis to participate in the upcoming 
Iraqi elections.  Though some had been encouraging the U.S. 
to delay the elections, Hadley pointed out that this is an 
Iraqi decision, not an American one.  The Crown Prince 
responded that Bahrain would support an Iraqi decision to 
delay, but the Iraqis have not said this yet.  DNSA Hadley 
noted that the Shia want elections on time and delaying them 
could cause a real dilemma.  PM Alawi would have to decide 
what he wants to do. 
 
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Case Against Bahraini Terrorist Suspects 
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7.  (C) Regarding combating terrorism, DNSA Hadley said that 
we must cooperate and share intelligence.  When we find bad 
guys, we have to keep them in custody and use the legal 
process against them.  In the case of Bahrain, we are aware 
that there are many pressures, but we are concerned about the 
arrest and release of terrorist suspects and the message this 
sends.  The CP replied that he understood the United States 
had been most interested in disrupting an attack prior to the 
U.S. elections.  The GOB had heard the U.S. say that Bahrain 
might or might not find something to use against the 
terrorists; the important thing was to disrupt the plot.  The 
Crown Prince said that Bahrain had found only what was on the 
suspects' personal computers and nothing else.  When Bahrain 
locks someone away, it must be for a good reason.  At best, 
the suspects could be sentenced to three years in prison; at 
worst, they could get time served.  The most dangerous 
suspect is behind bars for six months for having fled the 
court during a September hearing.  The CP said he could not 
predict what the court might do to the four suspects.  The 
U.S. should see that Bahrain is doing the best it can within 
the rule of law.  The suspects are under tight surveillance 
and should not be cause for worry. 
 
8.  (C) In closing, DNSA Hadley alluded to U.S. concerns 
about a possible retreat from the GOB's commitment to 
political free speech and human rights, saying that 
Washington valued Bahrain's leading role in this field and 
hoped that it would be maintained.  The CP took the point. 
 
9.  (U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
 
10.  (C) The NSC cleared this message. 
 
 
MONROE