US embassy cable - 04KUWAIT4407

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 004407 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, INR 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KU 
SUBJECT: SUCCESSION:  APPEAL FOR ROYAL TITLE DAMAGES 
CHANCES FOR REAL POWER 
 
REF: A. KUWAIT 3391 
 
     B. KUWAIT 3580 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1. (C)  In a December 15 meeting, a senior advisor to the 
Prime Minister told Poloff that Shaykh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah, 
Commander of the National Guard, had asked the Amir on 
November 30 -- in the presence of both the Crown Prince and 
PM -- "if (PM) Shaykh Sabah was more important than him" and 
demanded the title "His Highness." (Note: Shaykh Sabah was 
granted the title His Highness upon being named Prime 
Minister in July 2003.  Shaykh Salem Al-Ali previously held 
the title "His Excellency."  End Note.)  The Amir acquiesced, 
bestowing the title of "His Highness" thus codifying Shaykh 
Salem's position as the number three person in the Al-Sabah 
family rank order, behind the Amir and Crown Prince. 
 
2. (C) Downplaying the significance of the title, the PM's 
advisor told Poloff any chances Shaykh Salem had of becoming 
Crown Prince or Amir were effectively killed by the rash 
demand for the new title.  He added that the demand was proof 
that Shaykh Salem did not possess the political acumen 
necessary to lead. 
 
3. (SBU) Shaykh Salem started a flurry of speculation in 
October when he announced that major high-level Sabah family 
leadership changes were imminent (reftels).  The eighty year 
old Shaykh is the senior member of the Salem branch, one of 
two branches (the other is the Jaber branch, from which the 
Amir comes) eligible for the two top posts. 
 
4. (C) Comment:  The abrupt December 1st official designation 
of National Guard Chief Shaykh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah as "His 
Highness" was the result of a direct appeal by Shaykh Salem 
to the Amir, and may have fatally damaged Shaykh Salem's 
chances of ever attaining the positions of either Crown 
Prince or Amir.  His acquisition of the title "His Highness" 
is widely viewed as a concession by the Amir to a senior 
Al-Sabah family member who lacks in real influence what he 
enjoys in seniority.  That said, he is still the most senior 
member of the Salem branch, and as such will most likely be 
in a position to influence the outcome of inner circle 
Al-Sabah deliberations on who will be the next Amir. 
 
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LEBARON