US embassy cable - 04KUWAIT4413

S E C R E T KUWAIT 004413 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/18/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PTER, CASC, EFIN, KU 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR URGES GOI ACTION ON TERROR THREAT IN 
TALK WITH FOREIGN MINISTER 
 
REF: A. KUWAIT 4362 
 
     B. KUWAIT 4359 
     C. STATE 255421 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) 
 
1. (S/NF) Ambassador met with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Shaykh 
Dr. Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah on December 18 and 
initiated the conversation by stressing the gravity of the 
recent security threat posed to U.S. interests in Kuwait. 
Ambassador noted that the matter was being dealt with in 
liaison channels but that he also wanted to make sure that 
the political levels of the Kuwaiti Government understood 
that the USG was taking this threat very seriously and 
watching intently to see what actions Kuwait would take to 
counter it effectively.  Noting the recent attack on our 
consulate in Jeddah, Ambassador said that the USG and its 
friends could not afford to ignore any indication of 
terrorist activities, particularly when the information 
suggests the possibility of an imminent action. 
 
2. (S/NF) The FM did not offer a substantive reply on the 
specifics of the Ambassador's presentation.  He noted that 
the Embassy's warden message of December 15 had gotten the 
attention of people in Kuwait, with some in the local 
financial community asking him whether they should leave the 
country.  The FM also asked for details on what transpired in 
the attack on the Consulate in Jeddah, and the specific 
response of the Saudi forces during the siege. The Ambassador 
provided a brief account of the events and the Saudi 
reaction. In response to the Ambassador's comment that Kuwait 
needs to examine its terrorism finance laws to enable 
preemptive action against terror planners, the FM said that 
the GCC is developing terrorism financing laws.  He claimed 
that the legislation will become part of Kuwait's legal code. 
The FM provided, however, no timeline for ratification. 
 
********************************************* *** 
Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait 
 
You can also access this site through the 
State Department's Classified SIPRNET website 
********************************************* *** 
LEBARON