US embassy cable - 04KUWAIT4428

UNCLAS KUWAIT 004428 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR S/CT KINCANNON AND MCCUTCHAN, NEA/ARPI FOR BERNS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER, ASEC, KCRM, EFIN, KHLS, KPAO, KU 
SUBJECT: Kuwait:  2004 Annual Terrorism Report Draft 
 
REF:  State 245841 
 
1. (U)  Embassy Kuwait's submission for the 2004 Patterns of 
Global Terrorism report is provided below.  The text will 
also be submitted electronically as instructed reftel. 
Addendum information will be provided septel.  Post contact 
is Political Chief Natalie E. Brown who can be reached at 
BrownNE2@state.gov. 
 
2.  (U)  Begin text: 
Kuwait continued to engage with the U.S. Government and with 
its neighbors to thwart domestic threats to Kuwaiti and 
foreign interests.  It also continued to provide significant 
support to U.S. efforts to stem terror financing. Following 
the four terror attacks carried out against Operation Iraqi 
Freedom and Coalition Forces between October 2002 and 
December 2003 -- which resulted in the death of one U.S. 
Marine and a U.S. defense contractor -- the Government of 
Kuwait (GOK) strengthened domestic counterterrorism efforts, 
but the potential for further attacks remains a serious 
concern. 
 
The Kuwaiti Government has taken some measures to bolster 
security and enhance protection for Coalition Forces 
transiting Kuwait.  Kuwait State Security (KSS) has worked 
to identify and arrest terror suspects, but the office of 
the public prosecutor claims that insufficient, concrete 
information has hampered the conviction of many suspected 
terrorists.  Those actually sentenced to jail for 
recruiting, supporting, or being a terrorist have often had 
their sentences suspended or commuted to a nominal fine. 
 
As part of its campaign against terror, the GOK formed in 
October a ministerial committee chaired by the Minister of 
Awqaf and Islamic Affairs to develop strategies to combat 
terror and extremists.  Kuwaiti officials and clerics also 
denounced terror attacks in the region and sharply 
criticized those who condoned them.  In November, the 
Government forbade Kuwaiti ministries and religious 
institutions from extending official invitations to 29 Saudi 
clerics who reportedly signed a statement in support of 
jihad in Iraq.  No entry ban was imposed, however, and at 
least one cleric visited the homes of some Members of 
Parliament and other private gatherings, sparking widespread 
public criticism of the cleric's presence.  The Islamic 
political bloc has been critical of the Government's methods 
in confronting and dealing with Islamic extremists. 
 
Following the December 6 attack on U.S. Consulate General 
Jeddah, the Government of Kuwait augmented security around 
U.S. installations in Kuwait.  In addition, Kuwait, 
responded quickly to U.S. concerns about a possible terror 
attack in December, reviewing security and initiating a 
search for the individual believed to be the source of the 
threats.  Kuwaiti officials have also heightened security 
along their border with Iraq to prevent militant 
infiltration and have also worked with Syria and Iran to 
develop procedures to increase intelligence sharing and 
enhance customs and border-monitoring cooperation.  In July, 
Syria repatriated to Kuwait four minors and one adult 
recruited to carry out suicide bomb attacks in Iraq.  Kuwait 
subsequently arrested up to 12 Kuwaitis reportedly being 
trained to attack U.S. and Coalition Forces in Iraq.  To the 
best of our knowledge, all but two of them have been 
released on bail. 
 
Kuwait also continued to implement every U.S.-ordered 
terrorist-fund freeze.  In August 2003, the Government froze 
the assets of HAMAS over the objections of some  elements of 
the Kuwaiti population. 
 
Kuwait is a party to ten of the 12 international conventions 
and protocols relating to terrorism.  Kuwait is not party to 
the Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of 
Terrorism or the Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist 
Bo