US embassy cable - 04KUWAIT4540

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 004540 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/27/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PINR, KU 
SUBJECT: SURVIVING GRANDSON OF LATE AMIR MUBARAK THE GREAT 
SAYS KUWAIT CANNOT APPEAR AS U.S. LAPDOGS 
 
REF: KUWAIT 03544 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1. (C) Summary and Comment: In a December 26 call on the 
Ambassador, Shaykh Mohammed Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, the 
eldest surviving grandson of Mubarak the Great, complained 
about a lack of American respect for Kuwait.  Shaykh 
Mohammed, a young but influential Shaykh, admitted to an 
inability to "hold (his) tongue," in his criticism of the 
bilateral relationship and cautioned that the U.S. should not 
take Kuwait for granted.  It is unlikely that Shaykh Mohammed 
was speaking as an official messenger of the ruling family, 
however, his message has been increasingly heard from other 
members of the Al-Sabah family (reftel).  He mentioned on 
several occasions his closeness to Prime Minister Shaykh 
Sabah and his influential relationship with the Council of 
Ministers and, unofficially, with Members of Parliament.  He 
may have wanted to portray himself as a convenient back 
channel to the family and may be seen by the family as a 
useful messenger because he is known to be direct and frank. 
End Summary and Comment. 
 
Don't Take Us For Granted 
------------------------- 
 
2. (C) During a frank December 26 discussion with the 
Ambassador about the U.S.- Kuwait relationship, Shaykh 
Mohammed Abdullah Al-Sabah launched into a respectful but 
unyielding criticism of the current state of bilateral ties. 
Shaykh Mohammed is the president of a Council of Ministers 
agency that monitors citizens' services and assesses 
government performance.  (Note: The agency is a two-year-old 
GOK-sponsored organization designed to help improve the 
GOK,s services to Kuwaitis and minimize the sway of 
influence, or "wasta," in society.  Shaykh Mohammed noted 
that another young Shaykh, Thamer Jabir Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, a 
son of Amir Jabir's by his sixth wife Badria bint Nasir, runs 
the day-to-day operations of the agency.  It was recently 
brought into a direct relationship with the Prime Minister's 
office. End Note.)  After brief pleasantries, Shaykh Mohammed 
began his complaint to the Ambassador saying that Kuwait had 
paid its dues in the last war and that while he disagrees 
completely with many Kuwaiti Islamists, it is difficult "to 
appear as the U.S. lapdogs to our neighbors."  The Ambassador 
said there is a timing and perception gap between the U.S. 
and Kuwait on certain issues.  He stressed that while no one 
in Washington underestimates the importance of Kuwait, the 
war in Iraq continues and the need for Kuwait's support 
continues.  The Ambassador also emphasized the need for U.S. 
and Kuwaiti leaders to discuss the long-term objectives of 
the relationship--something, he explained, that has been 
difficult to address because of the current need to focus on 
Iraq. 
 
3. (C) A common refrain heard throughout the conversation was 
that the U.S. continued to take Kuwait for granted. 
Expressing frustration, Shaykh Mohammed claimed that 
Washington treats Qatar and Bahrain with more respect than 
Kuwait, when, he asserted, Kuwait has done much more for the 
U.S.  He alluded to the U.S. control of several of Kuwait's 
piers and other large tracts of land for minimal or no cost 
as a point of growing contention.  He claimed that Prime 
Minister Shaykh Sabah feels the U.S. is taking Kuwait for 
granted and wonders when Kuwait will be treated with respect. 
(Comment: It was unclear whether these references to the 
Prime Minister's comments were from internal GOK discussions, 
family meetings, or whether they were meant as a message from 
Shaykh Sabah. End Comment.)  Shaykh Mohammed also pointed out 
that without Kuwait, the U.S. could not have launched the war 
in Iraq -- a statement often made by U.S. officials to 
Kuwaitis in appreciation for Kuwait's contribution and not 
typically one aggressively emphasized by our GOK 
interlocutors. 
 
4. (C) Shaykh Mohammed remarked that unless things change, 
"the relationship will turn sour."  He explained that in a 
tribal culture like Kuwait, respect is very important.  A 
lack of respect, he remarked, is leading to a waning of 
gratitude toward the U.S. which could damage the 
relationship.  Shaykh Mohammed did concede, however, that 
Kuwait is not yet close to that point, but he emphasized that 
the relationship is heading in this direction and wanted to 
inform the Ambassador that emotions were "swelling" in Kuwait 
over the matter. 
 
5. (C) The Ambassador stressed to Shaykh Mohammed that the 
U.S. recognizes the importance of the bilateral relationship 
and informed him he was encouraging more high-level U.S. 
visits to Kuwait to discuss issues of mutual concern.  The 
Ambassador appealed for patience, restating that the war in 
Iraq is a huge enterprise requiring a great deal of U.S. 
attention and effort.  Shaykh Mohammed boldly, yet 
respectfully, inquired why Kuwait must show patience while, 
in his view, Qatar does not have to.  The Ambassador 
responded saying the relationship with Kuwait is unique and 
has been built and shaped by two wars in a very short period 
of time. 
 
Bio Note: An Outspoken Young Shaykh with Amiri Aspirations 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
6. (C) Shaykh Mohammed, in his early thirties, is the eldest 
of two living grandsons of Amir Mubarak the Great (1896-1915) 
and appears to have a great deal of influence by virtue of 
this uniquely close link to the historic ruler. (Note: 
Although not from the Jabir or Salem branch of the family, he 
is, in theory, in the line of succession to become Amir.  He 
is technically a first cousin of the current Amir,s late 
father Amir Shaykh Ahmed I. End Note.)  Consequently, he has 
close relationships with many senior members of the Al-Sabah 
family, including Shaykh Sabah, and is believed to hold sway 
over many Members of Parliament.  A quiet speaker, perhaps in 
an effort to portray an air of strength and importance, 
Shaykh Mohammed shared with the Ambassador that he has been 
accused of having a "hypnotic" pull over some MPs and also 
noted a close relationship with Iraqi President Ghazi Yawar 
because of family links.  In an effort to convey goodwill and 
to demonstrate his influence, Shaykh Mohammed told the 
Ambassador to call him if the Embassy ever has difficulty in 
obtaining meetings with GOK officials. 
 
7. (SBU) Shaykh Mohammed is married to Shaykha Bibi bint Fahd 
Al-Ahmed Al-Jabir Al-Sabah, who is the sister of Energy 
Minister Ahmed Al-Fahd and the granddaughter of Amir Shaykh 
Ahmed, 1921-1950.  Mohammed's mother Shaykha Souad bint 
Mohammed, who amassed a fortune in real estate, is known as a 
ruthless businesswoman who advocates for foreign military 
contracts, including the M1A1 Abrams tank; she also 
represents British Petroleum.  Shaykha Souad reportedly puts 
much of her time and efforts into promoting the interests of 
her two sons and it is believed that she is actively trying 
to insert her sons into the line of Amiri succession. 
 
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LEBARON