US embassy cable - 05MANAMA224

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 MANAMA 000224 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, S/CT, DS 
WHITE HOUSE FOR HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISOR TOWNSEND 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2015 
TAGS: PTER, ASEC, PGOV, PREL, BA 
SUBJECT: BAHRAINIS PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE REGIONAL TERRORIST 
THREAT 
 
 
Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe for reasons 1.4 
(b) and (d). 
 
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Summary 
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1.  (C) Bahraini media have covered the threat of regional 
terrorism in an unusually direct way following recent 
incidents in Kuwait and Oman and the Saudi counter-terrorism 
conference.  The Interior Minister visited Kuwait February 6 
and stated publicly that countries must work together to 
eradicate terrorism before it poses a threat to Gulf national 
security.  The Defense Minister in a February 4 interview 
recognized that no place is immune from terrorism, which has 
"no nation, color, or creed."  The CT conference in Riyadh 
attracted daily, front-page coverage, in particular Saudi 
Crown Prince Abdullah's proposal to establish an 
international institution for combating terrorism.  Prominent 
politicians and activists interviewed by Al Wasat newspaper 
asserted that terrorism is incompatible with Islam and many 
expressed support for new laws to combat terror.  While 
Bahraini officials often speak privately about the dangers of 
terrorism, they have not generally offered the same candor in 
public comments.  This shift may demonstrate their belated 
recognition that Bahrain is no different from other countries 
and could experience a future attack.  End Summary. 
 
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Interior Minister Visits Kuwait 
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2.  (SBU) The coincidence in timing of the Omani roundup of 
extremists, clashes between Kuwaiti authorities and armed 
terrorists (in which a Bahraini student was killed, among 
other casualties), and the February 5-8 Saudi 
counter-terrorism conference has led to an unusual amount of 
press coverage of and public commentary on the regional 
terrorist threat.  The press prominently covered Interior 
Minister Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa's February 6 
visit to Kuwait in the immediate aftermath of the incidents 
there.  He said that he visited to express solidarity with 
Kuwait and noted that he would discuss boosting security 
cooperation in the fight against terrorism.  He continued, 
"We must all work to eradicate this danger before it spreads 
and grows in a way that harms the people and poses a threat 
to Gulf national security."  He declared Bahrain's support 
for all measures "to eradicate these criminal actions and to 
confront jointly and firmly any attempt to undermine security 
and stability in our peaceful region." 
 
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Defense Minister Cites Terrorism Danger 
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3.  (SBU) Defense Minister General Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed 
Al Khalifa addressed the issue in his February 4 interview 
with Al Ayam and the Bahrain Tribune on the anniversary of 
the founding of the Bahrain Defense Force.  He recognized 
that other regional countries, specifically Saudi Arabia and 
Kuwait, have been harmed by terrorism, and stated, "Of 
course, no country can claim that it is immune from attacks, 
no matter how big or strong it is, and the last few years are 
a sad reminder of this terrible truth.  Terror has no nation, 
color, or creed."  He asserted, "We have unequivocally 
condemned the attacks in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, just like 
we condemn terrorist attacks wherever they take place.  We 
regret the terrible attacks in Kuwait, and we hope that they 
will be over soon so that people in Kuwait can feel safe." 
 
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Prominent Coverage of Saudi CT Conference 
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4.  (SBU) The February 5-8 counter-terrorism conference in 
Saudi Arabia was given daily front-page coverage.  Several 
newspapers printed a full color photograph of Homeland 
Security Advisor Townsend shaking hands with Saudi Crown 
Prince Abdullah.  The Saudi proposal to establish an 
international institution for combating terrorism was widely 
praised, and the Bahraini Cabinet formally supported the 
proposal in a February 6 decision.  Attention on the Saudi 
suggestion swamped a Bahraini idea floated February 5 by 
Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid during his visit to Kuwait, 
when he called for the establishment of specialized national 
centers to confront terrorism in the GCC states.  (See septel 
on the Ambassador's meeting with Shaikh Rashid.) 
 
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"Terror Incompatible with Islam" 
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5.  (SBU) On February 7, independent newspaper Al Wasat 
published interviews with eight members of Parliament and 
political society leaders on the subject of terror incidents 
in the Gulf.  All condemned terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia 
and Kuwait, with many adding that the terrorists violated the 
teachings of Islam.  Council of Representatives (COR) member 
Dr. Saadi Mohammed, from the Minbar Islamic bloc, said that 
"such deviant acts are incompatible with the teachings and 
very spirit of Islam."  Independent Salafi COR MP Jassim Al 
Saeedi said, "I lay the blame on and reprimand all those who 
affiliate themselves with Islam then kill and terrify 
innocent people."  He denied that Salafi teachings provide a 
fertile environment for extremists, saying, "Since my 
introduction to Salafi teachings, I have yet to see or hear 
from Salafi scholars anything that encourages fanaticism or 
extremism; on the contrary, they preach tolerance."  He 
stated that terrorism comes from sources outside of Salafi 
teachings.  Shura Council member Mansour Al Arrayed said, "We 
must prove to the world that Islam is a religion that 
encourages tolerance, moderation, and strongly denounces 
violence." 
 
6.  (SBU) Those participating in the interviews addressed 
possible responses to the specter of terrorism in the Gulf 
region.  Al Arrayed proposed that the GCC countries develop a 
joint initiative to combat terrorism.  President of Al Wifaq 
National Islamic Society Shaikh Ali Salman urged governments 
to deal with the roots of terror through implementation of 
reform programs, and not focus solely on a security response. 
 Member of the National Democratic Action Society Radhi Al 
Mousawi asserted that the solution to political frustration 
is more democracy.  He said that governments should confront 
social problems such as poverty, unemployment, low wages, and 
corruption. 
 
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New Laws to Address Terror 
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7.  (SBU) COR MP Farid Ghazi supports new legislation 
designed specifically to combat terrorism, but urged that 
such laws must preserve human rights and dignity.  COR MP 
Yousef Zainal said that precautionary measures must be taken 
to avert possible negative effects of anti-terror laws on 
innocent civilians.  Salafi MP Al Saeedi said that he 
supports expediting the enactment of new laws to combat 
terror and prevent the creation of new cells, but cautions 
that they be in accordance with Islamic Sharia law. 
 
8.  (SBU) On February 9, widely read Al Wasat columnist Abbas 
Busafwan wrote in his regular column that "it is a mistake to 
say that Bahrainis are different and that Bahrain is far from 
any terrorist attack.  If terrorist attacks occurred in 
Kuwait and Saudi Arabia and a fundamentalist group was 
captured in Oman, why do we distance Bahrain from any 
potential attack?"  He adds, "We cannot rule out the 
possibility of terrorist attacks or sleeping terrorist cells 
in Bahrain." 
 
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Comment 
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9.  (S) In a case of unusual candor, prominent Bahraini 
officials, parliamentarians, activists, and journalists are 
publicly acknowledging the possibility of terrorist attacks 
occurring inside Bahrain.  We often have heard this sentiment 
in private, but the rash of incidents in Saudi Arabia, 
Kuwait, and Oman have prompted influential Bahrainis to speak 
more openly about an event possibly happening in Bahrain. 
With regard to dealing with its own local extremists, the GOB 
continues to provide tight surveillance of the four terror 
suspects charged with conspiracy to carry out terrorist 
attacks.  In a possibly related development, the media 
reported this week that the Cabinet is reviewing the draft 
counter-terrorism law in preparation for passing it to 
Parliament. 
 
MONROE