US embassy cable - 05MANAMA273

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 MANAMA 000273 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, DS, S/CT, INR 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PTER, ASEC, KJUS, PINR, BA, IZ, IR 
SUBJECT: PM ENDORSES FOR ENHANCED SECURITY COOPERATION, 
WARNS OF SHIA-DOMINATED IRAQI GOVERNMENT 
 
REF: MANAMA 270 
 
Classified By: Classified by Ambassador William T. Monroe.  Reason: 1.4 
 (b)(d) 
 
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Summary 
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1.  (C) Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa told the Ambassador 
February 26 that Bahrain must improve its security system 
with American assistance.  The United States continues to be 
the leader in dealing with security threats while the Gulf 
region has fallen behind.  The PM expressed his admiration 
for the American legal system, in which no one is above the 
law, and noted the beneficial impact of U.S. education 
exchanges and programs on Bahrain.  He stated that a stable, 
united Iraq should be the overriding objective, and that 
self-rule in various areas of the country could lead to 
division.  The PM warned that a Shia-dominated Iraqi 
government would be pro-Iran and some Iraqi politicians are 
speaking publicly about Iranian influence in the country. 
While it would be a mistake to underestimate the Prime 
Minister, in this meeting he appeared at a bit of a loss as 
he confronted the changing world around him.  End Summary. 
 
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U.S. Support for Improving Domestic Security 
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2.  (C) Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa 
told the Ambassador February 26 that Bahrain needs U.S. 
support in developing its security system.  He said that the 
Gulf region has fallen behind other areas, particularly the 
United States, in dealing with security threats.  It is 
important for Bahrain to understand better the reasons for 
recent extremist activity in Kuwait so it can prevent such a 
development inside the Kingdom.  He commented that Bahrain 
already has sufficient legislation to ensure security but it 
is not being implemented properly.  He agreed with the 
Ambassador's statement that the draft counter terrorism law 
and its provisions on criminalizing conspiracy to commit 
terrorist acts will fill a gap, but said that he does not 
want to wait for new legislation to fight crime and terrorism. 
 
3.  (S) The Ambassador responded that the United States and 
Bahrain share the same objectives.  Security is the 
cornerstone of the President's foreign policy.  The 
U.S.-Bahrain free trade agreement, which seeks to promote 
enhanced economic and commercial relations, can only succeed 
if Bahrain has a safe and secure environment.  We remain 
deeply concerned about the group of extremists arrested last 
summer on terrorism conspiracy charges.  We appreciate 
continued GOB close surveillance of the suspects.  They are a 
small, destructive group of people very angry at the United 
States.  The Ambassador noted that the FBI plans to visit 
Bahrain soon to assist in the development of a 
Counter-Terrorism Operations Center, which will promote 
information sharing and CT operations. 
 
4.  (U) Bahrain's newspapers February 27 prominently covered 
a statement by King Hamad, in the presence of Crown Prince 
Salman and the PM at a February 26 meeting of the Supreme 
Council of Defense, on the need for national security.  The 
King said that the nation's leadership and the people have a 
common responsibility in building up the nation and defending 
it.  All security institutions in the Kingdom must coordinate 
their duties and integrate their plans for safeguarding the 
nation.  The regional and international conditions demand 
"the highest level of awareness and readiness to defend our 
national security and our achievements."  In a likely related 
event, the PM (immediately prior to his meeting with the 
Ambassador) spoke publicly at his weekly "majles" about the 
vital importance of security for all citizens and residents. 
"A spirit of national unity" is crucial in ensuring Bahrain's 
stability and economic success, the PM said. 
 
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Following the American Legal Model 
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5.  (C) The Prime Minister expressed his admiration for the 
American legal system, noting that CNN publicizes crimes of 
prominent people, including business woman Martha Stewart. 
He wants the Bahraini system to follow the American model, 
where no one is above the law.  He told a story about a 
member of parliament who objected to security procedures at 
the airport, telling police, "I'm above you, I'm above 
everybody."  He said that the Bahraini system should not 
permit individuals to claim to be exempt from security 
procedures. 
 
6.  (C) The Ambassador said that democracy is not just 
letting people do what they want.  Freedom of expression, 
elections, and a strong legal system are all important 
aspects of democracy.  The United States is working with the 
GOB to build up the capacity of Bahrain's judiciary.  We 
hosted a number of Bahraini legal scholars, judges, and 
business people in the United States on a rule of law program 
organized by Southern Methodist University.  The American Bar 
Association has a program with the Ministry of Justice.  The 
U.S. Department of Commerce's Commercial Law Development 
Program will hold a conference at the end of March on 
improving Bahrain's commercial law system.  The PM agreed 
that Bahrain needs to strengthen its judicial sector and said 
he would direct his Cabinet ministers to consult with the 
Ambassador on legal issues and security. 
 
7.  (C) The PM recognized the beneficial impact of American 
scholars and education programs on Bahrain's educational 
system.  He said there are a number of Americans teaching and 
studying at universities in Bahrain, and he lauded the 
"famous story" of the DOD Bahrain School in Manama.  The 
Ambassador briefed the PM on our MEPI education programs, 
exchanges, and the Fulbright program.  The PM vowed his 
continued cooperation. 
 
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Concern About Shia-Dominated Iraq 
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8.  (C) In response to the Ambassador's question, the PM said 
that security in Iraq is an important issue for all Gulf 
states.  A stable, united Iraq should be the overriding 
objective, but he warned that self-rule in various areas of 
Iraq could lead to division of the country.  He asked, "Are 
we turning Iraq into a Shia state?  If so, this will be an 
unstable situation" for the region.  With Iraq being run by 
Shias, "will dominos topple all over the Gulf?"  A Shia 
government will be pro-Iran, and some Iraqis including, he 
claimed, IIG PM Allawi, say Iranian influence is evident now 
in Iraq.  He complained that some Iraqi politicians refer to 
themselves as leaders of particular sects, whereas Bahrain 
would prefer that they think of themselves as one people. 
 
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Comment:  PM Dealing with a Changing World 
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9.  (C) There were several discordant notes to this meeting. 
With no sense of irony, the person most associated with 
corrupt business practices (the PM) went on at length on the 
need to deal forthrightly with corruption.  It is perhaps not 
a surprise, given his discomfort with the King's democratic 
reforms, that the PM chose as an example of someone acting 
above the law not a member of the government but rather a 
member of parliament.  As the PM is most comfortable with his 
Sunni base, it is also not a surprise that he expressed deep 
concern about a Shia-dominated Iraq (a concern echoed the 
next day to the Ambassador by MFA MinState Abdel Ghaffar - 
see reftel).  The PM expressed similar concerns about Shias 
in Iraq during a separate meeting with the Kuwait Ambassador. 
 As the Kuwaiti Ambassador said to us, the PM was against the 
war in Iraq and against the democratic reforms and is 
uncomfortable with the results of both. 
 
10. (C) Comment Continued:  He must also be uncomfortable 
with his gradual detachment from the active workings of the 
government.  While by no means isolated -- on the morning we 
met him, his schedule was packed with visitors to his majles 
and other meetings -- he continues to surround himself with 
the same set of advisors, but they no longer hold ministry 
portfolios.  Most notably, Mohammed Mutawa, former Minister 
of Cabinet Affairs, and Abdulla Seif, former Minister of 
Finance and National Economy, now both advisors to the PM, 
were as usual present in the outer offices but did not attend 
the meeting.  The only current Minister to attend the meeting 
was the PM's son, Minister of Transportation Shaikh Ali bin 
Khalifa al Khalifa, as is his custom.  Previous meetings with 
the PM have included ministers with substantial U.S. issues 
in their portfolio, but none were in attendance for this 
meeting.  It would be a mistake to discount the power of the 
Prime Minister, who remains especially powerful in the 
business community and knows how to cultivate his traditional 
support, but in this meeting he appeared at a bit of a loss 
as he contemplated the changing world around him.  End 
Comment. 
 
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Bio Note 
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11.  (C) While apparently otherwise healthy and slim, one of 
the PM's ankles appeared to be swollen.  He walked slowly but 
without noticeable difficulty. 
 
12.  (U) Baghdad minimize considered. 
 
MONROE