US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT1286

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 001286 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI, H FOR COOPER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2015 
TAGS: PREL, OREP, PGOV, KWMN, ECON, EAID, KU, Codels 
SUBJECT: SENATOR REED THANKS KUWAIT FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT; 
DISCUSSES WOMEN'S VOTE, IRAQ, IRAN, PALESTINIANS, GHADAFI 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1. (C) Summary: Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), accompanied by the 
Ambassador, OMC-K Chief and Poloff, met Kuwaiti Deputy Prime 
Minister and Minister of Defense Shaykh Jaber Mubarak 
Al-Hamad Al-Sabah March 27 at the Minister's home. The 
Senator expressed appreciation to Kuwait for assistance with 
U.S. military operations. The Minister reiterated the GOK's 
confidence that the National Assembly soon will grant women 
the right to vote. He also expressed confidence in probable 
Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Al-Jaafari while lamenting 
Iran's decision to reject international nuclear monitoring. 
He noted the recent release of $40 million to the Palestinian 
Authority. Meanwhile, the instability in Lebanon comes as no 
surprise to the Kuwaitis. Finally, the Minister clarified 
that Prime Minister Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's 
meeting with Libyan leader Muhamar Ghadafi centered on 
securing the release of Kuwaitis arrested on espionage 
charges. End summary. 
 
Thank You Kuwait 
---------------- 
 
2. (C) Senator Reed thanked the GOK and the Kuwaiti people 
for their support of U.S. forces to help the people of Iraq. 
The Minister responded that the U.S. is the "best of allies" 
and that the GOK appreciates U.S. troops and the war on 
terrorism. "I can't thank you enough for everything you've 
done," he said. Senator Reed added that the U.S. recognizes 
Kuwait's struggle with terrorism and its efforts to combat 
it. 
 
Women's Voting Rights 
--------------------- 
 
3. (C) The Minister declared that the Government will succeed 
and the suffrage legislation will pass. He added that Kuwait 
is a functioning democracy, something not found in other 
places in the region. The only thing remaining to solidify 
Kuwait's democratic values is for Kuwaiti women to gain the 
right to vote. 
 
Iraq 
---- 
 
4. (C) Shaykh Jaber said that Iraq is a rich country, both 
culturally and resource-wise, and peace will help it return 
to its former position. He mentioned that the current 
struggle between Sunni and Shia is natural as each group vies 
for its own benefit. With time, the Minister felt, the 
various factions would begin to focus on the good of the 
nation and not just on their own constituencies. He warned 
that the threat of a return to dictatorial rule looms should 
one group continue to dominate and threaten the others. The 
Minister said he has a positive image Ibrahim Al-Jaafari with 
whom he had lunched. Shaykh Jaber viewed Jaafari as a good, 
smart man whom "we should get to know better." 
 
Palestinians 
------------ 
 
5. (C) Shaykh Jaber said that both the Israelis and 
Palestinians need to do their part for peace, commenting that 
both sides currently are suffering heavy losses and paying a 
high price. The Senator mentioned that the change in 
Palestinian Authority (PA) leadership has allowed the U.S. to 
modify its policy and reinitiate financial contributions to 
the PA. He encouraged the GOK to follow suit. The Minister 
reported the transfer of $40 million in Kuwaiti aid, which 
was reported at the Algiers Arab League Summit. 
 
Other Regional Concerns 
----------------------- 
 
6. (C) The Minister shared that he was surprised Iran, which 
Kuwait views as a friend and commercial market, had not 
responded to international nuclear monitoring efforts, 
resulting in Iran becoming a threat to the rest of the 
region. Shaykh Jaber said that he visited Iran prior to 
military action in Iraq and noticed how open-minded the young 
Iranians he met on the street were. The Minister said the GOK 
expected problems in Lebanon after the death of Rafiq Hariri 
since the government is unstable. "We expected riots on the 
streets," he added. 
 
Libya 
----- 
 
7. (C) According to the Minister, the GOK has problems with 
Libyan leader Muhamar Ghadafi's extravagant spending despite 
his government's heavy debt burden. He said that the only 
reason why Prime Minister Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber 
Al-Sabah met with Ghadafi at the Arab League Summit in 
Algiers was to secure the release of Kuwaiti hunters who, the 
Minister said, mistakenly entered Libya from Egypt and were 
arrested and charged as spies. 
 
8. (U) Senator Reed departed before this message was prepared. 
 
9. (U) Minimize considered. 
LEBARON