US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT2228

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 002228 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR NEA/ARPI AND S/CT 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/24/2015 
TAGS: ASEC, KISL, KU, PGOV, PREL, PTER, SA, TERRORISM 
SUBJECT: KUWAIT'S INTERIOR MINISTER APPLAUDS WOMEN'S 
RIGHTS, WELCOMES U.S. TRAINING, AND CALLS FOR MORE CT 
COOPERATION 
 
REF: KUWAIT 0504 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (c) 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY.  In a meeting with the Ambassador on May 24, 
Interior Minister Shaykh Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, 
said that the Prime Minister is seeking to place a woman in 
the Cabinet.  (Note: The Prime Minister confirmed this in a 
meeting later in the day.)  On C/T training, the Ambassador 
told Shaykh Nawaf that the recent ATA Needs Assessment team 
was favorably impressed by MOI units they observed and 
discussed future training opportunities for MOI personnel. 
He stressed the importance of planning ahead for training. 
The Ambassador then requested more effort to find the three 
most wanted militants still at large from January's 
shoot-outs and noted U.S. assistance in this task.  Shaykh 
Nawaf agreed to exert an all-out effort to find these 
suspects.  In response to a question, he said there was good 
cooperation with Saudi Arabia on C/T, but said more is 
needed.  Shaykh Nawaf proffered setting up an information 
center in each GCC country in order to share counterterrorism 
information and expertise.  Finally, the Ambassador urged the 
Minister to urge GOK officials to engage their Iraqi 
counterparts as a way to support the political process 
underway in Iraq.  END SUMMARY. 
 
Women's Political Rights: It Was Time 
-------------------------------------- 
 
2. (C) The Ambassador's May 24 meeting with Interior Minister 
Shaykh Nawaf started off with congratulations on the May 16 
passing of the bill granting the women the right to vote and 
hold office.  Shaykh Nawaf, present at all of the debates in 
Parliament and a women's rights supporter, said that it was 
time for Kuwait to give the other half of society its rights. 
 He added that a woman could now be made Minister and that 
the Prime Minister is seeking to do so soon.  In response to 
the Ambassador's query about another possible political 
reform, the Minister doubted that there would soon be a 
change to make electoral districts larger, as had been 
floated previously by the GOK.  He noted that, with the 
addition of women, the constituencies had grown, and made it 
more difficult to influence individual voters. 
 
C/T Training: Past and Future 
----------------------------- 
 
3. (SBU) The Ambassador then raised the recent completion of 
the Anti-Terrorism Assistance (ATA) Needs Assessment visit 
and the favorable impression that the U.S. team had of the 
Interior Ministry's (MOI) EOD, SWAT, and VIP Protection 
units.  Shaykh Nawaf responded the comments were valued and 
appreciated.  He continued that when MOI staff attend 
training in the U.S., they not only benefit themselves, but 
also spread their knowledge upon return.  The Ambassador 
noted plans for training of 25 additional MOI personnel in 
July.  The Ambassador said that the calendar for future 
training is already being planned, so the GOI should quickly 
develop its priorities for training and C/T consultations 
through the ATA program. Shaykh Nawaf agreed, saying that 
arrangements and the appropriate contacts would soon be made. 
 
Search for Al-Fahdli 
-------------------- 
 
4.  (S) The Ambassador also urged the Minister to do more to 
find Mohsen Al-Fadhli, Khalid Al-Dosari, and Hamad Al-Harbi, 
the three terror suspects still on the run from January's 
shoot-outs.  The Ambassador said that the capture and 
prosecution of Al-Fadhli in particular would be good both for 
security and for the message it would send about the GOK's 
determination against terror.  He noted that that the USG was 
assisting Kuwait State Security Chief Athbi wherever 
possible, and was prepared to do more.  Shaykh Nawaf 
responded that he had asked Shaykh Athbi to re-double efforts 
to capture Al-Fadhli and other militants. 
 
 
Saudi Cooperation and Centers for C/T Info Sharing 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
5. (C)  When asked about the state of C/T cooperation between 
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, Shaykh Nawaf said that cooperation 
has been good but it needed to be better.  Commenting on the 
Counterterrorism Conference held this past February in Riyadh 
(which he did not attend), Shaykh Nawaf opined that the GCC 
members were ready for action, not more speeches (reftel). 
The Minister suggested the formation of information/intel 
centers within each GCC country so that counterterrorism 
information and intelligence could be shared among all member 
countries.  The centers would act as a "chain reaction" to 
immediately coordinate information on ongoing events.  The 
Ambassador offered to provide information and assistance as 
needed. 
 
Reach Out to Iraqi Counterparts 
------------------------------- 
 
6.  (C) The Ambassador urged Shaykh Nawaf to reach out to his 
Iraqi counterpart through both formal and informal channels 
so that the relationship between the two countries would 
continue to develop.  Shaykh Nawaf responded that the GOK was 
keen to establish relations with their neighbor and, 
specifically, with the new government, but hoped Iraqis 
realized the incredible effort made by the GOK through its 
support of the Coalition in liberating Iraq.  Shaykh Nawaf 
finished by saying the GOK was ready to deal with Iraq as a 
friend. 
 
7. (U) Baghdad:  Minimize considered. 
 
********************************************* 
Visit Embassy Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
 
You can also access this site through the 
State Department's Classified SIPRNET website 
********************************************* 
LEBARON