US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT2265

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 002265 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/ARPI AND S/CT; NSC FOR TOWNSEND; LONDON FOR 
GOLDRICH 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/17/2015 
TAGS: PTER, PREL, PGOV, EFIN, ASEC, MARR, CVIS, KU, TERRORISM 
SUBJECT: KUWAIT COUNTERTERRORISM WORKING GROUP: SOME 
PROGRESS ON TERROR FINANCE; NEED FOR CAPACITY-BUILDING 
 
REF: A. KUWAIT 1908 
     B. KUWAIT 1734 
     C. KUWAIT 1733 
     D. KUWAIT 1731 
     E. KUWAIT 1730 
     F. KUWAIT 1501 
     G. KUWAIT 1159 
     H. KUWAIT 1400 
     I. KUWAIT 1071 
     J. KUWAIT 1069 
     K. KUWAIT 730 
 
1.  (S/NF) Summary:  Post's Counterterrorism Working Group 
(CWG) met May 2 to asses the GOK's progress in developing its 
counterterrorism (CT) capacity.  The group concluded that the 
GOK remained serious about confronting terrorism, investing 
heavily in tools and equipment, but is still in need of 
capacity-building.  There was progress in addressing terror 
financing, such as inter-ministry committee work on terror 
finance legislation, but weak laws for dealing with 
terrorists and uneven application reveal considerable room 
for improvement.  (The group, chaired by the Ambassador, 
includes the DCM and section heads from RSO, POL, ECON, CONS, 
RMAS, OMC-K, and DIALO.)  End Summary. 
 
2.  (S/NF)  RMAS reported that Kuwaiti State Security (KSS) 
continues to look for financier Mohsen Al-Fadhli, presumed to 
still be in Kuwait, as well as Khaled Al-Dosari, who may have 
fled the country.  RMAS is working with KSS to determine 
their whereabouts.  There were no reports of new terror cells 
or threats against the U.S. or GOK. 
 
3.  (C)  Pol Chief provided an update on suspected terrorists 
released from jail on bail, including former Guantanamo 
detainee Nasser Al-Mutairi who was released April 14 for 
health concerns  (ref F).  The GOK imposed a travel ban on 
him and his trial is scheduled to resume June 3.  (Note:  The 
temporary release by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) 
contradicted a bilateral agreement reached with the Foreign 
Ministry and occurred without MFA knowledge.  End note.)  In 
addition, the MOJ released on bail 22 individuals accused of 
waging jihad.  They have since been sentenced to prison terms 
of up to three years and fines of $10,000, verdicts their 
attorney intends to appeal (ref A).  They remain free. 
 
4.  (C)  Pol Chief also reported on legislation proposed by 
liberal MP Abdulwahab Al-Haroun and Shiite MP Yousef 
Al-Zalzalah to combat extremism.  The draft bill calls for 
establishing a special council of scholars and religious 
leaders which would have the sole responsibility for issuing 
fatwas.  It would also ban publications that promote hatred. 
The National Assembly has not acted on the draft legislation. 
 Pol Chief also noted that despite its coordination role, 
there is no evidence of strengthened cooperation between the 
National Security Bureau and KSS (ref I). 
 
5.  (C)  Econ Chief reported progress in GOK efforts to stem 
terror financing.  A total of $4 million in assets has 
recently been frozen and an inter-ministry committee, led by 
the Public Prosecutor's Officer, has begun to draft terror 
finance legislation.  He further reported that the mid-April 
visit of Treasury Deputy Assistant Secretary Glaser helped to 
reinforce the necessity of eliminating terror finance and 
advanced the bilateral dialogue; Glaser offered Treasury's 
assistance in drafting Kuwait's new terror financing laws 
(ref C).  The Central Bank Governor confirmed to Glaser that 
Al-Fadhli's assets had been frozen and reviewed procedures to 
tighten charity regulation (ref C).  Adnan Al-Omar, Assistant 
Under Secretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, 
informed Glaser of new approaches for collecting funds now 
that the Ministry has removed charity kiosks:  door-to-door 
collection and the diversion of proceeds from the legitimate 
sale of used clothing.  Glaser also raised with Kuwaiti 
counterparts U.S. concerns about the lack of any declaration 
requirement for cash carried out of Kuwait.  Director General 
of Kuwait Customs Ibrahim Al-Ghanim replied such a 
declaration was the "next step," but there does not appear to 
be a sense of urgency in following through. 
 
6.  (C)  RSO briefed the CWG on Kuwaiti participation in an 
Anti-Terrorism Assistance (ATA) Senior Crisis Management 
Seminar held in Washington D.C. April 18 - 23.  He described 
the group, which represented the MFA, Ministry of Interior, 
Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Health, and Kuwait National 
Guard, as actively engaged and appreciative of the training. 
The group responded more positively to case studies (the 
Iranian Embassy hostage situation in London and the standoff 
at Waco) than role-playing, and would welcome more 
opportunities to review crisis response and discuss how best 
to respond in Kuwait.  Kuwaitis will participate in an 
ATA-sponsored major case management course in July and a 
senior brigadier general in the police will be attending a 
counter terrorism seminar sponsored by the Kuwait Foundation 
for the Advancement of Science (KFAS) at Harvard University 
in June.  A needs assessment team from ATA recently visited 
post and were impressed with the level of knowledge and 
skills exhibited by the various police units they met. 
Because of their level of knowledge, the RSO will be working 
with key police officials to arrange consultation visits to 
the U.S. rather than sending large groups of police officers 
for training.  RSO also reported the GOK recently signed a 
1.5 million pound contract with a British company for SWAT 
training.  Additionally, Kuwaitis and their British 
counterparts will conduct joint exercises on Failaka Island 
with a goal of strengthening joint training capabilities. 
RSO also reported GOK plans to strengthen security 
cooperation with Germany.  The announcement followed the May 
1 visit of German Interior Minister Otto Schily to Kuwait. 
 
7.  (S/NF) DIALO advised the CWG that the Defense 
Intelligence Agency responded positively to a request to 
assist the GOK in establishing a Force Protection Directorate 
(ref H).  DIA will conduct a general assessment of the 
directorate and provide guidance to the Ministry of Defense 
on how to identify and remove extremists from its ranks. 
 
8.  (C)  Comment:  CT remains at the top of the GOK agenda 
and its security apparatus has invested in the tools of the 
trade.  What the GOK lacks, however, is sufficient capacity 
to effectively respond to threats or attacks, thus the 
overtures to the U.S. and others -- the UK, Germany, Jordan, 
and Egypt -- for training and assistance.  ATA training was 
successful and Kuwaiti participation in Post's April 4 mass 
casualty exercise highlighted GOK interest in and commitment 
to reacting quickly and competently to crisis situations, but 
revealed its limitations as a partner.  Post recommends the 
U.S. focus more attention on helping the GOK strengthen its 
CT capabilities through training, technical expertise, and 
model legislation. 
 
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LEBARON