US embassy cable - 05MANAMA871

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 000871 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, BA 
SUBJECT: KING DISCUSSES DOMESTIC, REGIONAL ISSUES WITH GEN. 
ABIZAID 
 
REF: A. MANAMA 859 B. MANAMA 855 
 
Classified By: Ambassador William T. Monroe.  Reason: 1.4 (b) (d) 
 
1. (C) Summary.  Bahrain's King Hamad reaffirmed to visiting 
CENTCOM CDR Abizaid June 18 his position that any amendments 
to the constitution should be done by the legislature, not 
the King; intervention by the King to entice participation in 
next year's election would weaken, not strengthen Bahrain's 
fledging democratic institutions.  He expressed satisfaction 
that the June 17 demonstration for constitutional reform had 
proceeded peacefully and with smaller numbers. He worried 
about Iranian influence in Bahraini politics.  On Iraq, he 
urged that Iraqi forces be given a more prominent role to 
gain the experience and confidence they need.  Commenting on 
last week's Abu Mazan visit, the King said Bahrain has no 
problem developing relations with Israel if the Palestinians 
want and ask Bahrain to do so.  End Summary. 
 
2. (U) During a luncheon hosted for visiting USCENTCOM CDR 
Gen. John Abizaid on June 18, King Hamad discussed a wide 
range of domestic and regional issues.  Also attending the 
lunch on the Bahrain side were Crown Prince Shaikh Salman and 
Minister of Defense Shaikh Khalifa. 
 
3. (C) The King discussed at some length Bahrain's domestic 
political scene, including the prospects for getting 
opposition political societies, who boycotted the 2002 
parliamentary elections, to participate in the 2006 
elections.  Noting that the opposition societies are asking 
the King to intervene to amend the constitution as a 
condition for participation, the King said that he is trying 
to build and strengthen institutions, including the 
Parliament, in Bahrain.  Whenever someone has a problem in 
Bahrain, however, they want the King to intervene to resolve 
the issue.  How can institutions be strengthened if the King 
intervenes every time, rather than letting the institutions 
tackle the issue, he asked.  "I am committed to democracy," 
he stated. "It can't fall back."  But for the constitution to 
be amended, he said, the opposition parties must work through 
the parliament. 
 
4. (C) Noting that the third opposition-organized 
demonstration for constitutional amendments had taken place 
in Hamad Town the day before, the King expressed satisfaction 
that the demonstrations were proceeding peacefully and in 
fact attracting lower numbers each time.  He said he was 
happy that the demonstrators had heeded the government's 
request that they not carry foreign flags or pictures of 
foreign political figures, but criticized them for greatly 
inflating their claims of the number of participants at each 
demonstration. 
 
5. (C) Asked about the impact of Washington's promotion in 
the region of political reform on Bahrain's efforts to 
advance democracy, the King said democracy is already 
advancing in the region. "It's being talked about in the 
press and in our speeches," he said.  In Bahrain, he added, 
the public is long conditioned to talking about democracy. 
The first municipal elections were held in 1919.  Women voted 
for the first time in Bahrain in 1923.  Some countries in the 
region, like the UAE and Oman, will take longer to create 
public support for political reform, but Bahrain has a longer 
history of political activity. 
 
6. (C) The King expressed concern about Iranian influence in 
Bahrain's elections, stating that when Iranian Judicial 
official Ayatollah Mahmood Hashemi Shahroodi visited Bahrain 
last month he had told Shia clerical leaders that the five 
percent ("khoms") contribution Shias give to the descendants 
of the Prophet (which normally goes to Qom in Iran or Nagaf 
in Iraq) could be retained in Bahrain to support Shia 
political candidates.  (Note: This was likewise raised by 
Minister of Interior Shaikh Rashid in a conversation with the 
Ambassador last week  -- reported ref a.) 
 
7. (C) On regional issues, the King discussed Iraq and the 
recent visit to Bahrain of Palestinian President Abu Mazan. 
On Iraq, he urged that security responsibilities be turned 
over to the Iraqis as soon as possible.  It just does not 
look right to see Americans patrolling the streets of Iraqi 
cities, he said.  If the Iraqis continue to depend on the 
Americans, they will not gain the experience or the 
confidence they need to maintain security.  The Americans 
have already done so much; now they should recede into the 
background and let the Iraqis learn to fend for themselves, 
even if the Iraqis suffer some defeats in the short term.  On 
the Abu Mazan visit last week (ref b), the King said he told 
Abu Mazan Bahrain is fully behind whatever the Palestinians 
do with Israel.  He said that Bahrain has no problem with 
developing relations with Israel, if the Palestinians want 
them to. 
MONROE