US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD3127

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003127 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2015 
TAGS: PBTS, PREL, IR, KU, IZ, Security 
SUBJECT: IRAQI PM ON KUWAIT BORDER INCIDENTS 
 
REF: A. KUWAIT 3287 
     B. KUWAIT 3331 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1. (C) In two meetings on July 26 , Prime Minister Ibrahim 
Jafari raised with the Ambassador the increased tension 
between Kuwait and Iraq.  The PM has received reports from 
Iraqi officials that Kuwaitis penetrated 25 kilometers into 
the no-man's land between Iraq and Kuwait.  He said the 
incursion into the territory (still disputed since the 1990-1 
Gulf War) is related to water rights.  (Comment.  the latest 
MNF-I reporting suggests the disputed territory is actually 
only a few dozen meters.  End comment.) 
 
2. (C) Jafari claimed that about 800-900 Iraqis demonstrated 
against this alleged Kuwaiti incursion. The PM reported that 
the Kuwaitis, angered by the demonstrations, are considering 
stopping oil shipments to Iraq.  Jafari nonetheless claimed 
that the Kuwaiti PM promised him this would not occur. 
 
3. (C) Jafari is concerned that these alleged reports portray 
Iraq as weak, and could serve to undermine the Coalition, if 
it does not respond appropriately.  This, in Jafari's 
thinking, would bolster the anti-Coalition insurgency. 
 
4.  (C) The Ambassador promised Jafari to review the latest 
information with U.S. military and intelligence personnel and 
report back to him. 
 
5. (U) REO HILLA, REO BASRA, REO MOSUL, and REO KIRKUK, 
minimize considered. 
Khalilzad