US embassy cable - 90KUWAIT4520

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TFKU01: SIDEBAR TO HISTORY OF THE INVASION - AN EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF THE JEDDAH SUMMIT

Identifier: 90KUWAIT4520
Wikileaks: View 90KUWAIT4520 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Kuwait
Created: 1990-08-09 18:29:00
Classification: SECRET
Tags: PREL PGOV KU IZ
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
O 091829Z AUG 90
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0653
INFO ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
S E C R E T KUWAIT 04520 
 
E.O. 12356:  DECL: OADR 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, KU, IZ 
SUBJECT:  TFKU01: SIDEBAR TO HISTORY OF THE INVASION - AN 
          EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF THE JEDDAH SUMMIT 
 
1.  SECRET - ENTIRE TEXT 
 
2.  FRENCH CHARGE' D'AFFAIRES TOLD DCM AUGUST 9 THAT 
TARIQ REZOUQI, KUWAITI AMBASSADOR TO FRANCE AND MEMBER OF 
THE KUWAITI DELEGATION TO THE JEDDAH SUMMIT HAS CONFIRMED 
TO THEM THAT THE IRAQIS WENT TO JEDDAH INTENT ON THE 
SUMMIT'S FAILURE.  ACCORDING TO REZOUQI, THE KUWAITI 
DELEGATION MADE IT EXPLICITLY CLEAR THEY WERE WILLING TO 
DISCUSS ALL ISSUES, INCLUDING THE BORDER, OIL AND DEBTS. 
THE IRAQIS WANTED NO PART OF ANY REAL DISCUSSIONS. 
 
3.  COMMENT:  THE FRENCH STORY TELLS US NOTHING WE DIDN'T 
ALREADY SUSPECT.  THE IRAQIS DISMISSED THE KUWAITI 
AGREEMENT TO HOLD TO OIL PRODUCTION QUOTAS AT THE OIL 
SUMMIT IN JEDDAH BECAUSE IT DID NOT FIT INTO THEIR 
GAMEPLAN.  THE JEDDAH SUMMIT WAS NEVER DESIGNED TO BE A 
SERIOUS EFFORT AT RESOLUTION AND IT WASN'T.  UNLESS 
SADDAM IS MORE OF A MILITARY GENIUS THAN EVEN HE GIVES 
HIMSELF CREDIT FOR BEING, THIS INVASION COULD NOT HAVE 
BEEN PLANNED AND LAUNCHED IN THE MERE HOURS BETWEEN THE 
END OF THE SUMMIT AND THE MORNING OF AUGUST 2.  TARIQ'S 
TALE ONLY CONFIRMS ALL OF THIS. 
 
4.  BAGHDAD/DHAHRAN MINIMIZE CONSIDERED. 
 
 
HOWELL 

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