US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT4116

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 004116 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/19/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PBTS, PHUM, KWMN, KISL, SOCI, OTRA, PINR, KU, TERRORISM 
SUBJECT: KUWAITI CONTACTS BRIEF KUWAIT COUNTRY OFFICER ON 
SUCCESSION, TERRORISM, AND WOMEN'S POLITICAL RIGHTS 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1.  (SBU) Summary: Country Officer for Kuwait, David Berns, 
met September 18 with Jassem Boodai, owner and 
editor-in-chief of the Arabic-language daily Al-Rai Al-Aam; 
Salim Al-Nashi, official spokesman of the Traditional 
Salafis; and Dr. Lubna Al-Kazi and Ma'souma Al-Abdullah, 
members of the Women's Social and Cultural Society, which 
actively promotes women's rights in Kuwait.  Boodai told 
Berns the issue of succession currently dominated political 
discussion in Kuwait.  Al-Nashi explained his organization's 
opposition to women's suffrage, but noted that now that it 
had been granted, the Traditional Salafis would court women's 
votes.  Al-Nashi also condemned terrorism based on Islam and 
characterized Al-Qaeda leaders as "criminals."  Al-Kazi and 
Al-Abdullah highlighted the challenges still facing women's 
full integration into Kuwaiti political life.  Berns also 
accompanied Emboffs on a visit to the Kuwait-Iraq border to 
view the area where Iraqi-owned farms extend into Kuwaiti 
territory.  End summary. 
 
Hot Issues: Succession and Terrorism 
------------------------------------ 
 
2.  (C) Jassem Boodai, editor-in-chief of Al-Rai Al-Aam, told 
Berns the most pressing political issue in Kuwait was the 
dispute within the ruling family over succession.  Boodai 
presented several different hypothetical succession 
scenarios, which could result in an Al-Sabah other than Prime 
Minister Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah becoming 
Amir.  He specifically mentioned family elder Shaykh Salem 
Al-Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah as a possible alternative.  Deadlock 
within the ruling family over succession has stalled 
political decision-making in Kuwait, Boodai said. 
 
3.  (SBU) Al-Nashi told Berns that Islam categorically 
condemned the killing of Muslims, explaining that Al-Qaeda 
leaders Osama Bin Laden, Ayman Al-Zawahiri and Abu Musat 
Al-Zarqawi were not clerics and did not have the right to 
issue fatwas legitimizing terrorism.  He went even further, 
characterizing these Al-Qaeda leaders as "criminals." 
(Comment: While Islamists frequently criticize terrorism and 
violence in general, such pointed, personal criticism of UBL, 
et al, especially on religious grounds, is rare.  End 
comment.)  Al-Nashi also questioned why the U.S. was so hated 
in the Middle East when it had defended Muslims against 
aggression in Bosnia and Kuwait. 
 
Women's Suffrage: Who Will Gain? 
-------------------------------- 
 
4.  (SBU) Salim Al-Nashi, spokesman for the Traditional 
Salafis, explained to Berns that his organization opposed 
women's suffrage in Kuwait because it was counter to Islam. 
Asked the Traditional Salafis' position now that women's 
suffrage had been granted, Al-Nashi said his organization 
would court women's votes to promote their own Islamist 
agenda and to prevent more liberal groups from profiting from 
women's suffrage.  He explained this was permissible since 
Islam allowed interpretations of fatwas to change depending 
on political circumstances. 
 
5.  (SBU) Dr. Lubna Al-Kazi and Ma'souma Al-Abdullah 
highlighted the challenges still facing women in 
participating in Kuwaiti politics.  Al-Abdullah cited the 
difficulties women have obtaining loans from banks and the 
exclusion of women from male social circles like diwaniyas 
where politics and business are discussed.  (Note: Diwaniyas 
are traditionally frequented by men.  There are, however, a 
few female and mixed diwaniyas.  End note.)  Al-Kazi said it 
was important for Kuwaiti women to capitalize on their 
suffrage and engage actively in politics.  She also asked for 
help identifying successful Kuwaiti women to speak to the 
Women's Social and Cultural Society on how to break through 
the "glass ceiling."  (Note:  There remains little 
interaction among women's groups in Kuwait.  The Embassy can 
assist by providing numerous suggestions for successful 
Kuwaiti women speakers.  End note.) 
 
Visit to the Kuwait-Iraq Border 
------------------------------- 
 
6.  (SBU) Escorted by Kuwaiti Minister of Interior (MOI) 
border police, Emboffs and Berns drove September 18 along the 
Kuwait-Iraq border from the Navistar Coalition crossing to 
the edges of Umm Qasr to examine the Kuwaiti border barrier 
and UN border demarcation posts.  The physical demarcation of 
the border is marked by large cement posts installed by 
UNIKOM approximately every two kilometers.  The Kuwaitis have 
installed a metal border barrier approximately three feet 
from the UN demarcated border. 
7.  (SBU) In three locations, Iraqi farms clearly extended 
between three to six meters into Kuwaiti territory.  These 
locations were marked by gaps of several hundred meters in 
the Kuwaiti border barrier.  The most egregious border 
violation was near Umm Qasr where Iraqi houses are located 
more than 12 meters inside Kuwaiti territory; the houses were 
even built around UN border post number 105 clearly 
demarcating the border. 
 
8.  Country Officer for Kuwait Berns has cleared this message. 
 
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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 
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LEBARON