US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT4653

S E C R E T KUWAIT 004653 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
 
FOR S/CT, NEA 
 
E.O. 12958: DNG: CO 10/31/2015 
TAGS: PTER, KU, TERRORISM 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR TELLS KEY KUWAITI MINISTER MORE C/T 
CAPACITY NEEDED 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (B) 
 
1. (S/NF)  During the course of a 30 October conversation on 
other topics with Shaykh Ahmad Fahd Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the 
Ambassador told the Minister that, while cooperation on 
counter-terrorism between Kuwait and the U.S. has improved in 
the last 6-8 months, we are not satisfied and more needs to 
be done.  There are still large gaps in the GOK's 
capabilities, for example, in monitoring of suspected 
terrorists or their facilitators in Kuwait.  Shaykh Ahmad 
(brother of KSS Chief Shaykh Athbi) seemed surprised, and a 
bit dejected, by this assessment.  He said that, from his 
latest information, the Kuwait intelligence and security 
apparatus was "100% on top of it" and that it was "working at 
full capacity."  Ambassador noted that the GOK was far from 
prepared for the eventuality of Kuwaiti, Saudi or Egyptian 
terrorists leaving Iraq and setting their sites on Kuwait. 
Once that process got underway, it would be too late to start 
preparing.  Shaykh Ahmad agreed that Kuwait (and Dubai) was 
"among the most inviting" targets for future attacks.  He 
admitted that there was a "shortage of staff" in the Kuwaiti 
agencies.  He said that he would raise the Ambassador's 
concerns with Shaykh Athbi. 
 
2. (S/NF)  Comment: Shaykh Ahmad is not a routine 
interlocutor on C/T affairs, but rather a target of 
opportunity.  In addition to the relationship to Athbi, he is 
well-connected to Shaykh Sabah and takes an active interest 
in issues well beyond his already broad energy, water, and 
electricity portfolio. 
LEBARON