US embassy cable - 02KUWAIT5177

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 005177 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/NGA, NEA/FO 
 
E.O 12958: DECL: 12/01/12 
TAGS: MARR, PREL, IZ, US, KU 
SUBJECT: (C) GOK URGES US/SCIRI CONTACTS, WITH SOME 
RESERVATIONS 
 
Ref: Kuwait 05116 
 
Classified by Ambassador Richard H. Jones for reason 1.5 
(d) 
 
1. (C) Summary:  After a November 25 meeting with Codel 
Issa and the Ambassador, Kuwait's Minstate for Foreign 
Affairs offered to facilitate a meeting between the Codel 
and the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in 
Iraq's (SCIRI's) Chairman Mohammed Baqer al-Hakim and 
suggested it might be time for the GOK to allow a SCIRI office in 
Kuwait.  However, another senior official later ruled this 
out as contrary to a firm GOK policy against hosting 
offices of groups opposing any country.  End Summary. 
 
2. (C) During a meeting between Codel Issa and First Deputy 
Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Shaykh Sabah Al-Ahmed 
Al-Sabah on Nov. 25, conversation focused partially on the 
Iraqi oppositionist group SCIRI.  Shaykh Sabah told the 
Codel that SCIRI leader Mohammed Baqer al-Hakim was in 
Kuwait City and had overcome his hesitancy to speak with 
U.S. officials and other Iraqi opposition groups.  Shaykh 
Sabah claimed there was no opposition leader with a 
stronger dislike for Saddam than al-Hakim, many members of 
whose family had been murdered by the Iraqi leader.  He 
also stated that SCIRI has the largest and most credible 
opposition force on the ground in southern Iraq, and, 
referring to SCIRI's Badr Corps, a "brigade" that could be 
sent into Iraq if Iran allows it. 
 
3. (C) After the meeting, Minstate for Foreign Affairs, 
Shaykh Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabah, who had served as Shaykh 
Sabah's interpreter during the meeting, approached Rep. 
Darrell Issa (R-CA) and offered to arrange a meeting 
between al-Hakim and the Codel.  Issa had to decline the 
offer due to time constraints.  Noting that al-Hakim had 
declined a request to meet separately with Rep. Dana 
Rohrabacher (R-CA) just two days earlier, the Ambassador 
asked Dr. Mohammed what had changed.  Dr. Mohammed replied 
that the GOK had explained to Hakim that "he made a very 
big mistake" in turning down the request. 
 
4. (C) In response to a question by the Ambassador, Shaykh 
Dr. Mohammed confirmed that no Iraqi opposition group 
currently has an office in Kuwait and said that it might be 
time to explore the opening of a SCIRI office here, or at 
least more regular visits by SCIRI officials (Reftel). 
Nonetheless, in a subsequent meeting on Nov. 26, Minister 
of Amiri Diwan Shaykh Nasser Mohammed al-Sabah affirmed 
that Kuwait has never and would never host offices for 
exile groups opposing any country, not even Iraq.  As a 
small country relying on the good will of the international 
community for its survival, this would be contrary to its 
own national interests. 
 
5. (C) Comment:  Although Kuwait's support of al-Hakim is 
widely known, the urgency with which Dr. Mohammed made the 
offer indicates that Kuwait feels very strongly that SCIRI 
should be involved now in planning future activity in Iraq. 
Twice in the twenty-four hours preceding the meeting with 
Shaykh Sabah, National Assembly Speaker Jassem al-Khorafi 
also offered to facilitate a meeting of American officials 
with al-Hakim.  However, Nasser Mohammed's comments suggest 
that Kuwait still prefers to maintain plausible deniability 
for its support of opposition groups.  End Comment. 
 
6. (U) This cable has not been cleared by Codel Issa. 
 
JONES