US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT4832

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KUWAIT 004832 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE, SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR S, R, ECA (DPOWELL), ECA/A/S/A 
(MTHOMPSONJONES), NEA/PPD (AFERNANDEZ, CWHITTLESEY), 
NEA/ARPI (DBERNS) IIP/G/NEA (TSCOTT), INR/R (SSHAFFER), 
CA/VO/I (BARMSTRONG) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OEXC, KPAO, SCUL, PREL, PTER, OIIP, CVIS, KISL, XF, KU 
 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RAISES ALARM RE SHARP DECLINE IN KUWAITI 
STUDENTS IN U.S. WITH HIGHER EDUCATION UNDERSECRETARY 
 
REF: A) KUWAIT 4811 
     B) KUWAIT 1201 
 
1. (U)  Summary and comment:  On November 9, Ambassador met 
with Undersecretary for Higher Education, Dr. Rasha Al- 
Sabah.  During the meeting, they discussed reasons for the 
significant decline in the number of Kuwaiti students 
studying in the U.S., the benefits of increasing the number 
of American scholars in Kuwait, as well as other topics 
related to education and political developments in Kuwait. 
Embassy intends to seek to increase the number of Senior 
Fulbright Scholars in the 2007 academic year and 
opportunities for Fulbright Specialists during 2006.  While 
the Mission is actively pursuing entry into Kuwaiti public 
high schools for AMIDEAST in an effort to increase numbers 
of Kuwait students matriculating in the U.S., post continues 
to see conducting a market study and analysis of the current 
barriers to study in the U.S. as vital.  American experts 
have been identified to support the Ministry's anti- 
terrorism conference; however, the timing requires 
participants to fly on Christmas Day, a possible hindrance 
for American speakers.  Additional initiatives to engage the 
Ministry of Higher Education and Kuwait University are 
planned for the future.  End summary and comment. 
 
New PAO in Town 
--------------- 
 
2. (U)  The Ambassador paid a courtesy call on Ministry of 
Higher Education's Undersecretary, Dr. Rasha Al-Sabah, a 
critical contact of the Embassy's Public Affairs Section. 
The purpose of the November 9 meeting was to review and 
reinvigorate key educational programs within the Ministry's 
province and to introduce the new PAO to Dr. Al-Sabah. 
 
A Warm Reception 
---------------- 
 
3. (U)  A long-time supporter of Mission goals since 
completing her doctorate at Yale University, Dr. Al-Sabah 
warmly welcomed the Ambassador's visit.  Greeting him at the 
door of her office, she whisked the Ambassador and PAO past 
a long line of visitors waiting in her antechamber.  She 
opened with an apology for not having seen the Ambassador 
sooner, stating that she had been traveling outside of the 
country for an extended period. 
 
Student Numbers Decline 
----------------------- 
 
4. (U)  Referencing the continued positive relations and 
amity between the U.S. and Kuwait, the Ambassador began by 
expressing his aim to strengthen the extant bilateral 
friendship through increased numbers of Kuwaitis attending 
U.S. institutions of higher learning.  He added that, 
according to Embassy visa issuance records, there has been a 
steady trend of decline since 1998 in Kuwaiti students 
heading to universities in the U.S., particularly since 
2002.  The number fell from 850 to 450 in FY-2002, rebounded 
to over 600 in FY-2003, then plummeted to 577 in FY-2005. 
He expressed concern that the current generation of Kuwaiti 
youth, born after U.S.-Kuwaiti collaboration during the 1990- 
91 Gulf War, are most at risk of Islamist indoctrination and 
developing anti-American sentiments, and currently lack the 
historical context within which to view U.S. foreign policy. 
Study in the U.S. could help to forestall an attitude shift. 
 
GOK Maintains Scholarships Holding Steady 
----------------------------------------- 
 
5. (U)  Dr. Rasha replied that according to the Ministry's 
figures, scholarships for students studying in the U.S. have 
remained at a consistent level and there has been no 
reduction in number by the Ministry.  She noted that more 
students were opting to study at American-style universities 
recently established in Kuwait.  The Ambassador indicated 
that sustaining fruitful and constructive relations between 
the two nations was dependent upon direct exposure to 
American society -- Kuwaitis studying in American 
institutions and learning about the U.S. first-hand as well 
as sharing Kuwaiti culture with the American people. 
 
Persistent Visa Rumors 
---------------------- 
 
6. (U)  Dr. Rasha pointed out that the perception still 
 
KUWAIT 00004832  002 OF 003 
 
 
exists that U.S. visas are "impossible" to attain.  She 
acknowledged U.S. efforts to alleviate problems related to 
the issuance of visas and the Embassy's diligent attempts to 
remove this as a barrier.  However, she argued that she 
believed the persistent misperception regarding obtaining 
visas was at the basis of the dwindling Kuwaiti student 
population in the U.S.  She held that Kuwaitis are more 
hesitant to apply for U.S. visas or to send their children 
to the U.S., especially now that other countries had opened 
their doors and accommodated Kuwaiti students after 
September 11, 2001. 
 
U.S. - Still the Top Destination 
--------------------------------- 
 
7. (U)  Despite the short history of U.S.-Kuwaiti relations, 
Dr. Rasha observed that the U.S. provided educational 
opportunities to thousands of Kuwaiti students in comparison 
to Great Britain which has had a longer historical 
relationship with Kuwait.  She commented that the Embassy 
should take pride in the fact that the U.S. retains the 
lion's share of Kuwait-government sponsored scholarship 
students.  According to the Undersecretary, of the 3,000 
students studying internationally, including some at 
universities in Egypt and Jordan, compared with any other 
country, the U.S. hosts the largest concentration of Kuwaiti 
students in the world. 
 
American Scholars Needed in Kuwait 
---------------------------------- 
 
8. (U)  Conversely, the Ambassador asked how the Embassy 
could increase the numbers of American scholars in Kuwait, 
referring to fellowships and Fulbright programs offered by 
the Department.  Dr. Rasha was aware of the Fulbright 
students currently conducting research under the aegis of 
Kuwait University and lauded this initiative.  The PAO 
explained that the new leadership at the university had 
expressed strong interest in hosting American Fulbright 
Senior Scholars to support their need for instructors, 
particularly in the fields of American studies, business, 
commerce, and political science.  In past years, the 
university's administration reputedly had faced problems 
obtaining visas for family members, severely reducing 
Kuwait's appeal to Fulbright Senior Scholars.  The 
Ambassador encouraged Dr. Rasha to find ways to accept 
additional scholars and fellows from the U.S. and the 
Undersecretary expressed a willingness to help by ensuring 
that securing visas for family members would no longer be an 
issue. 
 
Opening Doors to AMIDEAST 
------------------------- 
 
9. (U)  In their discussion of AMIDEAST's counseling 
services for students interested in pursuing higher 
education in the U.S., the Ambassador followed up on an 
earlier request to provide their representatives with access 
to pubic high school students.  Dr. Rasha stated that she 
had instructed the Ministry's scholarship staff to invite 
AMIDEAST representatives to accompany them during recruiting 
activities in May through June, just before year-end exams, 
and identified a point of contact.  [Note: This spring joint 
effort never took place.  Therefore, the Embassy, on behalf 
of AMIDEAST, was seeking access to students in the month of 
December. End note.] 
 
International Anti-terrorism Conference 
--------------------------------------- 
 
10. (U)  The Ambassador inquired about Dr. Rasha's 
invitation to Egyptian First Lady Susan Mubarak to attend an 
educational conference in Kuwait that recently had been 
announced in the Kuwaiti press.  The Undersecretary 
explained that the Ministry planned to host an international 
conference titled "Education and the Psychological Roots of 
the Phenomenon of Terrorism," December 27 through 29, to 
bring together Kuwaiti scholars and international experts to 
discuss, study, and analyze the social and cultural sources 
of terrorism.  Although the Ministry had identified an 
American participant, Dr. Rasha asked the Ambassador for 
recommendations of other U.S. experts in this field.  She 
expressed the hope that the impact of the conference would 
be significant and, therefore, the Ministry has invited 
distinguished Arab, European, and American participants to 
attend.  Kuwaiti cabinet members, she noted, would chair 
 
KUWAIT 00004832  003 OF 003 
 
 
each session, and all of the presenters will be Kuwaiti 
academics delivering papers in Arabic, with simultaneous 
interpretation available in English.  She remarked that when 
approached with this counterterrorism program, the Saudis 
were "elated." 
 
Women and Politics 
------------------ 
 
11. (SBU)  Concluding with a discussion of political 
matters, the Ambassador and Dr. Rasha spoke about rumors of 
the possible dissolution of the National Assembly.  The 
Undersecretary expressed hope that the Assembly would not be 
dissolved, observing that this action could delay women's 
participation in the 2007 elections by preventing their 
registration to vote in February, which she characterized as 
a "serious nuisance."  (Note:  Constitutional dissolution of 
the Parliament requires that new elections be held within 
two months.  If dissolution occurred in the near future, 
elections would, in theory, be held before women could 
register to vote.  By law, voter registration must occur 
annually in February.  End note.)  They also talked about 
the work of the sole female cabinet member, Dr. Masouma 
Saleh Al-Mubarak, Minister of Planning and State Minister 
for Administrative Development, agreeing that her 
performance to date has been high-profile and exemplary. 
Dr. Rasha described some of the challenges in the Planning 
Ministry related to her by Dr. Masouma, depicting the 
organization as severely neglected in the past and divided 
into fiefdoms.  She added that the major obstacle to the 
Minister's progress was opposition from the Ministry of 
Planning's second in command. 
 
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