US embassy cable - 98KUWAIT4010

S E C R E T KUWAIT 004010 
 
E.O. 12958:  DECL:  06/02/08 
TAGS: PTER, KU 
SUBJECT: TERRORISM:  SEEKING HOST GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE AGAINST 
OSAMA BIN LADEN THREAT TO U.S. FORCES 
 
REF: A) KUWAIT 3877, B) STATE 96941 
 
(U) CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE.  REASON 1.5 (B), (C) AND (D) 
 
(S)  CHARGE RAISED USG CONCERNS REGARDING OSAMA BIN LADEN (REF. B) 
WITH INTERIOR UNDERSECRETARY LTG YOUSEF AL-KHORAFY, JUNE 7.  CHARGE 
NOTED THAT WE TAKE BIN LADEN'S THREATS VERY SERIOUSLY.  HE 
EXPRESSED APPRECIATION FOR THE EXCELLENT FORCE PROTECTION SUPPORT 
PROVIDED BY KUWAIT, PARTICULARLY THE ENHANCED SECURITY MEASURES AT 
KUWAIT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (WHICH IS SEEING PARTICULARLY HEAVY 
USE NOW AS MANY U.S. MILITARY PERSONNEL REDEPLOY).  CHARGE NOTED 
THAT MOST AIR TRANSPORTS CARRYING U.S. TROOPS USED FLIGHT PATHS TO 
THE SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT -- HAD KUWAIT TAKEN ANY STEPS TO ADDRESS 
A POSSIBLE TERRORIST THREAT IN THIS AREA?  AL-KHORAFY STATED THAT 
THE AREA SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT IS SECURE -- THE GOK IS FULLY AWARE 
OF THE POTENTIAL THREAT AND HAS TAKEN MEASURES TO ADDRESS IT.  THE 
CHARGE ALSO RAISED ROUTE SECURITY FOR U.S. FORCES; AL-KHORAFY 
REPLIED THAT BOTH KUWAITI AND U.S. FORCE PROTECTION MEASURES HAD 
BEEN ENHANCED TO ENSURE THAT THE ROADS USED BY U.S. FORCES TO AND 
FROM THE AIRPORT WERE SECURE.  CHARGE AGAIN EXPRESSED OUR 
APPRECIATION FOR THIS COOPERATION. 
 
 
JEFFREY