Difference between revisions of "2010 United States diplomatic cables leak/Middle East"

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===Qatar-US relations===
 
===Qatar-US relations===
 
The Qatari Prime Minister [[Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani|Hamad Bin Jassim Al Thani]], repeatedly described the United States as a "friend" and called US-Qatari friendship as just "strategic".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/214776|location=London|newspaper=The Guardian|title=US embassy cables: Al Jazeera 'proves useful tool for Qatari political masters'|date=5 December 2010}}</ref>
 
The Qatari Prime Minister [[Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani|Hamad Bin Jassim Al Thani]], repeatedly described the United States as a "friend" and called US-Qatari friendship as just "strategic".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/214776|location=London|newspaper=The Guardian|title=US embassy cables: Al Jazeera 'proves useful tool for Qatari political masters'|date=5 December 2010}}</ref>
−
 
−
==Saudi Arabia==
 
−
==Financial support for terrorist groups==
 
−
Saudi Arabia was said to support dozens of terror groups, aimed at messing with Israel, Iran, and the [[US]], killing other Arabs if needed, or their sources of income.<ref>https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Contents_of_the_United_States_diplomatic_cables_leak_(Saudi_Arabia)</ref>
 
  
 
==Saudi Arabia==
 
==Saudi Arabia==
 
{{FA|Saudi Arabia}}
 
{{FA|Saudi Arabia}}
 +
Saudi Arabia was said to support dozens of terror groups, aimed at messing with Israel, Iran, and the [[US]], killing other Arabs if needed, or their sources of income. Iraqi officials have noted that frequent anti-Shia outbursts from Saudi religious figures are often allowed to circulate without sanction or disapproval from the Saudi leadership<ref>https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Contents_of_the_United_States_diplomatic_cables_leak_(Saudi_Arabia)</ref>
  
 
==Lebanon-Saudi relations==
 
==Lebanon-Saudi relations==
−
Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal proposed to [[David M. Satterfield]], the U.S. special adviser to Iraq, that an Arab force supported by U.S. and NATO air power could fight [[Hezbollah]] in [[Lebanon]]. Saud expressed his fears that a Hezbollah victory in Beirut would mean the end of the Siniora government and the 'Iranian takeover' of Lebanon.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11945514 | work=BBC News | title=Wikileaks: Saudis urge force to destroy Hezbollah | date=8 December 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/07/wikileaks-saudi-arab-invasion-lebanon |title=WikiLeaks Cables: Saudis Proposed Arab Force To Invade Lebanon&nbsp;— Foreign Minister Wanted US, Nato and UN Backing for Offensive To End Iranian-Backed Hezbollah's Siege of Government |accessdate=11 December 2010 |date=7 December 2010 |work=[[The Guardian]] |author=MacAskill, Ewen |location=London}}</ref> He accused the U.N. troops in Lebanon of "sitting doing nothing".<ref>[[Staff writer]] (8 December 2010). [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3995992,00.html "Saudi Plan for Anti-Hezbollah Force Revealed&nbsp;— Leaked US Diplomatic Cable Says Saudi Arabia Proposed Setting Up Arab Force To Fight Shiite Militants in Lebanon with Help of US, UN and NATO, Fearing That a Hezbollah Victory Against Lebanese Gov't Would Eventually Lead to Iran's Takeover of Country"]. ''[[Ynetnews]]''. Retrieved 13 December 2010.</ref> Saudi Arabia's Information Minister and former ambassador to Lebanon, Abdul Aziz Khoja has called Iranian-backed Hezbollah ''evil''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aslanmedia.com/component/content/article/315-the-connection/2117-lebanon-in-limbo|title = Web Page Under Construction}}</ref>
+
Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal proposed to [[David M. Satterfield]], the U.S. special adviser to Iraq, that an Arab force supported by U.S. and NATO air power could fight [[Hezbollah]] in [[Lebanon]]. Saud expressed his fears that a Hezbollah victory in Beirut would mean the end of the Siniora government and the 'Iranian takeover' of Lebanon.<ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11945514</ref>
  
 
==Saudi-Yemen relations==
 
==Saudi-Yemen relations==
−
Saudi Assistant Interior Minister, [[Muhammad bin Nayef|Prince Muhammad bin Nayef]], described "Yemen as a dangerous failed state and a growing threat to Saudi Arabia because it attracts [[Al Qaida]] and many Yemenis were more sympathetic to Al Qaida than Afghans." He also said "Yemeni President Saleh is losing control, and outlined a Saudi strategy of co-opting Yemeni tribes with assistance projects".<ref name="guardian_army_rule_better_Pakistan"/><ref name="09RIYADH670" /> The insurgent Houthi tribes were "Takfiri and Shi'a 'like Hizballah South'. This was a threat forming around Saudi Arabia that required action now. The Saudis are funding projects in Yemeni tribal areas so the tribal leaders eject radicals."<ref name="09RIYADH670" />
+
Saudi Assistant Interior Minister, [[Muhammad bin Nayef|Prince Muhammad bin Nayef]], described "Yemen as a dangerous failed state and a growing threat to Saudi Arabia because it attracts [[Al Qaida]] and many Yemenis were more sympathetic to Al Qaida than Afghan, while Yemeni President Saleh was losing control, and outlined a Saudi strategy of co-opting Yemeni tribes with assistance projects".<ref>https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Contents_of_the_United_States_diplomatic_cables_leak_(Middle_East)#Saudi_Arabia</ref>
−
 
 
−
==Anti-Shiism as Saudi foreign policy==
 
−
Iraqi officials have noted that frequent anti-Shia outbursts from Saudi religious figures are often allowed to circulate without sanction or disapproval from the Saudi leadership, moreover [[Wahabism|Wahabbi Sunni Islam]] condones religious incitement against [[Shia]]. The Saudis have traditionally viewed Iraq as a Sunni-dominated bulwark against the spread of Shiism and Iranian political influence. In the aftermath of bombings in predominantly Shia areas across the country in 2009 that killed dozens, [[Nouri al Maliki|PM Maliki]] pointed publicly to one such statement, made by a Saudi imam in May, and stated, "We have observed that many governments have been suspiciously silent on the fatwa provoking the killing of Shiites."<ref name="ReferenceC"/>
 
−
 
 
−
=="Shi'a triangle"==
 
−
An April 2009 cable claims that<ref name="time.com"/> [[United Arab Emirates]] Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed stated there is "Saudi concern of a [Shi'a] triangle in the region between Iran, the Maliki government in Iraq, and Pakistan under Zardari."<ref name="09STATE34688">{{cite journal |last=Rodham Clinton |first=Hillary |author-link=Hillary Clinton |title=Secretary Clinton's April 7, 2009 meeting with UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed |id={{WikiLeaks cable|09STATE34688}} |publisher=[[WikiLeaks]] |date=9 April 2009 |url=http://wikileaks.ch/cable/2009/04/09STATE34688.html |accessdate=3 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231203244/http://www.wikileaks.ch/cable/2009/04/09STATE34688.html |archive-date=31 December 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
  
 
==Saudi support for a Palestinian state==
 
==Saudi support for a Palestinian state==
−
During [[Nicolas Sarkozy|French President Sarkozy's]] visit to Saudi Arabia, [[Abdullah of Saudi Arabia|King Abdullah]] agreed to support the Annapolis initiative to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Abdullah told Sarkozy that the issue of Palestinian refugees must first be resolved and that the Israelis must cease all [[Israeli settlements in the West Bank|West Bank settlement]] construction. Abdullah maintained that [[East Jerusalem]] must be the capital of a [[Proposals for a Palestinian state|Palestinian state]] and that this section of Jerusalem must be solely under Arab control.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/138803 | location=London | work=The Guardian | title=US embassy cables: Nicolas Sarkozy offends the Saudis with his bad manners | date=30 November 2010}}</ref>
+
During [[Nicolas Sarkozy|French President Sarkozy's]] visit to Saudi Arabia, [[Abdullah of Saudi Arabia|King Abdullah]] told Sarkozy Israelis must cease all [[Israeli settlements in the West Bank|West Bank settlement]] construction. Abdullah maintained that [[East Jerusalem]] must be the capital of a [[Proposals for a Palestinian state|Palestinian state]] and that East-Jerusalem must be solely under Arab control.<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/138803</ref>
−
 
 
−
==Vice in Saudi Arabia==
 
−
 
 
−
===Nightlife===
 
−
In [[Jeddah]], despite the [[Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (Saudi Arabia)|Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice]] (CPVPV)&nbsp;— the religious police of Saudi Arabia, there is an ongoing underground nightlife, which includes "the full range of worldly temptations and vices" ''i.e.'', "alcohol, drugs, sex" and "working girls" ([[prostitutes]]). Even though these parties are in complete violation of CPVPV's laws, the [[mutaween]] of CPVPV are afraid to raid these parties, since these parties are hosted by the young princes of [[al-Saud]], the monarchic ruling house of Saudi Arabia.<ref name="09JEDDAH443">{{cite journal |last=Quinn |first=Martin R. |title=Underground party scene in Jeddah: Saudi youth frolic under "princely protection" |id={{WikiLeaks cable|09JEDDAH443}} |publisher=[[WikiLeaks]] |date=18 November 2009 |url=http://wikileaks.ch/cable/2009/11/09JEDDAH443.html |accessdate=2 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231202327/http://www.wikileaks.ch/cable/2009/11/09JEDDAH443.html |archive-date=31 December 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
===Exclusive parties===
 
−
''[[The Economist]]'' summarized cable descriptions of "exclusive parties" in Saudi Arabia, stating, "An American official in Saudi Arabia describes un-Islamic mores at a clandestine [[Halloween]] party, hosted by a royal prince. Alcohol and prostitutes abounded at the event, attended by 150-plus Saudis. The host's status kept the fearsome religious police away. Such parties, the writer concluded, were increasingly typical in the kingdom."<ref name="WikiLeaks 2010">{{cite news |title=More dope, no highs&nbsp;— Blushes, frowns but no explosions in the latest WikiLeaks' disclosures |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |date=9 December 2010 |url=http://www.economist.com/node/17674097 |accessdate=4 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110113064003/http://www.economist.com/node/17674097 |archive-date=13 January 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
  
 
==Censorship and propaganda==
 
==Censorship and propaganda==

Revision as of 17:21, 11 October 2023

Concept.png 2010 United States diplomatic cables leak/Middle East 
(Leak)Rdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
Start2010
Exposure by WikiLeaks of acquired diplomatic cables, between the United States Department of State and its diplomatic missions around the world. Many previously unknown statements or opinions about a variety topics have been revealed. This page covers the Middle Eastern leaders, not their companies in particular.

The 2010 United States diplomatic cables leak has provided a comprehensive portrayal of the United States' perspective on various subjects related to the Middle East. These classified documents, known as diplomatic cables, exchanged between the United States Department of State and its diplomatic missions worldwide, have been made public by WikiLeaks. As a result, numerous previously undisclosed statements and opinions pertaining to a wide range of Middle Eastern matters have come to light. The following presents a selection of the information contained within these cables.

Contents

Algeria

On 17 December 2007, to the US Secretary of State, the US Ambassador to Algeria, Robert Ford, said how former government officials, opposition leaders, and journalists "paint a picture of an Algerian regime that is fragile in ways it has not been before, plagued by a lack of vision, unprecedented levels of corruption and rumblings of division within the military rank and file".[1]

Bahrain

In cables from 2005 to 2009, Bahrain was offended by threats to Arab solidarity, the assassination of Hariri, and voiced a desire to increase its television broadcasting capabilities.

Iran and Qatar conspiring to divide Arab interests

The Crown Prince Salman of Bahrain argued that Iran is conspiring with Qatar, Hezbollah and Hamas to divide Arab countries. Bahrain and other Arab governments were angry at media reports that an Iranian official described Bahrain as "Iran's fourteenth province".[2]

Hariri assassination blame falls on Syria

King Hamad said that Syria was behind the assassination of Rafic Hariri.[3]

Bahrain wants to develop its TV/Radio capability

King Hamad said that he instructed Bahrain's minister of information Abdul-Ghaffar to get help from the US to turn its television broadcasting into a world class operation.[3]

Egypt

In cables dated between 2008 and 2009, the "declining state of the Egyptian military and the unwillingness of the Defense Minister Tantawi to accede to US suggestions of Egyptian human rights reform in return for US economic aid". A billion dollars worth of military hardware sold to Egypt, to make peace with Israel as well as "priority access to the Suez canal and Egyptian airspace" was also discussed.[4]

Defense Minister Tantawi

Defense Minister Tantawi was seen as good guy for his cooperation with Israel and helping maintain a blockade against Hamas, as he was said to be an eighty-year-old veteran of five wars with Israel and thereby uninterested in another conflict. However, Tantawi was described as being extremely stubborn and uncooperative with his own generals, and the US officials argued he was to unintelligent to understand the post Camp David "military situation" which was argued by the cable to create dissent between him and his Soviet trained military officers and the American trained part of the new Egyptian Military.[5] caused low and mid-level NCOs ministries around Cairo to openly complain about Tantawi (as he was nicknamed "Mubarak's Poodle"), claiming that he is "running the military into the ground" and that he only has his job due to his unwavering loyalty to Mubarak. H

Further criticism pointed to his weird preference of spending U.S. aid on advanced tanks and fighter jets to fight large-scale wars with outdated tactics, being criticised by CIA leader David Petraeus.[6] He was pointed as refusing any simple political option, and only willing to use the army to eliminate the Muslim Brotherhood.

Iraq War

Former Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak said the US should find a "fair dictator" to rule Iraq and to "Strengthen the Iraqi armed forces, relax your hold, and then you will have a coup. Then we will have a dictator, but a fair one."[7]

Egypt-Iran relations

Mubarak said that Iranian leaders are "big, fat liars", and that Iran's backing of terrorism is "well-known".[8]

The cables also said Mubarak was happy to be able to sell congress members that Iraq was detoriating so much that he could say "I told you so". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 14 December 2010.</ref> According to one cable, Mubarak only was focused on Iran as the primary enemy for the times facing Egypt, and an Egyptian official said that Iran is running spooks with black ops inside Egypt to control the Egyptian government.[9]

Iran

Full article: Iran

Israel

Full article: Israel

Jordan

Iran-Jordan relations

A diplomatic cable, dated 2 April 2009, quotes Zeid Rifai, president of the Jordanian Senate, as saying, "Bomb Iran, or live with an Iranian bomb. Sanctions, carrots, incentives won't matter", in a conversation with David Hale, US Ambassador to Jordan. The cable further said "while Rifai judged a military strike would have 'catastrophic impact on the region,' it was worth it"[10]

Guantanamo Bay detainees

Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, referring to Kuwaiti Guantanamo detainees, said:

“You know better than I that we cannot deal with these people (the Guantanamo detainees). I can't detain them. If I take their passports, they will sue to get them back. I can talk to you into next week about building a rehabilitation center, but it won't happen. We are not Saudi Arabia; we cannot isolate these people in desert camps or somewhere on an island. We cannot compel them to stay. If they are rotten, they are rotten and the best thing to do is get rid of them. You picked them up in Afghanistan; you should drop them off in Afghanistan, in the middle of the war zone.”
Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah,  Wikileaks (2010)  [12]

Iran

Kuwait believed Iran was supporting Shia extremists in the Persian Gulf and the Shiite Houthis in Yemen.[13]

US militarily helping Persian Gulf States

US Army-elements were assisting the Persian Gulf states in increasing ballistic missile and counter-air defenses, as well as providing early warning systems against the eventuality of an Iranian missile launch.[14][15]

Kuwait based charities financing extremism

Al Qaeda and other groups exploited Kuwait, both as a source of funds and as a key point for arms smuggling and money laundering according to some cables released by The Guardian.[16]

Lebanon

Full article: Lebanon

Libya

Uranium shipment

A Libyan shipment of enriched uranium to Russia, brokered by the US, was nearly the cause of an environmental disaster in Tripoli in 2009.[17]

Lockerbie

Libya's state oil company called in a senior Petro-Canada official with a threat to nationalize his firm's operations in Libya if the Canadian government refused to apologize to the Libyan government. Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon was the cause of this in deep lobbying against several conspirators. Libya ordered Petro-Canada to cut production by 50 per cent.[18]

Morocco

Corruption

A cable from the US embassy in Rabat to Washington, D.C. referred to allegations of deeply established corruption, suggesting that corruption a standard part of Moroccan society. The Royal Family of Morocco were using the state ministries to "coerce and solicit bribes in the real estate sector" and even the military and the generals were being bribed. Blamed was King Hassan II and his claim after successful coups in the 1970s against him to "Stay loyal, and you can reap the benefits.", barely staying in power.[19]

Pakistan

Full article: Pakistan

Palestine

Lashkar-e-Taiba raised funds in Pakistan for the Palestinian people in response to Israel's attacks on Gaza.[20]

Qatar

Al Jazeera

Qatar was using the Arabic television news channel Al Jazeera as a bargaining chip in negotiations with other countries as it was named "one of Qatar's most valuable political and diplomatic tools."[21]

Financial support for Islamic militants abroad

Hillary Clinton was said to have claimed that Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait were funding terror.[22]

Diplomatic tendencies

Meir Dagan, the chief of the Mossad said that Qatar was "a real problem" as Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani was uniting all in the Middle East, including Syria, Iran, and Hamas.[23]

Qatar-US relations

The Qatari Prime Minister Hamad Bin Jassim Al Thani, repeatedly described the United States as a "friend" and called US-Qatari friendship as just "strategic".[24]

Saudi Arabia

Full article: Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia was said to support dozens of terror groups, aimed at messing with Israel, Iran, and the US, killing other Arabs if needed, or their sources of income. Iraqi officials have noted that frequent anti-Shia outbursts from Saudi religious figures are often allowed to circulate without sanction or disapproval from the Saudi leadership[25]

Lebanon-Saudi relations

Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal proposed to David M. Satterfield, the U.S. special adviser to Iraq, that an Arab force supported by U.S. and NATO air power could fight Hezbollah in Lebanon. Saud expressed his fears that a Hezbollah victory in Beirut would mean the end of the Siniora government and the 'Iranian takeover' of Lebanon.[26]

Saudi-Yemen relations

Saudi Assistant Interior Minister, Prince Muhammad bin Nayef, described "Yemen as a dangerous failed state and a growing threat to Saudi Arabia because it attracts Al Qaida and many Yemenis were more sympathetic to Al Qaida than Afghan, while Yemeni President Saleh was losing control, and outlined a Saudi strategy of co-opting Yemeni tribes with assistance projects".[27]

Saudi support for a Palestinian state

During French President Sarkozy's visit to Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah told Sarkozy Israelis must cease all West Bank settlement construction. Abdullah maintained that East Jerusalem must be the capital of a Palestinian state and that East-Jerusalem must be solely under Arab control.[28]

Censorship and propaganda

According to a May 2009 cable, the "Saudi regulatory system offers the al-Saud regime a means to manipulate the nation's media to promote its own agenda", and criticism of the al-Saud regime is not tolerated at all.[29] All major media outlets in Saudi Arabia — newspapers, such as Al-Watan, Al-Hayat, and Asharq Al-Awsat, and free-to-view television networks, such as MBC Group and Rotana — are owned and controlled by the al-Saud regime, and accordingly self-censorship is the order of the day — which is "motivated by profit and politics". The pro-western ideologies in these newspapers and American programming — such as Friends, Desperate Housewives, the Late Show with David Letterman and Hollywood films — are seen as an antidote to extremist religious thoughts in the recruitment of terrorists, especially young teenagers, because of the demographic target groups of these programs.[29]

Oil Production

Cables revealed that the US was warned by Sadad al Husseini, a senior Saudi government oil executive, that the country's oil reserves are overstated by as much as 300 billion barrels (40% of the claimed reserve). It is therefore not possible for Saudi Arabia to prevent the oil price from rising.[30][31]


Syria

Arms shipments to Hezbollah

It was alleged that Syria increased its arms shipments to Hezbollah despite its claims that new shipments had ceased.[32]

Tabloid incident

A Syrian foreign minister was alleged to have fallen for a "tabloid-like story" regarding the death of Princess Diana. An American ambassador stated that this displayed the Syrian government's "'stark ignorance' of the outside world".[33]

Assassination of Rafic Hariri

Omar Suleiman, chief of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate, stated that Syria "desperately" wants the halt of the investigation about the assassination of Rafic Hariri, prime minister of Lebanon, on 14 February 2005.[34] Syria is suspected of involvement in that assassination and in the 2005 killings of anti-Syrian figures in neighbouring Lebanon.[35]

Tunisia

Corruption

The Economist referred to corruption in Tunisia, stating that "cables from Tunisia bluntly depict the regime of president Zine el Abidine Ben Ali as a sclerotic police state increasingly tarnished by nepotism",[36] referring to a 17 July 2009 cable. The cable stated, "Corruption in the inner circle is growing."[37] Another from 23 June 2008 said "corruption in Tunisia is getting worse".[38][39] The New York Times suggested the cables about corruption were one of the reasons behind the overthrow of president Ben Ali in the 2010–2011 Tunisian protests.[40]

Political turmoil

According to Robert Godec, the US Ambassador to Tunisia, Zine el Abidine Ben Ali, President of Tunisia, and his government have "lost touch with the Tunisian people".[37][41] Furthermore, they "tolerate no advice of criticism whether domestic or international".[37] Godec also reports that "[even] average Tunisians are now keenly aware of [corruption in the inner circle], and the chorus of complaints is rising. Tunisians intensely dislike, even hate, First Lady Leila Trabelsi and her family".[36][37]

Allegations of torture

The Canadian Ambassador to Tunisia, Bruno Picard, is reported in released documents to have insisted that Tunisia tortures prisoners who are suspected of terrorism and that he had first-hand evidence. The claim was made at a meeting about returning Tunisian prisoners to their home country from the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. Tunisia has insisted it does not practice torture, however Picard claimed this was "bullshit". Following the claims the US Embassy held a meeting with the Canadian, British, French, German and Italian ambassadors to suggest they avoid accepting any Tunisian former prisoners from Guantanamo.[42]

Sakher al-Materi

The Economist stated, 'In a chatty account of a lavish dinner at the beachside villa of the Tunisian president's son-in-law, the American ambassador marvel[ed] at desserts flown in from Saint-Tropez, the multitude of servants, and a pet tiger that ate four chickens a day. The host may be interested to know that while bragging about his clout he struck his guest [the US ambassador] as "demanding, vain and difficult", with a limited knowledge of or interest in world affairs.'[36]

United Arab Emirates

Iran-UAE relations

Iran nuclear program

See also: Iran – United Arab Emirates relations

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates, referred to as MBZ in the cables, urged the US "not to appease Iran" and described Iran's then-leader Ahmadinejad to Hitler.[43] He said that UAE is even more worried about Iranian intentions than is Israel and described a nuclear-armed Iran as "absolutely untenable". He believes that "all hell will break loose" if Iran attains the bomb, with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Turkey developing their own nuclear weapons capability and Iran "instigating Sunni-Shia conflict".[3]

In the cable leak, Mohammed bin Zayed was said to believe Israel will strike Iran if Iran develops nuclear missiles, causing Iran to launch missile attacks on the region including the UAE. He believes that an Israeli strike will not be successful in stopping Iran's nuclear program, but instead cause Iran to "unleash terror attacks worldwide".[44] Mohammad bin Zayed also stated that Iran surrounding Israel is "driven by ideological conviction and will threaten Israel's existence should it go nuclear". At the same time, he described Iran's ambitions as reflecting a desire to "restore Persia's great-power status, rather than driven by religious convictions".[44]

Mohammed bin Zayed suggested that the key to containing Iran revolves around progress on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. He argued that it will be essential to bring Arab public opinion in line with the leadership in any conflict with Iran and that roughly "eighty percent of the public is amenable to persuasion". The US has to bring a two state solution over the objections of the Netanyahu government to win over the people. He suggested working with moderate Palestinians that support the road map, and that "there is no time to waste".[44]

Lebanon-UAE relations

Lebanese Armed Forces

Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed has said that UAE will purchase additional munitions for Lebanese Armed Forces helicopters, donated by the UAE to LAF last year, but is waiting for France to provide a price estimate.[3]

Pakistan-UAE relations

See also: Pakistan – United Arab Emirates relations

Pakistan's leaders

In July 2009, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, said Zardari was "dirty but not dangerous" and that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was "dangerous but not dirty -- this is Pakistan".[45]

Support to Pakistan F-16 acquisition

Mohammed bin Zayed supported the US's decision to sell F-16 aircraft to Pakistan to strengthen the Musharraf government, saying the sale would not alter the balance of strength between India and Pakistan.[46]

Baloch insurgency

DG ISI General Shuja Pasha commented that India, the UAE, and Russia were funding, arming, and training the Baloch rebels.[47]

Drone attacks in Pakistan

In a cable it was noted that UAE had allowed Americans to use an airstrip of UAE in Pakistan (Shamsi Airbase) in order to launch drone strikes against militants. UAE was displeased over publicity of support to US military in Pakistan when it was revealed by General Tommy Franks in his book "American Soldier" due to the concerns that public knowledge of this confidential assistance may cause risks to the security of UAE or UAE officials in Pakistan.[48]

Alleged Indian and Iranian support for insurgents in Pakistan

The UAE believed that India and Iran had aided Taliban and Pushtun separatists in Pakistan, and that Pashtuns in the UAE may be supporting the Taliban.[49]

UAE-US relations

Predator drones

UAE military officials have pressured the US to acquire Predator B drones to be used in countering Iran citing that Iran is known to be developing its own drones. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed told US General John Abizaid "That's why we need it first...give me Predator B".[50]

Mohammad bin Zayed

In a cable leak, then US ambassador to the UAE Richard G. Olson described Mohammed bin Zayed as "the key decision maker on national security issues", and assessed that he had "authority in all matters except for final decisions on oil policy and major state expenditures." He described the UAE president Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan as "a distant and uncharismatic personage", in contrast with Mohammed bin Zayed, who Olson regarded as a "dynamic member of the generation succeeding the geriatric cases who have dominated the region for decades." He continues to state that Mohammed bin Zayed is "a reformer, actively seeking to improve the life of his citizens and the UAE's future through better education and health care, and through economic diversification, including investments in clean energy to prepare his citizenry for a post-hydrocarbon future". According to Olson, Mohammad bin Zayed has structured the UAE Armed Forces to be closely aligned with the US and continues to "support us where he thinks we have been right (Afghanistan), but also where he thinks we have pursued misguided policies (Iraq)."[51]

Terror donors

It was noted in a cable that UAE-based donors have provided financial support to a variety of terrorist groups, including al-Qa'ida, the Taliban, LeT, Hamas and other terrorist groups. Washington agencies noted that there is limited information on the identity of Taliban and LeT donors in the UAE.[52]

In another cable leak, discussion was noted regarding the UAE regulations requiring declarations for cash imports of over US$10,800, but no regulations existing covering cash exports. The US embassy was working closely with UAE government on the problem of cash couriers and the need to develop a plan to stop UAE based cash being transferred to fund terror groups.[53]


Yemen

Attacks on Al-Qaeda bases in Yemen

Ali Abdullah Saleh, then president of Yemen, said if the US attacks Al Qaida bases in Yemen, he would tell the people of Yemen that it was the Yemeni military that has carried out the attacks rather than the US. He asserted that "we'll continue saying the bombs are ours, not yours" in a meeting with General David Petraeus, head of US Central Command. Yemen's deputy prime minister for defense and security affairs, Rashad Mohammed Alimi, also joked about lying to Yemen's Parliament on US involvement in bombings.[54][55]

Security of radioactive stockpiles

A January 2010 cable from Sana'a warned of concerns about the security of Yemen's main National Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) storage facility,[56] which "normally contains IAEA Category I and II amounts of iridium and cobalt-60".[57] The cable stated, "The lone security guard standing watch at Yemen's main radioactive materials storage facility was removed from his post on December 30, 2009" and "The only closed-circuit television security camera monitoring the facility broke six months ago and was never fixed".[57]

References

  1. ↑ Ford, Robert (19 December 2007). "An ailing and fragile Algerian regime drifts into 2008". WikiLeaks. Template:WikiLeaks cable. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2011. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css must have content model "Sanitized CSS" for TemplateStyles (current model is "Scribunto").
  2. ↑ "Cable Viewer". wikileaks. Wikileaks. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2012.Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css must have content model "Sanitized CSS" for TemplateStyles (current model is "Scribunto").
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