Currently released so far... 5267 / 251,287
Articles
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Amsterdam
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lagos
Mission USNATO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Browse by tag
AF
ASEC
AR
AORC
AJ
AM
AMGT
AE
AU
AGMT
AG
AS
AFIN
APER
ABUD
ATRN
AL
AEMR
ACOA
AO
AX
AMED
ADCO
AODE
AFFAIRS
AC
ASIG
ABLD
AA
AFU
ASUP
AROC
ATFN
AVERY
APCS
AER
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AEC
APECO
CU
CO
CH
CDG
CIA
CACM
CDB
CI
CS
CVIS
CA
CBW
CASC
CD
CV
CMGT
CLINTON
CE
CJAN
CG
CF
CN
CAN
COUNTER
CIS
CM
CONDOLEEZZA
COE
CR
CY
CTM
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CPAS
CWC
CT
CKGR
CB
CACS
COM
CJUS
CARSON
CL
COUNTERTERRORISM
EG
ECON
ETTC
EFIN
EZ
ETRD
EUN
ELAB
EU
EINV
EAID
EMIN
ENRG
ECPS
EN
ER
ET
ES
EPET
EUC
EI
EAIR
EAGR
EIND
EWWT
ELTN
EREL
ECIN
EFIS
EINT
EC
ECONEFIN
ENVR
ECA
ELN
EFTA
EXTERNAL
EINVETC
ENIV
EINN
ENGR
EUR
ESA
ENERG
EK
ENGY
ETRO
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ENVI
ESENV
ELECTIONS
ECUN
EINVEFIN
ECIP
EINDETRD
IV
IR
IS
IZ
IAEA
IN
IT
ICTY
IQ
ICAO
INTERPOL
IPR
INRB
IRAJ
INRA
INRO
IO
IC
ID
IIP
ITPHUM
IWC
ISRAELI
IRAQI
ICRC
IMO
IF
ILC
IEFIN
INTELSAT
IL
IA
IBRD
IMF
INR
IRC
ITALY
ITALIAN
KGIC
KDEM
KTIP
KOMC
KNNP
KWBG
KU
KPAL
KGHG
KAWK
KISL
KPAO
KHLS
KSUM
KSPR
KJUS
KCRM
KGCC
KPIN
KDRG
KTFN
KG
KBIO
KHIV
KSCA
KN
KS
KCOR
KZ
KE
KFRD
KIPR
KPKO
KNUC
KMDR
KPLS
KOLY
KUNR
KIRF
KIRC
KACT
KRAD
KCOM
KMCA
KV
KHDP
KVPR
KDEV
KWMN
KMPI
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCFC
KTIA
KPRP
KAWC
KCIP
KCFE
KOCI
KTDB
KMRS
KLIG
KBCT
KICC
KGIT
KSTC
KPAK
KNEI
KSEP
KPOA
KFLU
KNUP
KNNPMNUC
KO
KTER
KHUM
KRFD
KBTR
KDDG
KWWMN
KFLO
KSAF
KBTS
KPRV
KNPP
KNAR
KWMM
KERG
KFIN
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KTBT
KCRS
KRVC
KSTH
KREL
KNSD
KTEX
KPAI
KHSA
KR
KPWR
KWAC
KMIG
KSEC
KIFR
KDEMAF
MOPS
MARR
MNUC
MX
MASS
MCAP
MO
MIL
MTCRE
ML
MR
MZ
MPOS
MOPPS
MTCR
MAPP
MU
MY
MA
MG
MASC
MCC
MEPP
MK
MTRE
MP
MDC
MAR
MEPI
MRCRE
MI
MT
MQADHAFI
MD
MAPS
MUCN
MASSMNUC
MERCOSUR
MC
OVIP
OPDC
OPRC
OIIP
OFFICIALS
OSAC
OAS
OEXC
ODIP
OREP
OFDP
OTRA
OSCE
OPIC
OECD
OPCW
OSCI
OIE
OIC
OTR
OVP
PARM
PREL
PTER
PHUM
PGOV
PINR
PINS
PREF
PK
PE
PBTS
POGOV
PROP
PINL
PL
POL
PBIO
PSOE
PHSA
PKFK
PO
PGOF
PA
PARMS
PORG
PM
PMIL
PTERE
PF
PALESTINIAN
PY
PGGV
PNR
POV
PAK
PAO
PFOR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PRGOV
PNAT
PROV
PEL
PINF
PGOVE
POLINT
PRL
PRAM
PMAR
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PHUS
PHUMPREL
POLITICS
PEPR
PSI
PINT
PU
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PECON
SOCI
SY
SENV
SA
SP
SNAR
SG
SCUL
SR
STEINBERG
SF
SW
SU
SL
SMIG
SO
SN
SHUM
SZ
SYR
ST
SANC
SC
SAN
SIPRS
SK
SH
SI
TS
TU
TX
TBIO
TW
TSPA
TH
TIP
TI
TRGY
TC
TR
TT
TERRORISM
TO
TFIN
TD
TSPL
TZ
TPHY
TK
TNGD
TINT
TRSY
TP
UK
UN
US
UNGA
UNSC
UNO
UNMIK
UV
UY
UP
UG
USEU
USUN
UZ
UNESCO
UE
UAE
UNEP
USTR
UNHCR
UNDP
UNHRC
USAID
UNCHS
UNAUS
UNCHC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 09MANAMA542, CROWN PRINCE RAISING PROFILE WITH RAMADAN VISITS
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09MANAMA542.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
09MANAMA542 | 2009-09-09 07:07 | 2011-02-18 21:09 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Manama |
VZCZCXRO1205
RR RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDIR
DE RUEHMK #0542/01 2520733
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 090733Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY MANAMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8906
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RHBVAKS/COMUSNAVCENT
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MANAMA 000542
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2019
TAGS: PGOV SCUL BA
SUBJECT: CROWN PRINCE RAISING PROFILE WITH RAMADAN VISITS
Classified By: Ambassador Adam Ereli for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1.(SBU) Summary: Bahrain's Crown Prince is raising his profile during Ramadan, to favorable reviews from opposition politicians. End summary.
¶2. (U) During Ramadan, many leading Bahrainis host an evening "majlis", or sitting, where men, without the need of an invitation, call to pay their respects and share news. They are held between 8 and 11 in the evening; visitors usually stay for a short time and go to multiple majalis each night. Since the re-opening of parliament in 2000, party leaders and MPs regularly host majalis as well. A Higher Profile for the Crown Prince -------------------------------------
3.(C) The talk of the Ramadan majlis circuit this year has been the visibility of the Crown Prince, Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. In previous years he has visited a few majalis, but it was his great-uncle, the Prime Minister, who would pay the vast majority of calls on prominent regime allies. This Ramadan, the PM remains out of the country on vacation, and it is the CP who is averaging two to three majlis calls per night. He has visited all parties with seats in parliament - both Sunni and Shia - as well as leading merchant families, religious scholars, senior royals and government ministers, and the visits have received prominent media play. Tea and Policy --------------
4.(C) We had the opportunity to observe the Crown Prince in action at one such majlis. Ambassador visited August 30 the majlis of Shaikh Ali Salman, leader of Wifaq, the Shia opposition party that holds 17 of the 40 seats in Bahrain's elected house of parliament. Ambassador and emboffs were among two dozen guests, mostly party leaders, in attendance when the Crown Prince and a few of his senior advisers (all Sunnis) arrived unannounced.
5.(C) After the customary rounds of tea and pleasantries, Wifaq MPs and other officials began peppering the Crown Prince with respectful but pointed policy questions. Challenged on the need for more subsidized housing for the Shia underclass, Sheikh Salman gave a sympathetic but detailed reply that verged on the wonkish: government had greatly increased the number of units available, but to sustainably meet demand over the long term it would seek creative financing, in partnership with the private sector, so that more units could be built more quickly and at a cost that was affordable to the consumer. The CP outlined plans for a private-public sector partnership that would allow for private developers to build public housing under contract from the government, yet recoup the costs through new credit programs offered through the Bahrain Housing Bank.
6.(U) Another Wifaq MP, who has campaigned for reforms that would permit Wifaq to launch its own TV station, urged deregulation that would permit competition with the dreadful government-owned Bahrain TV (the only station on the island). Artfully deflecting the discussion away from government control to one of quality and responsibility, Sheikh Salman said the he was all for competition, but there would need to be new public or private investment as well as time to develop new regulatory mechanisms and the capacity to administer them (i.e., the government doesn't want media to exacerbate sectarian tensions).
7.(U) Sheikh Salman and his small entourage left after 30 minutes of cordial but substantive give-and-take on these and similar questions. Wifaq's leaders and MPs were visibly pleased that Bahrain's deputy ruler and future King had paid them the honor of visiting their leader's majlis and answering their questions in a manner that, by local standards, was shockingly forthright. Comment -------
8.(C) Post ascribes the Crown Prince's raised Ramadan profile to several factors. First, he is taking on critics who quietly derided him as aloof and out of touch. These include business leaders, whose comfortable, tried-and-true ways of doing business have been disrupted by many of the Crown Prince's economic reforms. It also includes Salafist and Muslim Brotherhood hardliners, who saw the Crown Prince's Washington Post op-ed calling on the Arabs to reach out to Israel as premature endorsement of normalization. MANAMA 00000542 002 OF 002
¶9. (C) Second, Sheikh Salman is on the stump. He recently confided to the Ambassador that the economic and social reforms he has been tasked with leading (education, labor, public sector) are now in place and beginning to show results. Watching him in action, the Crown Prince conveys the aura of a confident leader who now wants to help his constituents appreciate what the government is trying to accomplish on their behalf.
¶10. (C) Finally, in response to the steady chorus of Shia charges of discrimination and mistreatment, both the King and the Crown Prince routinely tell us that their vision is of a Bahrain in which people of all faiths and backgrounds can live together in mutual respect, tolerance and freedom. They emphatically affirm that there is no official policy of discrimination and assert that all Bahrainis, irrespective of sectarian affiliation, have equal rights and access to public resources. The Crown Prince's very visible outreach to the sectarian leaders and their followers can be seen as an attempt to drive home that message at a grassroots level. ERELI