P 291313Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2412
SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
INFO HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
NSC WASHDC
GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 000418 
 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP AND PM/FO 
DOD FOR OSD DASD KAHL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2019 
TAGS:            
SUBJECT: GSD CHAIR FROM UAE CONFIRMS STRONG RELATIONS 
 
REF: 08 ABU DHABI 356 
 
Classified by Ambassador Richard Olson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
 1.  (C) Welcoming Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (ISA Middle 
East) Colin Kahl to the UAE on April 27, Chief of the UAE Air Force 
and Air Defense Air Vice Marshall (MG) Mohammed Sowaidan al-Gemzy 
gave a strong endorsement of mutual cooperation in facing regional 
challenges.  In a brief strategic overview, he said we must avoid 
letting Iran fill any vacuum left by the departure of U.S. troops 
from Iraq, we share concerns regarding a solution to the 
Israeli-Palestinian dispute, we cannot address Afghanistan without 
dealing with Pakistan, and Iranian nuclear weapons are a key threat. 
He agreed that Iran has a limited window in which to engage the 
international community productively, yet cautioned that unilateral 
action by Israel against Iran could threaten us all. 
 
 2.  (C) Stating that his forces relied primarily on "U.S.-made 
platforms," al-Gemzy stressed the need to continue regional 
integration of missile defense efforts and a common operating 
picture.  He was pleased to hear that milestones were being reached 
on Shared Early Warning (SEW) and stressed the value of the Air 
Warfare Center (AWC) in training the region's pilots.  He looked 
forward to UAE participation in Red Flag (stating that all future Red 
Flags should "include a UAE flag").  He referred in passing to delays 
in FMS delivery, noting that using the equipment effectively is more 
difficult than procuring it.  In a reference to Link-16, he said that 
"each plane" in a coordinated GCC effort needs both voice and data 
communication with NATO planes, he suggested. 
 
 3.  (C) Interestingly, al-Qemzy posited Iran as the current threat 
but looked beyond it -- Iran is temporarily the black sheep of the 
neighborhood but future priorities, to include disaster relief, also 
require "a long-term strategy that works."  He agreed that we must 
seize the moment to make the region "safe for our children."  He 
cautioned against Iraqi "drift" towards religious Shi'a influences or 
a civil war; he endorsed a strong U.S.-Iraq strategic partnership. 
 
 4.  (C) Al-Qemzy noted that it had been a year since the most recent 
Gulf Security Dialogue (GSD) and looked forward to continuing that 
engagement.  That said, he appreciated Kahl's visit as part of that 
ongoing dialogue and said "take your time" on arranging the next GSD, 
acknowledging some delay in USG personnel assuming their new 
positions in the administration. 
 
 5.  (U) DASD Kahl did not have an opportunity to clear this message 
prior to departure, but it was reviewed by OSD staff. 
 
OLSON