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Viewing cable 09CAIRO326, SENATOR LIEBERMAN'S FEBRUARY 17 MEETING WITH GAMAL

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09CAIRO326 2009-02-23 13:01 2011-01-28 00:12 SECRET Embassy Cairo
ACTION NEA-00   

INFO  LOG-00   EEB-00   AID-00   CIAE-00  COME-00  INL-00   DODE-00  
      DOTE-00  PERC-00  PDI-00   DS-00    EAP-00   DHSE-00  EUR-00   
      FAAE-00  FBIE-00  VCI-00   H-00     TEDE-00  INR-00   IO-00    
      LAB-01   MOFM-00  MOF-00   M-00     VCIE-00  NSAE-00  NSCE-00  
      OMB-00   NIMA-00  DOHS-00  FMPC-00  SP-00    SSO-00   SS-00    
      TRSE-00  T-00     NCTC-00  CBP-00   SCRS-00  DSCC-00  PRM-00   
      DRL-00   SAS-00   FA-00    SWCI-00  (H-00     L-00     
      PM-00    )  /001W
                  ------------------337677  231445Z /38    
O 231307Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1705
INFO ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
S E C R E T CAIRO 000326 
  
  
 FOR NEA AND H 
  
 E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2019 
 TAG PREL, KPAL, ECON, IR, SY, IZ, EG, IS, QA 
 SUBJECT: SENATOR LIEBERMAN'S FEBRUARY 17 MEETING WITH GAMAL 
 MUBARAK 
  
 Classified By: Ambassador Margaret Scobey 
 for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
  
 ------- 
 Summary 
 ------- 
  
 1. (C) During an hour-long meeting on February 17, Gamal 
 Mubarak discussed with Senator Joseph Lieberman the problems 
 with Gaza and Palestinian reconciliation, as well as the 
 broader political split within the Arab world.  Senator 
 Lieberman sought Gamal's advice on ways for the U.S. to 
 engage Iran; Gamal offered that the best way to defeat 
 Iranian ambitions in the region is to make progress on the 
 Israeli-Palestinian peace process.  Unfortunately, Qatar is 
 playing "spoiler" in order to get "a seat at the table." 
 Gamal, a former international banker, opined that the U.S. 
 needed to "shock" its financial system back to health, and 
 said that Egypt -- which had so far escaped much of the pain 
 of the global economic crisis -- was preparing to face tough 
 economic times ahead.  The Ambassador, Senator Lieberman's 
 foreign policy adviser, and the ECPO MinCouns as note taker 
 were also present.  End summary. 
  
 ---- 
 Gaza 
 ---- 
  
 2. (C) After welcoming Senator Lieberman, Gamal began by 
 criticizing the Israeli government's "last minute" decision 
 not to move forward on the Gaza ceasefire without the release 
 of Corporal Shalit.  This complicates several aspects of the 
 Israel Palestinian conflict, Gamal explained, not simply the 
 situation in Gaza.  The various Palestinian factions are due 
 to begin reconciliation talks in Cairo "in about 10 days" and 
 this development will make those discussions more difficult. 
 It makes Egypt look bad, and strengthens Hamas. 
  
 -------------------------------------- 
 Iranian Exploitation of Arab Divisions 
 -------------------------------------- 
  
 3. (C) Another complicating factor, Gamal explained, is the 
 current split within Arab ranks between "moderates" (Egypt 
 and Saudi Arabia) and "radicals" (Syria and Qatar).  This 
 polarization, he opined, has "paralyzed the peace process." 
 Iran has skillfully exploited -- using Hamas -- the lack of 
 movement towards peace.  As long as there was a viable peace 
 process, Gamal averred, "there was no place for Iran."  The 
 best way to thwart Iranian ambitions in the region, according 
 to Gamal, is to reinvigorate the Israeli-Palestinian peace 
 process.  What is also needed, he continued, is a unified 
 Palestinian government.  "The Palestinians need elections, 
 both presidential and parliamentary." 
  
 ------------------------------- 
 U.S. Re-engagement with Tehran? 
 ------------------------------- 
  
 4. (C) Senator Lieberman asked Gamal if he thought the United 
 States should re-engage with Iran.  "As long as Ahmedinejad 
 is there, I am skeptical," Gamal responded.  Senator 
 Lieberman said he shared that skepticism, but explained that 
 the new administration believes the U.S. should try to engage 
 the Iranians, but no clear strategy has yet emerged in 
 Washington; Dennis Ross has been tasked with "reviewing" the 
 situation.  The one thing that is clear, Gamal stressed, is 
 that by removing Saddam, the U.S. opened the door for Iran to 
 flex its muscles and spread its influence throughout the 
 region.  "Like it or not, Saddam was a stumbling block to 
 Iranian aspirations.  His fall led directly to an increase in 
 Iranian influence on the region."  Now, it is all the more 
 important not to send a message of weakness to the Iranians, 
 Gamal said, "neither from the U.S., nor from the moderates in 
 the region."  We cannot "concede to their policy of 
 aggression." 
  
 5. (C) There are many in the region, Gamal explained, who 
 believe that the U.S. was weakened by its actions in Iraq, 
 and that Iran was strengthened.  Furthermore, there is a 
 perception that the U.S. has been hurt by the economic crisis 
 and that it will be more inward looking for the next few 
 years.  Therefore, the Americans, it is said, will deal with 
 problems in the region in a "less confrontational" fashion, 
 and "may be willing to compromise.  Iran is working hard to 
 convince others that this is the case."  This creates a very 
 dangerous situation for moderate states like Egypt, Gamal 
 stressed.  Noting that there was some truth in this analysis, 
 particularly concerning the economic straits the U.S. is in, 
 Senator Lieberman said that the U.S. will nonetheless engage 
 in an even more aggressive Middle East foreign policy than 
 previously, as evidenced by President Obama's choice of 
  
  
 Secretary Clinton and Special Envoy Mitchell.  Gamal welcomed 
 this reassurance, noting that the GCC states in particular 
 are "terrified" of Iran.  Just the previous week, he said, an 
 Iranian general had said publicly that Bahrain "has always 
 been part of Iran," as well as the Tunb Islands. 
  
 ----- 
 Qatar 
 ----- 
  
 6. (C) Senator Lieberman then asked Gamal for his assessment 
 of Qatari behavior.  They are coordinating closely with Syria 
 and Iran, Gamal said, "in an orchestrated attack on Egypt and 
 other moderate Arab states."  Qatar has enabled Hamas to 
 hamper every effort we have made to cement a ceasefire in 
 Gaza.  For some reason, Qatar seems to want to play the role 
 of spoiler, Gamal surmised.  "Even regarding the March 2nd 
 Gaza conference we are hosting, they have called for another 
 Arab only meeting in Doha just two days before."  In response 
 to Senator Lieberman's question as to Qatari motives, Gamal 
 responded, "They just want a place at the table, no matter 
 what." 
  
 --------------- 
 Egypt's Economy 
 --------------- 
  
 7. (C) Turning to the impact of the global financial crisis 
 on Egypt, Gamal -- a former international banker -- said that 
 while Egypt has so far escaped the worst effects of the 
 crisis, "we are bound to feel the brunt of it eventually." 
 Because Egypt's banking sector was thoroughly overhauled 
 about five years ago, he explained, it is in much better 
 shape than it night have been.  Nonetheless, Egypt expects to 
 see significantly lower GDP figures in 2009; "the most recent 
 quarterly numbers are already way down."  The one ray of good 
 news, Gamal said, is that inflation also is down; 
 "nonetheless, we know we are in for a rough ride."  Egypt 
 will be watching the United States very closely, Gamal said. 
 Senator Lieberman asked for his advice as an experienced 
 international financier.  "Your banking system needs a 
 shock," Gamal offered.  "You need a dramatic fix.  Unless you 
 get the banking sector revived, nothing else will come 
 around."  However, Gamal continued, a piecemeal approach to 
 the problem will not be enough; you need to inject even more 
 money into the system than you have, and you need to get as 
 much of the bad debt as possible out of it; "you must remove 
 the toxic assets from the books" and restore the confidence 
 of investors and consumers.  Senator Lieberman agreed on the 
 need for bold measures to restore confidence. 
  
 8. (U) This cable was cleared by Senator Lieberman. 
 SCOBEY